DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, August 1, 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.

12:30 SAR 1st PAVLOVA'S PALACE (#1, 6-1) raced greenly throughout her sprint debut while appearing to need the experience; her pedigree suggests that she will only get better with time and distance, and that was the impression she made in that first appearance; stretches right out and draws the rail. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

1:52 GP 4th FLYING LIAM (#6, 6-1) hasn't tried the green in a while as his last sod start has fallen off his current pp's. He did get a 79 Beyer in one of his three turf starts. He is obviously tons better now. Turf and distance Tommies of 344/393 scream two turns on the sod. Works are well spaced. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

1:53 MTH 3rd FIRST HATHOR (#2, 7-2) was in against these same rivals in her latest but she didn't get a chance to compete after apprentice Jefferson Skerrett lost his balance heading into the first turn and fell off her back; the race two back was another failed turf attempt, and that's easily forgiven, but the maiden score prior to that at Tampa was decent enough, yielding a Beyer that gives her credibility in this spot. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

2:05 WO 3rd LOVELY SUMMER (#2, 15-1) posted a pair of Beyer donuts last fall on the dirt at Churchill. She has worked nicely on the Tapeta for good layoff trainer KV and could prevail in this five-furlong inner turf dash with the addition of blinkers and Lasix. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

2:38 WO 4th HYPNOTIZM (#2, 8-1) dusted two slow rivals from the gate July 26 and should be prominent in this auction maiden special. The son of promising freshman sire Collusion Illusion has a blend of speed and stamina in his pedigree. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

2:46 SAR 5th VIRABHADRASANA's (#7, 6-1) most recent breeze came in company with stablemate Stress Relief, who won her debut in Kentucky by open lengths at the end of June (66 Beyer); had previously worked a bullet five furlongs from the gate upon shipping up from Keeneland; new trainer already has two wins at the meet with 2yos. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

2:59 CNL 7th VERIFIRE (#10, 7-2) seems like the typical lightly raced and precocious Cox trainee, but he has already picked up a stakes victory and will return to those waters for the first time in nearly a year; he is coming off a game allowance victory at Churchill Downs, where he earned a 96 Beyer; so there is little reason to doubt his current form; cool horse. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

3:11 WO 5th RULE THE WAVES (#5, 12-1) went to the sidelines for a year when up the track behind the likes of Miss Vyvyanne and Cara Cara in her lone inner turf start last year. She deserves a turf mulligan at what should be a square price. -Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

3:30 GP 7th AMANDE (#1, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get Past Performances for this race

3:54 SAR 7th THUNDEROUSLY (#3, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get Past Performances for this race

4:04 MTH 4th GOLDEN RING (#9, 6-1) turns back from routes but that's a decent angle for trainer Sergio Rabadan, and this mare ran her best race in terms of Beyers in her only other turf/sprint try, over this course about a year ago; did well to get the show in that last run despite running into traffic trouble in the lane, angling off the rail after she was rebuffed while trying to run inside the leader inside the eighth pole. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

4:28 SAR 8th DUBOFF (#8, 12-1) is 3 for 4 in her career in races between 5 and 5.5 furlongs on turf, including that impressive win in January when turned back in distance; she has tactical speed and has already run well several times on this circuit; just has to be ready off the bench. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

4:38 MTH 8th AWOL (#7, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get Past Performances for this race

6:40 CBY 2nd ARROMAX (#6, 6-1) just ran a little better and just likes it here. He draws best with this attack post going seven furlongs. There is a lot of speed in here so perhaps this guy can trip out best all while getting in light. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

7:10 DMR 5th ON THE WHIM (#7, 7-2) seeks his second victory in the California Dreamin' Stakes, a Cal-bred turf route he won in 2024. Although winless since autumn 2024, his recent form is solid: runner-up in a pair of Cal-bred stakes at SA, sandwiched around a bad-trip fifth in an allowance. 'WHIM has tactical speed to keep the front-runner to his inside within striking range, 'WHIM should be the first to attack if/when the pacesetter falters. - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race

7:10 CBY 3rd DEAL'EM AND WEEP (#4, 12-1) should offer some value if near 12-1 morning line. This mare was washed off the green two back and then found five furlongs way too short in her most recent (plus a slow start). This mare lost by only two lengths on the green going long at the Fair Grounds only four back. Race flow isn't fast but it isn't pace-less either. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race