DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, October 2, 2020

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 PIM 1st GENNIE HIGHWAY (#6, 6-1) came through in an off-the-turf affair in the final race of the recently-concluded Laurel Park meeting, but think she’s even more effective on the grass. Two starts back, she was shuffled back behind a dullard while saving ground entering the far turn, eased around that one and eventually dropped back to the rail only to wait behind horses. -Dan Illman

1:39 KEE 2nd NAUGHTY RENDEZVOUS (#8, 9-2) by one of the best debut sires going, Into Mischief, and while the dam’s foals haven’t excelled, she herself was a quick debut winner. This filly fetched $400K at a breeze-up sale and has the sort of steady, fairly quiet work pattern one often sees with live first-timers from this barn. -Marcus Hersh

2:23 PIM 4th MUCHA MEZQUINA (#11, 6-1) won both turf starts after being claimed by Salvaggio and kept her fitness level up to par when facing runaway odds-on favorite Vigilantes Way in off-the-grass outing last month. Thought she looked good two back at Parx as she overcame a stutter-step start to find a good position prompting the pace from the outside. -Dan Illman

3:29 WO 5th BACHELOR PAD (#8, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).

4:05 WO 6th HE’S A GIZMO (#1, 4-1) got away slowly and then lagged behind the field in 10th before closing stoutly from off fast splits to nearly beat $15K NW2 types in his first start with Lasix two weeks ago. -Ron Gierkink

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4:06 PIM 7th AMEN CORNER (#5, 6-1) couldn’t step with some promising 3-year-olds in last month’s Federico Tesio Stakes. He tried to push Monday Morning Qb’s pace along the inside on the first turn, settled into the pocket on the backstretch and failed to quicken with the big two in the stretch. Handled some hard-hitting older runners two back in off-the-turf entry-level allowance. -Dan Illman

4:12 BEL 7th TEQUILAMEMORIES (#7, 10-1) is by a new sire who has had three debut winners on dirt this year, to go along with three firsters that finished 2nd on turf; dam was lightly raced but she was a debut winner sprinting on dirt with a 68 Beyer and Rudy is more than capable with his juveniles. -Mike Beer

4:30 KEE 7th ELLA BRILLA (#4, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh).

4:47 BEL 8th LAST OPPORTUNITY (#1, 12-1) has made four starts since arriving from Ireland late last year and has been a bit inconsistent while running pretty well in two of them, and failing to fire much of a shot in the other two; trainer tends to ship in with some intention and this colt came through with a good effort two back while making an early wide move and dueling with a talented rival in the stretch, before settling for 3rd. -Mike Beer

5:05 KEE 8th I believe NO PAROLE (#5, 5-1) will prove the quickest horse in the Phoenix and establish the clear early lead he seems to need for his best race. Yes, his signature win came over seven furlongs, but just blasting away at this six-furlong trip might be his very best lick. He’s fresh, works - on paper, at least -- sparkle, and the poor last start helps his price here. -Marcus Hersh

5:20 BEL 9th HALF RIGHT (#1, 9-2) had his debut rained off the grass but his pedigree is versatile and he handled the dirt just fine while showing good speed to contest the pace from the outside, before putting his rivals away and going clear; faces tougher while stretching out and he has other speed to deal with here, but he may be pretty good and will be a price. -Mike Beer

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5:40 KEE 9th GRAMERCY (#6, 9-2) should be a fair price for sure off the Arlington debut win. Granted, the leader was stopping up front, but this was a fairly remarkable final three eighths from a filly who was struggling to maintain position at the 7/16 pole. Her stride is enormous, her pedigree strongly suggestive of a two-turn dirt filly. Trainer said she has a great mind, took the debut in stride, and the work pattern since suggests as much. -Marcus Hersh

5:46 WO 9th YOU CANT CATCH HER (#9, 10-1) has worked nicely since a fringe finish at a notch higher, and could put it all together in her fourth race off the bench. Fukumoto has given her a vote of confidence. -Ron Gierkink

5:52 BEL 10th BRICKYARD (#3, 12-1) ran well going a mile two back but weakened late after doing some early racing over that longer distance; ran better than it looks sprinting off the layoff when taking a good bump at the start and then getting caught over behind horses for much of that stretch run. -Mike Beer

6:23 PIM 11th As the well-bet Sleepy Eyes Todd walked on the lead in the Charles Town Classic, PLUS QUE PARFAIT (#3, 12-1) raced three wide around the first two turns, then tried to get into it with a four-wide bid a half-mile out. He couldn’t sustain that rally, but was easily second best while finishing ahead of two next-out winners. (last-place finisher Mr. Money returned to capture the Grade 3 Ack Ack at Churchill with a 94 Beyer). Stretches out to the distance of 2019 UAE Derby victory for barn that is 7 for the last 19 (37%, $6.68 ROI) with older (3-year-olds and upward) dirt routers in the second start following a 61- to 120-day layoff. -Dan Illman

7:45 SA 9th SWAMP SOUFFLE (#7, 8-1) comes off a couple dull outings but is capable of better and goes first time off the claim for a trainer who can fire off the claim. He’s run well here in the past and those last few not-so-outing (which came vs. tougher) help keep your price palatable. – Michael Hammersly