DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, May 5, 2023
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Daily Racing Form has served as the most trusted source of news and information about the sport since 1894, and moving forward we have decided to provide a free daily playbook; something that both hardcore horseplayers and casual observers can reference to get informed of each day's action
10:30 CD 1st LADY SAMARITAN (#2, 30-1) lacked speed. was caught wide, yet ran on steadily to split the field facing 10 foes going 7f in her career debut at KEE. A lot of the beaten lengths came to the top two, who finished far in front of the rest. Bred for a route, ran like a route horse, and gets a route with a good draw. Likely to stick much closer to the pace. Doubt she's 30-1 but price will be fair. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race
12:05 CD 4th FANNIE AND FREDDIE (#12, 10-1) got a relatively modest 77 Beyer but I thought her comeback win last out, Feb. 23, showed a filly who'd gained substance and confidence compared to her 3yo self. She's been saved for this spot with an encouraging work pattern and a good draw for the one-turn mile. Feeling pretty good about the cut back from a two-turn middle distance - and about the listed odds. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race
12:43 CD 5th SMILE HAPPY (#5, 8-1) will be a distant fourth choice here with WEST WILL POWER and ART COLLECTOR the favorite and second favorite and Last Samurai also taking betting. Smile Happy is a viable play at 8-1 or higher. Wondered what the heck the horse was doing in the Oaklawn Mile, cutting back a furlong while running back about two weeks after a strong return race following a long layoff. It makes more sense now. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race
1:31 BEL 2nd MIGHTY ATLAS (#5, 12-1) was entered MTO when stretching out and winning clear in his second career start; improved quite a bit off the bench last time when putting in a solid late run after an awkward break to just miss second behind a front-running winner. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
2:41 TAM 5th AGENT COOPER (#3, 8-1) ran deceptively well in his first start of 2023. A slow start cost him dearly, as there was not a lot of speed in that field and early position was key, but he was closing with some interest in the lane; he lands in another paceless sprint but with a clean getaway he could well be the one they have to catch. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
2:54 LRL 6th MR. HOUGHTON (#5, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Dan Illman). | Get PPs for this race
3:03 CD 8th LITTLE JEWEL (#9, 8-1) was a maiden three starts ago but seems pretty legit at this point. She got away from the Gulf turf and ran her race last out at KEE, bucking the bias and finishing nicely with a wide trip to get within two lengths of Caravel. One more notch of improvement and some racing luck and she's right there. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race
3:14 BEL 5th ART OF COURAGE (#11, 15-1) was the lone firster in that field on debut in February and she was away from the gate last in a race that was dominated up close; showed improved speed in his second start but wound up dueling with Lifetime of Chance, who crushed that field with a 91 Beyer and returned recently to win a stake with an 87; by an underrated turf sire and is a half to three-time turf sprint winner Me 'n Sap. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
3:32 WO 5th JAMIESTA (#8, 12-1) worked well before and after he was a vet scratch on April 23. He can fire big when fresh as evidenced by his blowout (75 Beyer) debut score vs. $15K maidens Dec. 1. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
3:52 BEL 6th OUR SON JAKE (#1, 8-1) went a mile off the short layoff last time and looked like a winner in the stretch after taking over readily, but he appeared to be overconfidently ridden and was caught late; cuts back in good form. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
3:56 LRL 8th REEL WELL (#14, 12-1) must overcome tough outside post as well as 188-day layoff, but the gelding looked good winning lone start over the circuit. Received a good setup to attack from midpack, split horses three wide to get into contention, then drew away from the field after drifting to the inside. MINT GAME (1,041 lbs. on 11/7) also returns from six-month break. Three-time winner worked out a solid midpack trip going a mile here last fall, then rallied nicely to finish ahead of two next-out winners (fourth-finisher returned to win a $20,000 optional with a 76 Beyer). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race
4:10 WO 6th SHEBATOWN (#3, 15-1) checked in fifth among two next-out winners vs. $30K maidens on the Tapeta at Turfway March 30. She's since worked twice here and will have a fitness advantage on most of her opponents in this OS/$40K contest. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
