DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, October 21, 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.
1:06 BAQ 2nd HAMMERIN AAMER (#4, 5-2) was in excellent form toward the end of last year while winning three of four (and finishing second in the other) while steadily rising on class; carried that form into the first part of 2022 to hit the board in two starts vs. better, and then winning for twice this price - with an excellent ride from Davis playing a part; has remained popular at the claim box and can get this distance. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:51 WO 2nd PASSIONPLATE (#3, 10-1) never threatened at 4-1 when debuting in a six-furlong contest on the main track. The son of G2-winning grasser Passion for Action is a half-brother to turf stakes winner Fair Maiden, who was a close third in the G1 Natalma. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:04 KEE 3rd Fanduel / Fairmount-based trainer Steve Manley is 5-2-0-1 at KEE fall meets since 2018 and already has a winner this meeting. He only took over RESURRECTION ROAD's (#4, 10-1) training a couple months ago, and first time out for the barn the mare improved immeasurably and was bet at HAW like a lot of people knew it was happening. This horse has run well several times at KEE, too, and doesn't absolutely have to have the lead. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:20 LRL 4th POET IN MY HEART (#5, 4-1) likely gained valuable experience in career debut for the $45,000 waiver. Bumped at the start, she tracked the pace outside, split horses with a four-wide bid on the turn, then flattened out and took some dirt in the stretch. Drops, adds Lasix, and can show speed stretching out slightly in distance. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:22 WO 3rd TAKE CHARGE SOUSI (#7, 6-1) sagged after an inside/stalking trip in a recent two-turn experiment. He's cutting back to three-quarters in this light maiden special and should be dangerous on a repeat of his penultimate race, in which he was disqualified from first in a seven-furlong test for OS/$40K maidens. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:54 WO 4th GOZILLA (#3, 6-1) has had a break since getting claimed from a flat fourth at this $25K NW2 level on Aug. 5 by a trainer with good stats off the halter switch. Note that he earned solid Beyers in the first race in each of his two previous form cycles. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:59 GP 6th ISLAND MAGIC (#1, 7-2) a much improved sort of late. Ran winning effort last time after fanning very wide into stretch, failing to switch leads down lane. Might just avenge setback to AMERICAN TAP with a cleaner run. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:16 BAQ 6th ADAM'S ANGEL (#4, 6-1) finished a good second behind a sharp winner in her only start as a 2yo; got shuffled back briefly and caught some traffic before tiring in her return from the layoff at Saratoga; turf to dirt with the pedigree to improve with some added distance. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:40 KEE 6th SPARKLE OF HOPE (#5, 8-1) and CODE NAME KATE ran second and first, respectively, in a common last start at CD, and perhaps SOH turns the tables this time. That last race was very slow paced and CNK easily got the better trip. Far more speed entered here, and the cut back from 6 1/2 to a straight 6f could help SOH, whose lone win came over 5 1/2 furlongs. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:35 GP 9th WELD HALL (#4, 5-1) well backed for debut, turned in even effort while hung wide late. Worked sharp half from gate subsequent to that outing. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:00 WBS (Harness) 1st IM HUNGRY (#8, 5-1) is a homebred half-sister to 2022 Meadowlands Pace winner Beach Glass. She probably has more speed than you see on her card and she gets the call to win at first asking here. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:28 MED 2nd DONYA'S MAGIC (#3, 8-1) weakened late in her last two starts going long on the turf but this projects to be a much better pace scenario than she faced in that last pair, as she was in races with other pacesetters in those contests and she appears to be the main speed tonight; license to steal this if she can back down the fractions on a clear lead. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:44 SA 8th First-time starter CAPTAIN SPARROW (#3, 5-1) debuts with a series of fast works including a bullet three-eighths from the gate on Sunday that suggests he is well-meant first out. His dam was an allowance-caliber stakes-placed turf filly who finished second by a nose in her career debut; her first runner won his career debut. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:56 MED 3rd LEO MONTE (#10, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
8:00 YR (Harness) 4th NEW HEAVEN (#5, 9-2) was a bit better last week and he drops down to a level where he's much more effective; veteran can get the winning trip with an alert getaway. – Matt Rose | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
8:24 MED 4th HARD KNOCKING (#6, 6-1) failed as the favorite in each of his last two but those were no easy trips, as he moved prematurely in his latest and he was caught up in a battle on the front end two back, through a decent opening fractions; best recent Beyers make him a threat tonight and he can atone here if he can work out a more favorable trip. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:05 RP 3rd EXPENSIVE LIAISON (#8, 8-1) figures to be strong through the stretch on the cutback to one turn. She's a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Hits Pricey Legacy, who goes later on the card in the Distaff. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets