DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, April 8, 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.

12:05 TAM 1st CREATIVE CLOUD (#8, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:33 TAM 2nd TIZ A BEAST (#6, 8-1) got knocked around at the start a bit, and though he was off the board he showed some late interest and he galloped out well past the wire; figures to be more involved from the start today given a clean break and he has lots of upside off that last one. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:54 LRL 2nd CORA'S CHOICE (#3, 5-1) made her debut in a salty maiden special on turf at Gulfstream won by Just a Care, a filly that returned to finish second in the Melody of Colors on grass with a 77 Beyer. Although there is turf close up in the pedigree, the dam is a half-sister to stakes-winning dirt sprinters Bronzed (87 dirt Beyer) and Top Seed (84) from the family of Grade 1 dirt-route winner Golden Ballet (dam of Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:30 TAM 4th UNXPECTED TIGER (#3, 8-1) goes long on the dirt for the first time but perhaps this is his best game after all; seems to be improving with each start, as his latest was the best figure he's posted yet. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:25 TAM 6th ROAD MINISTER (#7, 9-2) wasn't well bet for his debut but he impressed in that win, as he was away very slowly but he recovered enough to get position early on before making a run on the turn and sustaining that lead to the wire; interested to see if he can improve off that effort with an alert beginning. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:53 LRL 6th CONTEMPT (#4, 10-1) is a half-brother to Grade 3-winning dirt sprinter Majestic Reason (won debut), stakes-placed turf router Good Reasoning (76 turf Beyer top) and stakes-placed dirt sprinter Jump for Love (64 turf Beyer) by a sire that has won with 23% of his first-time starters since the beginning of 2022. The dam was a stakes-winning dirt sprinter (won debut, 75 dirt Beyer) while the second dam was a stakes-placed dirt miler (93 dirt Beyer). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:18 OP 4th CHAPEL BARN (#2, 9-2) has a chance to wire the field. He stretches out to a mile following a pacesetting run over six panels. As with all mile races at Oaklawn, this one will end at the sixteenth pole. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:40 GP 7th A KISS FOR KHOZAN (#3, 8-1) doesn't catch too tough a field launching career at the start of the new meet. Limited work tab although showed plenty of speed in recent gate drill. A full to Smash Factor, who ran second in the IN Reality at 2 as well as Liv and Let Liv, who won 3 of 5 starts as a juvenile. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:40 OP 5th VIGANO (#2, 6-1) caught a quick crowd last out and the start was his first since last season at Oaklawn. The race also came on a wet track and he might benefit if the strip is fast as he ran arguably the best race of his career over such "footing." -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:02 SA 3rd CARMELITA'S MAN (#7, 4-1) had a tough trip last out, off the board in a similar N2X turf route. He was blocked into the far turn, blocked again in deep stretch. Not a fair shot. The Cal-bred stakes winner shortens to a mile, and though several in this field finished in front of him last out, 'MAN has proven he is effective at this shorter mile trip while the horses who beat him might want farther. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:31 SA 4th This maiden sprint offers a shot at a price. Second-time starter MYSTIFICATION (#5, 4-1) can upset. He repeatedly broke slowly in workouts before his debut, and not surprisingly broke slowly in the race. But he does have speed. He rushed, steadied in traffic, and went evenly to finish fourth. Since then, he posted a solid gate drill April 2 (viewed on XBTV.com), finally breaking well and outworking his mate. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:23 TUP 4th ATLANTIC PRINCESS (#7, 12-1) should be the value. We like the jock switch to Lopez and an improved recent race. This mare draws outside in back to back starts. Any chance it just took a while for this horse to settle in here after shipping in from out East? -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:39 GP 11th FORTHELOVEOFART (#4, 6-1) continues to improve, moved forward once again with addition of blinkers in latest. Ready to graduate. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:05 GG 3rd IRISH ROYALTY (#2, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Steve Andersen). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:35 OP 10th MOZINGO (#8, 7-2) is appealing as a two-time winner facing some less-experienced rivals in the Rainbow Miss. She's won against open company, over older rivals, has tactical speed and is a full sister to past Texas-bred of the Year Direct Dial ($546K). -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:51 SA 8th COALINGA ROAD (#8, 4-1), Cal-bred stakes winner at this nine-furlong turf trip two back, retains N1X eligibility because his win was against state-breds. He is fast on numbers, and he can finish. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

7:38 GG 6th CUTE RENEGADE (#2, 6-1) overcame a poor start and traffic issues to finish a clear second in an $8,000 claimer for maidens on March 18 in her fourth start. She was probably not going to threaten the three-length winner in Sheza Queen Bee, but could have been closer with a sharper start. This is a weak field, and Cute Renegade has a chance for a win in her fifth start with a better break. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets