DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, April 12, 2025

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.

12:50 GP 1st CUT'EM LOOSE (#3, 10-1) got hung a mile wide from tough post last time but obviously an improved sort who gets another chance at this level with a cleaner run. – Mike Welsch

1:06 TAM 2nd MISSION KEY (#2, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck).

2:04 KEE 3rd Liked SHREWD OPERATOR (#4, 10-1) quite a bit going into his debut at FG - kind of floundered around out there and didn't show a whole lot, but I'm coming back to him for the same reasons, works and pedigree, that held some appeal first time out. – Marcus Hersh

2:42 TAM 5th VICTORIA'S DANCER (#9, 10-1) was making up ground late in that off-the-board finish two back, a deceptively good effort, and though she was no threat in the Hillsborough she was simply overmatched there; goes back to sprinting and this could ultimately be her best game, as she has not run a poor race yet at one turn on the grass and she does figure to be a square price. – Kenny Peck

3:08 KEE 5th MESERO (#7, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh).

3:50 AQU 6th SCAT TU TAP (#4, 4-1) has improved since switching to dirt recently and exits another excellent try last month when finishing gamely after a much-improved winner that had gotten the jump on him; showed that he can run his race from the front two back when finishing a good second to another in-form Linda Rice trainee; one more chance. – Mike Beer

4:34 GP 8th Another race that should feature a strong early pace which might help the likes of CREVALLE D'ORO (#6, 10-1) who was hauled back to last after unlucky start, got caught very wide trying to launch late bid on second best. Winner flattered race coming back to capture a stakes in her next try. May be coming best of all at the end if this one plays out as expected. – Mike Welsch

4:50 TAM 9th CALVIN'S RIDE (#10, 6-1) was off the board in his return from the short freshening but he has every right to improve with that race under his belt, and with this move to a claimer; the addition of blinkers could also help the cause, of course. – Kenny Peck

5:16 KEE 9th Deflating run from HYPNUS (#8, 6-1) in the LA Derby, where he never really showed any spark. Because I believe he has far more talent than that, and seeing the post-LA Derby fast work, presumably in the new equipment, I'll guess that the addition of blinkers brings forth the ability he showed in his debut and, for that matter, in a relatively troubled Rebel trip. Not sold on any of the shorter prices. – Marcus Hersh

5:26 AQU 9th AIR OF DEFIANCE (#8, 15-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).