DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Monday, February 15, 2021
Emily Shields C Z Rocket extended his winning streak to five with this victory in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.
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 AQU 1st NISBET BEACH (#3, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:25 LRL 3rd Perhaps it was merely the synthetic surface that perked up WICKED FINN (#3, 8-1) as his sire’s progeny generally do well on the surface and he is a half-brother to another synthetic winner, but he seems well-spotted returning to dirt in first start following 118-day layoff. Tracked a quick pace outside, took over at will turning for home and turned on the jets under a drive. Think he can stay close to the expected moderate pace. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:23 AQU 3rd DID I STUTTER (#2, 10-1) switched back to dirt for the first time in nearly a year off the layoff last month and finished a good second behind front-running, odds-on favorite Buyers Remorse, who then shipped in here to defeat starter allowance rivals with a 69 Beyer; wasn’t beating that filly but DID I STUTTER did lose some position early on, before getting clear and chasing her home gamely. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:55 AQU 4th CREATIVE STYLE (#3, 7-2) finished well back of AIR ATTACK when they met here last month, but that race was a nine-furlong race and that distance has always been a bit too far for the former. CREATIVE STYLE’s overall form dating back to the beginning of 2020 has been solid and he may benefit more from this cut back to a mile. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:59 LRL 6th LONG DISTANCE LOVE (#3, 7-2) chased quick splits set by class-dropper Lady Clau, was outpaced a bit on the turn, then finished evenly for a minor award. The runner-up from that race returned to win for $25,000 in a 50 Beyer. No chance in her debut facing Little Huntress (entered in a stakes race at Laurel on Saturday), but might have an easier time settling close to the pace here. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:30 SA 1st LUCKY PERIDOT (#1, 3-1) was in a race too long at a class level too high last time out Jan. 17 but kept to her task well, rallying for 4th. Returns to what may be her best game (sprinting) with some serious class relief that has to help, too. – Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:29 LRL 9th COMMANDING GENERAL (#4, 3-1) took a step forward in first start at this level. Stalked the quick pace outside, swung four wide turning for home and finished gamely in between rivals. Claimed out of that race by Anthony Farrior and that barn might be slowly heating up (four-win day between Laurel and Charles Town on February 5). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:20 SA 8th OCTOPUS (#5, 3-1) drops two class levels to $16k claiming, into a sprint in which he could be the lone speed. Come and catch him. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets