DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, April 1, 2023

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.

1:14 TAM 3rd MYSTIC DREAMS (#5, 4-1) ran deceptively well in defeat two back but she failed to threaten in her latest despite a good pace set up; willing to give her another chance, as she figures to get an honest pace to chase here as well and she should be a square price. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

1:51 AQU 2nd ALWAYS CHARMING (#5, 10-1) was competitive in both dirt starts vs. claiming rivals while just getting started here last winter; returns from a long layoff in the right kind of spot for Klesaris, who has good numbers with horses like this from a limited sample - 180+ day layoff, dirt, sprint: 4 for his last 18, 22%, $4.92 ROI. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

2:09 LRL 4th LOOTAH (#4, 6-1) seems a bit green so perhaps the addition of blinkers will help him focus better on the task at hand. Stalked outside in his debut, crept up in behind horses, angled four wide, then tried to drift in. Didn't show much early interest in second start and finished evenly without threatening (runner-up returned to finish second in a Charles Town maiden special with a 50 Beyer, then ran third here for $24,000 with a 52). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

2:14 TAM 5th PUGILIST (#8, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race

2:22 AQU 3rd FOOLISH GHOST (#6, 9-2) took advantage of a soft trip when winning off the layoff last summer then saw his form tail off sharply; dropped to this level two back and ran a winning race on a fast pace but was caught by a closer late; dangerous speed as he drops back down second off the claim. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

3:25 TUP 1st MISCHIEF MAME (#5, 5-1) showed good speed in her debut but never got a breather and simply tired. She draws well again. We like the jock switch to Lopez who is 24% for this barn. This filly has some solid breeding and adds a half furlong today. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

3:44 TAM 8th ROGER MCQUEEN (#6, 6-1) makes his first start off the claim for trainer Craig Smith, who has won with two of his last six such runners; this gelding seems well spotted today in terms of race flow, as he'll likely be looking to close ground late and there are several speeds in this field. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

3:48 LRL 7th FORTES (#3, 8-1) received a nice setup when scoring at Charles Town nine days ago. Tracked four wide behind a sub-22 opening quarter, made a three-wide bid on the turn, then roared past the leaders in the short stretch. She's been competitive over this circuit in the past, is versatile enough to adapt to any pace scenario, and goes out for a barn that went 8 for the last 30 (27%, $2.76 ROI) with last-out winners. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

3:57 AQU 6th CATCHING CUPID (#1, 12-1) has not run close to his best since being claimed out of an easy win last December with a 74 Beyer; did try some tougher races for the new connections and caught a sloppy, sealed track when dropped to this level last time; good spot if he can re-find his form. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

4:14 TAM 9th MORENA DANCER (#7, 15-1) has had her chances but her last effort on the grass, two back, was better than the running line might indicate, as she showed good late foot while down inside late; needs pace but she's eligible to run them all down late if she gets it, and gets a clean trip. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

4:20 LRL 8th FRECCIA D'ARGENTO (#3, 5-1) had a slightly uncomfortable trip in circuit debut. Broke sharp, then was taken in hand to chase the gate-to-wire winner while in the three path. Raced in between in mild traffic to midstretch, then altered course down to the rail (a place the riders avoided for most of the race) late in the game. Think he has just enough pedigree and body type to get this extra distance. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

4:34 AQU 7th KAZ'S BEACH (#1, 8-1) was returning from a long layoff last time when finishing gamely for second behind a streaking, odds-on winner on the lead; underrated with tactical speed and the added furlong of this race works for him. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

4:52 LRL 9th EMOTIONAL RESCUE (#1, 6-1) is a half-brother to three debut winners including multiple stakes-placed dirt sprinter Cop a Tude (93 dirt Beyer) and stakes-placed dirt miler Off My Cloud (74 dirt/turf Beyer). While barn is not known as a source of first-out winners, they did go 3 for the last 14 (21%, $2.89 ROI) with debut runners on dirt. A couple of recent dirt works at Fair Hill match up with Misty Mauve, who is entered in today's first race. Perhaps they breezed in company. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

5:01 SA 3rd FLAT OUT JOY (#5, 7-2) is the tepid choice in a $25k claiming turf sprint that did not come up all that tough. 'JOY was overmatched last out, but her dirt-sprint upset two back and her runner-up turf-sprint finish four back were against foes similar to these. Despite an apparently tepid pace scenario, 'JOY gets the call to wear them down. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

6:29 TUP 7th JANERO ROSE (#7, 8-1) is in fine form. New barn is 20% off the claim. Conning gets a leg up and this mare responded well to her handling only 3 and 4 back. This Cal bred draws fine and is 8-1 on the morning line. Added half furlong is a plus as is versatile style. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

6:32 SA 6th This $10k claiming sprint came up light on speed, which benefits CATBERNAY (#1, 4-1). Up from Los Alamitos, where he wired a 1,000-yard nighttime race last out, the gelding won a maiden-50 over the SA track two years ago and is quick enough to make the lead. He is racing only five and a half furlongs, and can steal it. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

6:35 OP 10th GRAND LOVE (#2, 8-1) and WET PAINT meet in the Grade 3 Fantasy, a race that offers points for the Kentucky Oaks. GRAND LOVE has a few variables in her favor as she attempts to turn the tables on WET PAINT. For one, she has reason to move forward in what will be her second start since Nov. 4, when she set the pace and finished sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies won by eventual champion Wonder Wheel. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

6:59 TUP 8th ZEYARAAT (#2, 5-1) catches a race with some speed and figures as good a trip as anyone. Her last race came back key when 2 of 7 returned to win with figs of 80 and 68. Works are well spaced. The leading rider gets a leg up. This mare has won off a layoff before. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

8:17 SA 9th GLENALL (#10, 5-1) gets the call in this wide-open N2L starter turf mile, based on a better-than-looked effort last out from which she was claimed for $50k. The race was dominated by speed, GLENALL rallied from last to third while running her final quarter-mile in a respectable :23.91. A similar effort might be enough. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

8:32 GG 9th ENJOY IT STRAIT (#9 5-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Steve Andersen). | Get PPs for this race