5:10 SA 3rd This $32k claiming turf sprint for fillies and mares is a good spot to take a shot with MISS FIA (#4, 3-1), who just might upset TOO MUCH HEAVEN. Although MISS FIA has not hit the board in any of her four races on turf, she actually has run okay on turf against better company. She drops from N1X/optional claiming, adds blinkers, gets a weight break and can press the pace or rally from behind. Tab for a minor upset. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race
5:17 WO 8th TITO'S CALLING (#8, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race
5:27 TUP 5th SPIRE (#4, 6-1) tried the turf in his most recent and it was his first start for this barn. He did little in said turf race but now drops in class into a much easier spot. This gelding got a 65 Beyer going this down and distance only three back. Let's see if he can get back to that. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
5:36 BEL 9th CHARISSE (#1, 12-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer) debuted on dirt and appeared to need that race while looking green after getting bumped at the start, before making a bit of a late run; bred for turf so it was no surprise to see the surface switch last time, but she was off slowly again while not looking like a sprinter; dam was a stakes winner routing on turf and placed in three graded races going long; stretches out from the rail looking to improve. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
6:02 GG 3rd The Louisiana-bred gelding PORT O' CALL (#6, 9-2) is winless in 10 starts since a maiden race for statebreds on turf at Fair Grounds in January 2022. Port o' Call was second in a $4,000 claimer for non-winners of two on the synthetic track on April 9 and essentially starts against the same kind of field in this $6,250 claimer for non-winners of two on turf. The difference is the surface, which may work in Port o' Call's favor. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race
7:00 CD 13th Trainer M McCarthy just won a sprint MSW here Tuesday with a first-time starter, and MUSICAL MISCHIEF (#3, 10-1), looking at the work pattern, might have breezed with that horse a couple times. The works for a pricey auction buy whose sire is strong with debut runners are very fast, though I've seen none of them. McCarthy in the most recent sample of first-timers in dirt-sprint MSWs is 4-14 wins. Cannot see this horse being as high as the 10-1 morning line. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race
8:00 TUP 10th BOLD VOYAGER (#7, 8-1) is 2 for 2 on this sod and now finds a spot where he can't be claimed. This barn is 30% with horses that won their last race. Class jump helps the price while tactical speed helps the trip. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
8:38 GG 8th THERESASILVERLININ (#8, 6-1) has solid recent workouts and an attractive pedigree for her career debut in this $25,000 claiming race for maidens at 5 1-2 furlongs. Trained by Jonathan Wong, who does well with first-time starters, Thereasilverlinin may be quick enough to establish a good position from post 8 under jockey Frank Alvarado, who has a good record with Wong. Theresasilverlinin worked a quick three furlongs in 36.40 seconds on April 29. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race
GETTING EXOTIC
CHURCHILL DOWNS LATE PICK 4
RACES 10-13
RACE 10: REVALITA was closing best of all in the lane in her U. S. debut, and she should get ample pace to chase in the Grade 2 Edgewood. COMANCHE COUNTRY is a major upgrade candidate after closing in a paceless race in her first start of 2023 last time. GIRL NAMED CHARLIE was game to get up in time in her latest, and she should get faster splits to chase today (3).
RACE 11: Going to try to beat ML favorite Wet Paint in the Oaks, as she comes off an enhanced Beyer, thanks to a very favorable race flow. MIMI KAKUSHI makes her first start in the U. S., riding a three-race win streak; she meets a seemingly average field in the Oaks and she figures to offer a very square price. WONDER WHEEL has room to improve off her effort in the Ashland, as she was hurt by the lack of pace in that field. Have to respect JULIA SHINING if she draws in off the AE list (3).
RACE 12: CURL GIRL has speed and the rail and may be able to shake loose in the opening stages; game score in that maiden win last time. FOREVER DIXIE could prove to be the main danger in the lane, as she is a double upgrade off her last two starts, including her seasonal debut last time (2).
RACE 13: CHAINA lost position at the start of her debut and she was unable to recover enough to hit the board, though she was moving very well in the late stages; license to take a big step forward given a clean getaway. NEVER TELL PATTI weakened only late in that last one, when sent a mile; cuts back to a sprint for a barn that sports positive stats with turnbacks. AMERICAN RETRO is easy to like off that sharp debut (3).
THE PLAY: 1, 7, 11 / 1, 5, 16 / 1, 7 / 5, 9, 14 = $27 Ticket