DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, April 4, 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.

12:30 TAM 1st ANIMAUXSELLE (#5, 3-1) has certainly had her chances, posting on two wins in 41 career starts to date, but she has been like a new horse since the claim by trainer Mike Dini, including in her latest, when she rallied to miss by just a length in a solid effort; two back, she had little chance racing well off slow splits in a race lacking speed, and she didn’t run badly on the turf in her first start for the barn. -Kenny Peck

12:45 GP 1st BARBIE’S KING (#1, 12-1) draws an improved start over his last few races and also owns one of the field’s best collections of recent Beyer Speed Figures. In addition, his chief rival, Duellist, is stuck out in post 12. -Mary Rampellini

1:15 GP 2nd MILLIONAIRE RUNNER (#5, 9-2) a stretch running sort who continues to hold his form well at the present time and likely to get the proper pace set up if this one goes to form. -Mike Welsch

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2:05 OP 1st KRISTI’S COPILOT (#4, 3-1) represented himself well against steeper last out when second and could be sitting on a peak race here, in his third out since May. -Mary Rampellini

2:15 GP 4th MIGHTY FAST (#1, 6-1) caught pretty decent bunch last time when fourth following ground saving trip on what may have been a dead rail that day. Race has since produced pair of next out grads. Expecting best yet making third start of the form cycle. -Mike Welsch

2:35 OP 2nd LISTEN TO ROSE (#8, 9-2) draws an improved post over his last start and has reason to move forward in his second out since September. -Mary Rampellini

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3:00 TAM 6th FORT KING (#8, 3-1) didn’t break all that well in his return from the long layoff but he rushed up to contest the pace before weakening in the late stages; with a clean getaway he may be the primary speed in this field, which is a little light on pace, and given a loose lead he may be long gone for trainer Georgina Baxter, a 30% winner with horses moving from turf to dirt. -Kenny Peck

3:05 OP 3rd SWITHER’S SHORTCUT (#9. 5-1) was fourth last out in a race that has produced three next-out winners at Oaklawn. -Mary Rampellini

3:30 TAM 7th SERENITSA (#2, 5-2) ran into some toughies in Florida and SoCal last year. She’s been freshened, lures Gallardo and has worked superbly for her return. – Michael Hammersly

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3:30 TAM 7th PALLAS ATHENE (#6, 6-1) was moving well through the lane in her first start against winners, a decent try where she posted another Beyer in the low 70’s, for the third straight race; she is reliant on the pacesetters, as she will be looking to make the last run under Centeno, but there does seem to be enough pace in this field to set her up in the lane. -Kenny Peck

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3:35 OP 4th SLIME QUEEN (#3, 12-1) would’ve won three back at HAW had she not been moved to the lead much too early. Two back at FG she was pushed in at the start and wound up too far behind a loose leader who set a slow pace and aired. Last out she was sandwiched just after the start then taken up between horses before the first turn, racing wide on an inside-favoring course in race dominated by speed. Can she handle dirt? Maybe. Karakontie has sired stakes-class dirt 3yo Sole Volante. Don’t see anyone to fear in this 3yof maiden route. – Marcus Hersh

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