DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Friday, Sept. 25, 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.

12:00 LRL 1st JERSEY CORN (#4, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Patrick Moquin). | Get Past Performances for this race

12:20 GP 1st TY WEBB (#8, 12-1) is by a 10% debut sire (2YO's only) and a 10% debut turf sire. His dam went 1-0-0-0 (no turf). Five of six sibs won including a pair of multiple winners (43K and 235K). Two sibs won their 2YO debut. Three of four sibs won on the grass including a debut turf winner. Works are fine and this colt fits whether this stays on the turf or not. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

1:22 GP 3rd SHOW OFF (#3, 5-1) is capable on the turf or synth and that comes in handy as there has been little turf racing of late. If all stay in, then race flow is more than fair. This mare got a confidence boost only two back and now puts four races together. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

1:14 CD 2nd Modest competition, sure, but two turf sprint wins for SHAMELESS BRIDE (#1, 8-1) to start her career last season. Couldn't stand up on Tapeta, apparently, and seemingly needed that CNL comeback run. Really liked her last race - quite a troubled trip and leveled off very well, closing quickly, when finally in the clear. Winner of her last is a solid horse, too. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

2:13 CD 4th SIXER (#11, 15-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh). | Get Past Performances for this race

2:22 BEL 3rd MY DIVINE SPIRIT (#5, 5-1) needs to recapture the form that earned her a 76 Beyer last fall at Aqueduct if she's to beat this field; she hasn't raced up to that standard in two starts so far this season, but layoffs have derailed her progress; she did at least take a step forward last time, staying on well for 2nd despite going 3-wide without cover on the turn; she should appreciate getting back out to an elongated sprint here. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

2:45 CD 5th Realize the evidence is not quite there for UNLOAD (#2, 12-1) on the cut-back, yet I still like it for him under this set of circumstances. Think he showed the trainer something June 26 when turned back to 6 1/2 - if you think he was tailing off at the end of a form cycle, that wasn't a bad run at all, and the three previous sprints came before Asmussen claimed him back. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

3:03 GP 6th QUEEN KWAINA (#7, 6-1) beat first time winners only two back and did so while adding a full furlong. She was right there at the 1/8th pole in her most recent but tired late something she has done in all of her synth routes. We bet this seven furlongs is a good fit. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

3:18 CD 6th The David Jacobson has another runner on this card, Sassy Princess, morning-line favorite in R8, who came back from a layoff with a 40-something Beyer at IND, then popped way up at SAR. FUGITIVE STAR (#1, 8-1) did not pop "way up" at SAR, but did improve considerably off the IND comeback run. What I'm getting out of it is Jacobson brought these horses back at IND nowhere near full race fitness - the guess is Fugitive Star has one more level to find third off the layoff. 7f is good for her and at her best she's good enough for this. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

3:43 WO 6th HEMLO GOLD (#2, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get Past Performances for this race

4:16 WO 7th CATCH THE DRIFT (#7, 6-1) went four-wide on the first turn before making a wide bid and then faded last time out in a route that you can draw a line through. She's shortening up to a suitable distance in this 6 1/2-furlong event off a claim by a shrewd trainer who had a 16% strike rate off a halter change during the last five years ($2.17 ROI). - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

5:04 SA 3rd GIANT KID (#3, 5-1) may only be a clean trip from her fourth career, which could occur in this $10,000 claimer at 5 1-2 furlongs for fillies and mares. This is Giant Kid's third race following a layoff of nearly 21 months. Trained by Bill McLean, Giant Kid was fifth in two starts in August at Del Mar. She raced in traffic on Aug. 1 and broke slowly on Aug. 30. She typically races as a closer and won with that style twice at Pleasanton in June 2024. In this field of seven, Gaint Kid should have sufficient speed to follow. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race

5:17 BEL 8th MERMAID (#7, 8-1) has finished off the board in two starts since the claim by Ilkay Kantarmaci, but her performances in those races suggest subtle improvement; got too aggressive chasing a longshot leader setting a very fast pace on Aug. 8; battled on bravely, but the race was ultimately dominated by closers; then last time she got steadied hard into the clubhouse turn before stalking another run-off leader; refused to give up in the lane, losing against tougher by just under a length; has sprinted effectively before and should benefit from both the turnback and drop in class. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

6:08 SA 5th BIG TIME COACH (#8, 9-2) starts from the outside post in a field of eight he can win. Big Time Coach was third in a race at the same level, a $20,000 claimer for maidens at five furlongs at Los Al on Sept. 11, closing from eight of nine. This six-furlong race may better suit Big Time Coach who has closed ground in his first two appearances. He will have a pace to follow. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race

8:26 RP 3rd LOVE ME SOME CANDY (#3, 5-1) ships in from Louisiana Downs and makes her local debut off a couple of deceptively good efforts in her last pair; she wasn't helped by a lack of pace in that abbreviated sprint last time and she ran well in defeat when sent longer two back, when a pace battle cost her her best chance. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

9:22 RP 5th CHEZ WHIZ (#6, 15-1) has license to improve off that last try, when he posted a sub-par figure against better, as he was well off the pace in that sprint, which was light on early zip; his prior Beyers give him strong credibility and he can run to them if he gets a better race flow. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

9:50 RP 6th BRUCELEA (#2, 6-1) sprints in his first start since May, and while this could be viewed as a prep for longer the reality is this is best game, with all of his four career turf wins coming at this distance; needs pace but capable of running them all down late if he gets it, and is able to also work out a clean trip. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race