DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026

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.

11:42 SAR 2nd GUN RANGE (#7, 6-1) sat wide and just off the pace before easily putting away a pair of next-out winners to score on debut; made his second start in an ultra-tough allowance, where he lost all chance when stumbling badly at the start; rates another chance against this field. - Mike Beer  | Get Past Performances for this race

12:53 CNL 2nd LIGHTEN (#3, 6-1) faced winners for the first time as a 14-1 longshot in a much tougher starter/optional claimer at Parx last time out and quit; Ness is bringing her back for a $12,500 tag, which feels like a more reasonable target after her gritty maiden-claiming victory at Delaware in June; she fits in much better, assuming she doesn't stop again. - Patrick Moquin  | Get Past Performances for this race

12:56 SAR 4th ALTO BLUES (#8, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).  | Get Past Performances for this race

2:03 WO 3rd SUPER SICILY (#2, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).  | Get Past Performances for this race

2:55 CNL 6th CRYSTAL HILL (#5, 8-1) entered Fisher's barn for two tries over hurdles earlier this year, but the gelding is clearly better suited to flat racing and will switch back for a classy maiden try; the gelding has come up just short in some very competitive fields in the past for Schultz, including a game third at Kentucky Downs and photo-finish defeat at Monmouth; he's an intriguing outsider for capable connections. - Patrick Moquin  | Get Past Performances for this race

3:03 MTH 5th SIR NEWTONS LAWS (#9, 4-1) has consistently been against the race flow this season, racing off the pace in all of his sprint tries, and every one was at least a little light on speed, making it tough for him to close ground late; a slow start put him further in a hole in that last one but he did well to get the place with a late run, and he was moving exceptionally well through the late stages in his try two back. - Kenny Peck  | Get Past Performances for this race

3:28 CNL 7th DO THE RIGHT THING (#8, 6-1) is a maiden stepping up to stakes company for Motion, and that sort of move cannot be ignored; the trainer rarely spots his horses poorly, so taking this ambitious step is making a statement of some sort; one could argue the well-bred turf runner could have done much more in his debut with a better trip, and he still held for fourth in a deep field; he might have all the seasoning he needs to step up. - Patrick Moquin  | Get Past Performances for this race

3:35 MTH 6th In a race with a couple of confirmed speeds it could well set up for a horse like POST COMMAND (#6, 3-1), who returns to the statebred ranks for the first time since the stretch-running score here three back; he was in over his head in the United Nations and also against better in his latest but he figures to rebound today at this reduced level, especially if he gets a quick, contested pace to chase, as expected. - Kenny Peck  | Get Past Performances for this race

3:45 WO 6th YOSHII (#3, 7-2) dominated non-three OS/$40K opposition last out when trying the grass for the first time in a 7 1/2-furlong inner turf tilt. He could double up in this N1X sprint on the main course with apprentice Douglas back aboard--he's 2 for 4 for Dale D. - Ron Gierkink  | Get Past Performances for this race

3:46 GP 6th BLINKSTER (#2, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).  | Get Past Performances for this race

4:08 MTH 7th SPECTACULAR SAM (#7, 7-2) proved in her route debut that she can make up ground in the lane and that's no small consideration in these two-turn races for 2-year-olds, and the pace here does figure to be contested early on; the Beyer she posted in that second career start was a big improvement over her debut figure and she'll be tough to stave off late in this Sorority Stakes if she can take another step forward. - Kenny Peck  | Get Past Performances for this race

4:41 MTH 8th TWO DOLLAR BILL (#8, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck).  | Get Past Performances for this race

4:57 KD 6th Who knows the quality of the horses behind MID AMERICAN (#6, 20-1) in his debut - few if any run-backs. But there were eleven of them, and he smashed that group. Granted, he got a great trip sitting in the pocket, but that owed at least in part to his rate-able speed and professional approach. Really liked the way this colt quickened after being taken off fence for his run, and he hit the line still loaded with energy. - Marcus Hersh  | Get Past Performances for this race

