DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, May 6, 2022

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.

12:40 LRL 1st FORT FORTITUDE (#7, 5-1), listed as a vet scratch at Charles Town on April 21, won going dirt to turf at Delaware last year and will attempt to repeat the pattern (weather permitting). Stalked outside in that grass race, altered course four wide and wore them down late. Faced two next-out winners in recent dirt appearance at Charles Town (Combination came back to win for $25,000 there with an 80 Beyer). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

1:00 BEL 1st MIRACLE NICKY (#6, 10-1) must find improvement in order to factor off the short layoff and is eligible to find some with only four dirt starts behind him while dropping in class; liked his maiden win when stretched out to this distance and working hard all the way before getting clear, and he was in too tough last time over a sloppy track; back at the right level as a new gelding and might be the speed of this race. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

1:45 OP 2nd RESERVE (#8, 9-2) exits a maiden race that went quite quick. This one was cutting back from two turns for the start. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

1:50 TAM 4th BOCA GUY (#3, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race

2:16 OP 3rd WINDCRACKER (#5, 7-2) was third to a quality sort of winner last out and might get an ideal stalking trip in this spot. This one's dam was a two-time winner who earned $86K and she has produced a stakes winner in Samuel Dechamplain ($162K). -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

2:50 TAM 6th TRUTH AND HONESTY (#1, 8-1) is kin to four starters, all of them winners, including Don't Tell Vanessa, who won 11 races and earned over $176K, and sire The Big Beast already has 23 winning firsters from 92 tries; works suggest this gelding has some speed and trainer John Vinson has been lethal with debut runners. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

3:10 LRL 6th POLISHED GAL (#9, 5-1) worked out perfect pocket trip to win over course and distance to close out the turf portion of her 5-year-old campaign. Raced once more in 2021 and faced two next-out winners in dirt try at Penn National (sixth-finisher returned to run second in a $5,000 starter on dirt at Penn National with a 70 Beyer). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

3:52 BEL 6th DAILY BRIEFING (#5, 10-1) didn't run well in any of her four NY starts to begin her career, though there are ways to mitigate those performances - debuted in the slop before going right back to the sidelines, then stayed off a gold rail in her second start despite showing speed, and he final two starts were on turf which she clearly doesn't handle; 2 for 2 by a combined eleven lengths in her two starts vs. claimers since returning this yeat and she has tactical speed. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

3:57 TAM 8th LADY FRIJOLES (#7, 6-1) is out of a dam who won five out of ten career races, all of them dirt sprints, and she produced a three-time winner in Bean Counter, though that one was best on the grass; latest work was decent and she doesn't meet the deepest of fields. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

4:24 TAM 9th CAIRA (#4, 15-1) might be worth a shot at a price based solely on the work tab alone, as she has been working very well toward her first start since January; she does have solid back figures, and if those breezes are any indication she may be set to run back to her best efforts. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

4:33 GP 8th ORDER AND LAW (#5, 9-2) was ambitiously placed in the Grade 2 Appleton in his first start after being claimed by Pita and fits a lot better in this spot. Not sure that a one-turn mile is what he really wants to do, but he handles dirt just fine and he has a good record going around two turns at the distance. He should also get a nice trip stalking what could be an honest and contested pace. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race

5:05 BEL 8th PORTOS (#4, 6-1) has looked like a work in progress from the start while beginning in a nine-furlong race in the summer of his 2yo year and running in some pretty tough races right up through May of 2020 before getting a long layoff; improved when brought back early last year, including a good effort for third behind top dirt marathoner Lone Rock while on short rest in the Isaac Murphy last April; second off the layoff stretching back out and he handles a wet track, should those conditions prevail. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

5:21 TUP 3rd CROSS TOWN (#7, 6-1) returned off the long layoff and ran well. He has at least one work between starts. Second time this dirt can only help but he will have to break in a new barn and pilot. A return to routing is what we like best. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

6:19 TUP 5th MAGIC START (#9, 6-1) is a little better of late and it came with the addition of Lasix. This filly draws fine and has route speed on the cut back so her trip should be decent. We like Negron up if the front end is wanted/needed. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

6:45 MED (Harness) 2nd BULLY BOY HILL (#2, 10-1) got some equipment changes last time including trotting hobbles and showed no signs of breaking trouble during the mile. It is also worth noting that he actually came off the gate well but was guided off the pace. In a field full of question marks, maybe this guy is handled more aggressively here. – Derick Giwner | Get PPs for this race

7:35 LS 1st IZEADISTORTEDLADY (#7, 12-1) might be worth a stab at what should be a decent price. She showed decent speed in her latest on dirt and could be the one they have to run down here. Barn has strong numbers in turf sprints and with horses making the surface switch. She could also have more upside than most of her main rivals. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race

7:49 TUP 8th GONE QUICK (#8, 12-1) is by a 11% debut turf sire. Her dam missed the board in her only turf start. Both sibs won on the green. This filly has a nice 327 turf Tomlinson. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

9:00 WBS (Harness) 7th YNOTHOS (#2, 8-1) was a victim of pace and trip last week. I think driver McNair blasts for position this time and I’ll give her the nod looking for some multi-race value. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race

9:20 YR (Harness) 8th HOPETOBEFIRST (#2, 9-2) has been racing well with comparable over at Pocono and the 14-year-old with 441 lifetime starts lands in a good spot here and keeps driver Kakaley. –MattRose 10:51 LS 8th BELEWS GOLD (#7, 8-1) did not fire in his latest but the runner-up set the pace and winner was the one chasing him. BELEWS GOLD does his best running late and there should be speed coming back to him in this spot. If he shows up with his best stuff, he could win this at a decent price. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race