DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, Oct. 23, 2026

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 KEE 1st SHAPKA (#6, 12-1) debuted two back facing far, far stronger competition than this. Obviously overmatched and eased home through final furlong. From that dirt sprint to the IND turf route -better, but didn't exactly scream turf horse. Now, third out, probably much more race fit than on debut, he gets the class relief he needs. The race is wide open if you're not buying the big Baffert dropper (not). - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

1:05 WO 1st TIZ THE POWER (#3, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get Past Performances for this race

1:38 WO 2nd NYCELY (#5, 8-1) dominated $7.5K maidens last time when moving out to the seven-furlong distance of this non-two contest and could double up with his confidence on a high. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

1:43 BEL 2nd CARTRIDGE (#1, 8-1) ran like a horse who had no clue what his job was on debut; broke slowly and lacked early speed while never making an impact; did start to show some interest in the late stages, running on down the center of the track before galloping out decently; looked like a horse who needs more ground, and that's what his pedigree suggests as well; should improve with blinkers going on second time out. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

2:04 KEE 3rd MADDY MANIA (#11, 15-1) one of three along with Kabin Eight and Newhope coming out of the same CD sprint. MM was caught wide, steered inside for the homestretch, made progress but did not want to go through a gap that opened at the furlong grounds. She finally did and once in the clearl delivered quite the encouraging little burst. Wide draw in this one-mile, two-turn race (don't like this configuration at all) makes things tougher. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

2:26 GP 5th I'M CHILL (#3, 4-1) ran better two back and that was her only two turn effort to date. Now she gets back to that. She won't be that far off the early pace and draws fine all for a barn that is 24% on the synth and 21% in routes. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

2:49 BEL 4th There are a couple of experienced runners with ability so a firster will have to be pretty good to win here; DELTA BREEZE (#7, 8-1) strikes me as one that might have some talent; this Louisiana-bred sold for $170k off an eye-catching drill at Fasig-Tipton back in May; one video of her working at Saratoga shows a filly with natural speed; there isn't a ton of pedigree to hold onto, but Michelle Giangiulio can win with a firster. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

3:08 KEE 5th CONSOLIDATED (#4, 15-1) beat lesser foes at KEE this spring but might be up to this tougher task. Came right back from the KEE score to win on the rise, then didn't seem to get over the sloppy track very well before going on hiatus. Was too far back (perhaps for no good reason) and taken very wide past the 3f marker, spinning wheels upper stretch, showing a tiny spark at furlong grounds. He's meant to improve upon that - price is right to find out of he's good enough and can adapt to the short stretch. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

3:49 WO 6th GRAY DEE ONE (#7, 12-1) has been working right along for her first start since a fade job behind the likes of Dixie Law, Meilani, and probable Canadian Horse of the Year Luster in the May 16 Ruling Angel Stakes. Gittens had a 14% strike rate with 61-180 day comebackers over the past five years ($0.85 ROI). - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

4:21 WO 7th SLAYSTER (#6, 10-1) couldn't keep up against allowance/optional-claiming company after earning his diploma at first asking Aug. 2. The drop to $25K non-two company in this grass experiment should make him a player. The son of 13% turf sprint sire Speightster is out of a turf winner and his second dam was a G3 winner in England. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

4:31 BEL 7th HIGHER FORCE (#8, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (David Aragona). | Get Past Performances for this race

5:05 BEL 8th ASHIKIDAH (#6, 8-1) finished behind one of the rivals she meets again here in the Forever Together last time out, but the distance of that race didn't seem to suit this French-bred filly; was a sprinter over in France, and was able to get a mile at Saratoga; yet probably doesn't want a step beyond that; cuts back to an ideal distance, and figures to get her preferred covered up trip this time. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

5:48 KEE 10th FLASH OF FREEDOM (#7, 20-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh). | Get Past Performances for this race

6:30 SA 6th GAIRLOCH (#7, 4-1) won his debut for trainer Brendan Walsh in a one-mile maiden race on turf at Churchill Downs last November, and has been comprehensively beaten in his last four races. This $25,000 claiming race for nonwinners of two at a mile represents a drop in class from his recent starts and his first race on dirt. There are indications he can handle the surface switch. Gairloch, who is now trained by Leonard Powell, has worked well on the surface. His second dam was second in the Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on dirt at Santa Anita in 2008. Gairloch runs as a closer and should have a pace to follow. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race

7:00 SA 7th IMNOTVANILLASKY (#3, 6-1) may only be a clean start away from her first win. On Aug. 28 at Del Mar, in her first start since last October, Imnotvanillasky had a troubled start and closed from last of eight to finish fourth by 1 3/4 lengths in a $50,000 claimer for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs. She returns against the same level of competition for trainer Mark Glatt, who has a good record with runners racing in their second starts following brief layoffs. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race

7:30 SA 8th CHASING KAT (#6, 6-1) may be too tough to catch in this $8,000 claimer for fillies and mares at six furlongs. She was first and third in sprints for slightly higher claiming prices at Del Mar, and had bad luck at Los Al and again here last month. Chasing Kat broke through the gate before the start of a $16,000 claimer at Los Al on Sept. 11 and finished last of seven. On Sept. 25 at Santa Anita, Chasing Kat was near the front early while racing wide and faded through the stretch of a $10,000 claimer. Even if Chasing Kat does not have an early lead, she has shown the ability to be effective as a stalker. Trainer Gary Stute is adding blinkers. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race