5:49 SAR 12th ECHO SOUND (#1, 15-1) has her work cut out for her in a highly competitive Ballerina. She did rank among the top 3yo filly sprinters last year after a fast win in the Victory Ride on this track, and her effort in the Test was fine despite losing as the favorite, as that race fell apart late; looked good winning easily in her 4yo debut; steps back up at a price. - Mike Beer  | Get Past Performances for this race

6:31 DMR 4th Despite finishing eighth last out at this $16k claiming starter level, front-runner/pace-presser WIZARD OF WESTWOOD (#7, 5-1) gets the call to post an upset. He had no chance last time at this turf-mile distance. 'WESTWOOD was caught wide pressing a fast pace, four- and five-wide most of the trip, and weakened. The race was dominated by off-the-pace runners, as all the front-runners fell apart. But this softer-pace field includes only one other front-runner. - Brad Free  | Get Past Performances for this race

6:35 SAR 13th THE PUMA (#4, 8-1) was one of the more fancied 3yo colts earlier this year after his Tampa Bay Derby win, which he followed up with a 100 Beyer-near-miss in the Florida Derby; he didn't make it to Kentucky, and was just starting back in the Haskell last month, where he might not have loved the sloppy conditions; can easily take the next step at a fair price. - Mike Beer  | Get Past Performances for this race

6:52 KD 9th REPENTLESS (#6, 6-1) was really, really good a year ago winning his debut going this same 7f distance at KD. Didn't stay a route second out, didn't really dirt third out - and that's it, that's his form. I trust this barn to have the horse ready for something representative first time back from the long, long break, and if you project improvement through maturation from the race last season at KD, no reason he can't beat the likes of SHERIFF BART. - Marcus Hersh  | Get Past Performances for this race

7:25 KD 10th CHASING THE CROWN (#2, 6-1) lost a brutal head bob to LAGYNOS at Churchill this summer - they're really not far off one another at their best. Chasing the Crown has been at his best over this course in the past, and where Lagynos is back in three weeks after the Fourstardave, Chasing the Crown has been freshened for this spot - and will be a considerably better price. -Marcus Hersh

7:55 KD 11th Was a little surprised seeing trainer M Casse's good record with juvenile firsters at KD: three winners, two seconds, and two thirds from a dozen runners, none of them a short price. Casse runs two firsters here, MALIBU DANCER (#3, 20-1) the one that I like. Just one workout video availiable, that from July 30, and if she was galloping out that long and strong a month ago, I'd imagine the filly is fit to show what she has now. - Marcus Hersh  | Get Past Performances for this race

8:26 RP 3rd CITY OF ANGELS (#1, 5-1) rises in class off the claim by trainer Dick Capellucci, and this barn's gaudy record with such runners (39% winners) makes this gelding a threat by default; gets the rail and has enough speed to stay close from the outset. - Kenny Peck  | Get Past Performances for this race

8:40 DMR 8th Lightly raced HANKERING (#11, 5-1) can win this $12.5k claiming N2L sprint with a front-running trip while shortening from six and one-half furlongs to six. Debut winner two back, he ran well at this class level last out. He set a contested pace, put away the favorite (who finished last), then got worn down late to miss by a neck. Claimed off the effort, he benefits by the shorter trip and will be involved in the pace scenario from the outside (post 11 of 12). -Brad Free

9:10 CBY 7th STATE FORTY EIGHT (#7, 9-2) has speed and draws outside. He just ran a Beyer top. Team Martinez are 18% with their repeating winners. An early breather would go a long way. -Scott Ehlers

9:22 RP 5th BOBBY BRINKLEY (#2, 6-1) is in for a tag for the first time since Marck, which, perhaps not coincidentally, also marked his most recent win; he won that mile claimer via a front-end trip but he is at his best when allowed to sit and make one run in sprints and there does seem to be enough speed to his outside to set him up. - Kenny Peck  | Get Past Performances for this race

9:50 RP 6th SEND OFF (#4, 15-1) has posted three of his four career wins over this track and though he lacks tactical speed this sprint could well set up for a closer; his best back figures give him strong credibility and he should be a nice price on this move into allowance company, which indicates confidence on the part of trainer Sarah Davidson. - Kenny Peck  | Get Past Performances for this race