DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, November 3, 2023

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.

1:20 GP 2nd ROYAL KITTEN (#5, 9-2) rattled off a string of good efforts here but wasn't ready for the start here Sept. 22 and was a non-factor 7th. Barboza Jr. saw fit to claim him and has super off-the-claim numbers and with a better start this guy can be in the thick of it from the bell. -Michael Hammersly

1:27 LRL 3rd ANTIPOISON (#4, 8-1) scored for $6,000 back in August, and while he hasn't really been close on the wire in four subsequent starts he's had his excuses, mostly because he was overmatched; back in for a tag today and he has every right to improve here, especially if he can shake loose and control the early tempo. -Kenny Peck

1:45 AQU 4th BEST COAST (#4, 6-1) chased a fast pace and only tired late in her debut; dropped for her second start and ran well again while under pressure after breaking a bit slowly and rushing up, and once again weakened late; has continued to race competitively since the claim; turf to dirt. -Mike Beer

2:08 WO 3rd GLENHOLME (#8, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).

2:43 WO 4th INFAMOUS COVERT (#5, 6-1) made the lead in the stretch from an open stalking position before getting caught on the wire when descending to this level on the inner turf three weeks ago. He performed well around two turns on the Tapeta in the past and should be a major player. -Ron Gierkink

2:48 GP 5th I'LLTAKETHEBLAME (#6, 4-1) has lots of works including some brisk ones for a trainer well known for having his 2yo firsters cranked and ready. Four of his 5 sibs are winners including Derek Adrian (16-12-1-0, $121K, 3 SWs including 1 G1, 1 G2, 1 G3 in Puerto Rico) and Jalen Journey (41-11-3-4, $745K, 2 SWs including 1 G3, 3 SPs including 1 G1, 1 G3). -Michael Hammersly

2:51 AQU 6th HARD PAR (#7, 8-1) split horses and rallied into second at a big price in his sprint debut; also ran well in his second start when moving into an open MSW field; son of six-time route winner Maid On a Mission (two wins turf, Grade 3-placed) stretches out for the first time on grass. -Mike Beer

3:26 AQU 7th ALLABOUTTHEMONEY (#3, 6-1) ran well twice on this track earlier in the year after switching to the Jacobson barn, then continued to race competitively while up in class and shipping around to different tracks through the spring and summer; dropped for his return to AQU last time, where he chased wide over a very wet track and stayed gamely right to the end to land third. -Mike Beer

3:33 LRL 7th Lots of proven speed in this sprint and that should suit DECO STRONG (#2, 10-1) just fine, as she has steady figures and a good closing kick; figures to be well set up if the rest of this field stays intact. -Kenny Peck

3:48 WO 6th AIR FORCE RESERVE (#2, 8-1) had no shot racing quite wide over a rail-favoring surface on the turns last Sunday. The 4yo has never competed around two turns on the Tapeta and is worth a flyer on the stretchout. -Ron Gierkink

4:06 LRL 8th TOM HAGEN (#10, 6-1) exits an extreme Closer-friendly race flow, as indicated by the inverted "C" in his last pp line, as that was a race featuring a good number of speed-types and the closers dominated; he now lands in a relatively paceless race, and he can be expected to be on or near the lead given the drastic change in pace scenarios, and he can wire this if able to slow down the tempo on a loose lead. -Kenny Peck

4:37 LRL 9th DIANE (#6, 6-1) debuts for trainer Diane Morici and she has seemed to ramp it up in her morning works leading up to her first start; dam was unraced but she produced a three-time winner in Daimooma. -Kenny Peck

5:17 AQU 10th Assume JHIRSCH (#7, 10-1) was left in that 10/14 off-turf maiden for some experience, as he is bred for turf and clearly did not run well over that sloppy track - despite taking some money; half to Motion's six-time turf route winner Chulainn can put that experience to use if managing to get this one to go on turf. -Mike Beer

9:59 RP 5th U. S. ARMY (#10, 6-1) should be sharp for the move back to two turns off the seven-eighths start. He looks like a candidate to control the pace. On a pedigree point, U.S. ARMY gets support for the move to turf. -Mary Rampellini