DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, April 11, 2020

With most other North American sports being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, we hope the sport of horse racing can entertain you during these trying times. 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.

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1:45 TAM 4th DUKE OF HEARTS (#5, 8-1) is out of a dam who posted her lone career win in a route but this colt has show some speed in the mornings, and he figures to be overlooked some in the wagering; worth a shot against a seemingly average group for the class level. -Kenny Peck

1:54 GP 4th MAJOR KELLY (#1, 20-1) the lone closer in a field that features a ton of speed and pace. Likely lost best chance at the break last time in a race that did produce pair of next out winners. Might run them all down at a square price. -Mike Welsch

2:08 OP 2nd HOPTOWN HONEY (#9, 15-1) was second at this level last time and prior to that start was a regular against steeper, between Oaklawn and Turfway. –Mary Rampellini

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2:15 TAM 5th CASK (#8, 4-1) makes his first start as a gelding, and the works he’s posted since that last race suggest he’s coming back as a new horse; the drop in class should also help his cause, as trainer Mike Stidham sports a gaudy 42% win rate with horses moving from Maiden Special Weight company into maiden claimers. -Kenny Peck

2:45 TAM 6th BIG MONEY MACHINE (#6, 10-1) does like to run 2nd, as he did in his most recent, but he has run well in his last couple of starts on the dirt, including a win three back; he was disqualified and placed 2nd for bumping a rival in that race but it was a solid try and he fits with these based on that effort, as well as the 69 Beyer he posted in that last one. -Kenny Peck

2:52 GP 6th Unraced MISTER WINSTON (#4, 9-2) has been working bullets at Payson Park for trainer Chad Brown. The son champion Lookin At Lucky is a half-brother to stakes winner Curlish Figure, stakes-placed Moreno’s Mine, and a debut winner. –Ron Gierkink

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2:52 GP 6th IMA PHAROAH (#13, 6-1) turned in razor sharp debut contesting all the pace with ultimate winner Cajun Brother before settling for second money. Well drawn in outside gate if he gets in. -Mike Welsch

3:15 TAM 7th SMALL HOPE (#9, 5-1) has consistent figures and comes out of races against better, running in starter handicap races in his last couple and in optional claimers in prior tries; this move into a claimer for non-winners of three marks a significant drop, and given any kind of pace help up front he should be able to run them all down late. -Kenny Peck

3:10 OP 4th SHOOTERS SHOOT (#2, 7-2) invades from Santa Anita, where on Feb. 16 he was second to the well-regarded Charlatan in a maiden special weight. One start later, SHOOTERS SHOOT won his maiden over older rivals. –Mary Rampellini

3:22 GP 7th DERBY CHAMPAGNE (#7, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch).

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3:41 OP 5th CYNICAL GIRL (#12, 9-2) hooked a runner two back in Edgeway and gave her all against that one, who covered six furlongs in a blazing 1:09.05. A repeat of the effort would seem to make Cynical Girl tough to contain in this spot. –Mary Rampellini

3:41 OP 5th CASUAL (#6, 6-1) is an interesting first-time starter. She’s a daughter of Lady Tak, a Grade 1 winner of $1.1 million who produced a first-out winner at Oaklawn last year, in Poets Dreamed. The score came for the same connections as Casual. –Mary Rampellini

4:23 GP 9th ZANNO (#7, 9-2) idle since finishing second behind future stakes winner So Street last summer at Colonial. Working bullets for return while shedding blinkers as most do from 2 to 3 from Ward barn. -Mike Welsch

5:24 GP 11th CONVICTION TRADE (#8, 15-1) freshened a bit after wide running fifth vs. similar on 1/19 and not this one already proven off the bench having posted well graded debut tally at 3. Working well, as good as any in this wide open spot. -Kenny Peck

5:43 OP 9th BANKIT (#8, 15-1) doesn’t seem to like wet tracks. Throw out the wet track start last time and he looks very competitive. Tom’s d’Etat is fabulous but no way he’s at his best for this race. Improbable with a terrible draw. Mr. Money might also “need” his first one back. Good race to take your shot. – Marcus Hersh

6:14 OP 10th HUNT THE FRONT (#12, 6-1) could sit a little closer to the pace than last time on account of the move from a mile to a mile and a sixteenth. –Mary Rampellini

6:48 OP 11th BASIN (#1, 7-2) surely wasn’t trained for a top performance nor asked for his very best last out in first start back from a long layoff, and he did just fine considering how close he was to the strong pace. Perfect trip from rail in order here for G1 winner who is set to take a considerable forward step. – Marcus Hersh

7:19 OP 12th EXULTING (#6, 4-1) returns to the overnight ranks following a trio of graded stakes starts, which makes him appealing on class. –Mary Rampellini