DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, May 8, 2020
With most other North American sports being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, we hope the sport of horse racing can entertain you during these trying times. 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.
1:00 GP 1st SYLLABUS (#5, 12-1) showed speed after getting knocked around early, finished fourth of a dozen in two turn and turf bow and really should improve off that effort. -Mike Welsch
2:57 TAM 5th NO MERCY PERCY (#7, 7-2) was a sharp winner in her first and only start on the grass to date, and trainer Don Roberson excels with turf sprinters; she’s quick from the gate but she can also rate and make one run, and that versatility should enable her to work out a trip from her outside post. -Kenny Peck
3:29 TAM 6th GENERAL PADDY (#6, 5-1) had little chance to catch up wit the winner when caught off the pace in that sprint last time, as the quick My Boy Lenny was able to shake loose in a relatively paceless race and control the tempo from the start; today’s longer distance should work to this gelding’s advantage, as he does seem to be at his best around two turns, and he can be expected to improve with the move to a route and given a better pace scenario. -Kenny Peck
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3:45 GP 6th MAY DAY INFO (#3, 6-1) checked last after the start and really not having much chance after that while kept wide throughout. Showed improved speed with addition of blinkers for recent a.m. trial. -Mike Welsch
4:01 TAM 7th CHANNELEDSLONGSHOT (#3, 5-1) is easily forgiven for that dull effort in his latest, as it was not only his first start since September but it was on the main track, which he does not seem to prefer, and it was also a failed experiment with blinkers; he was no threat in his first start vs. winners on the turf but that was a good group, with the winner returning to win three straight, including a stakes race, and the runner-up getting 2nd again in his next try. -Kenny Peck
4:33 TAM 8th MEILLEUR (#11, 4-1) is wide here, and that doesn’t help the cause, and he is turning back from a route to a sprint, but he may still be quick enough to get clear in the opening stages, as there’s not all that much proven sprint speed in this field; very game in defeat in that last one, at this same level. -Kenny Peck
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5:04 TAM 9th DOUBLY BLESSED (#6, 8-1) made a run on the turn and continued well enough to the wire to get the show in a promising debut, and given the barn’s record with horses making their 2nd career starts he can certainly be expected to move forward off that try; main concern is race flow, as he’ll be looking to close and there’s not an abundance of pace in this lineup, but given an honest tempo he could prove to be best of the closers. -Kenny Peck
5:19 GP 9th FRANK FIRST (#2, 5-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch).
6:19 GP 11th COURTED (#8, 20-1) offered up for those looking for value and trying to beat likely heavy choice OCEAN FIRE in finale. Not fashionably bred for the lawn but worked well over PM turf, could prove good fit at square price for this tag. -Mike Welsch
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