DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, August 22, 2020

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.

12:00 GP 1st Looking for TAILADIOS (#4, 6-1) to be the latest to relegate KARENINA (32-1-10-9, wowww) to her familiar bridesmaid’s role in the noon ET opener when benefiting from her return to action just 9 days ago; a mere smidge of improvement over that first start in exactly 8 months might well be enough in this N2L-$12.5k turf route for fillies and mares with uninspiring records. -Marty McGee

12:29 GP 2nd Several of these 2yo maiden-claimers stand to do better than their first one or two with benefit of their useful experiences. Starting with AWESOME BEACH (#4, 3-1), one of two in here for Ralph (with Win for Winslow); the drop in for a first tag plus the last-out speed show seem to hint there’s more ability than he has yet to show. -Marty McGee

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1:16 MTH 2nd R RAJUN BULL (#2, 6-1) is out of dam who won three races, all sprints, including her own debut as a 2-year-old and then the Grade 3 Debutante Stakes; she didn’t try the grass but her lone winner from three starters thus far was turf horse Racinginthestreet (four wins, all on the green) and this colt has exceptional breezes showing for his career bow, strongly hinting at speed. -Kenny Peck

1:40 LRL 3rd LOOKIN FOR CANDY (#3, 8-1) pushed odds-on New York invader Splashertown’s swift early pace and only faltered in the final three-sixteenths of a mile. There doesn’t appear to be a horse as quick as Splashertown in this spot and Lookin for Candy might assume the role of primary pacesetter here. Curious to see if she moves forward on firmer ground. -Dan Illman

2:36 WO 4th DR. GREEN (#7, 6-1) blew away maiden special rivals two back on the inner turf before getting his number taken down for a phantom foul. He regressed when second most recently on the Tapeta, and could rebound with another breakout performance in this main turf route, with Husbands replacing the injured Lermyte. -Ron Gierkink

3:40 LRL 7th Both STAR OF SHANGHAI (#4, 12-1) and BETCHA BY GOLLY are candidates for normal second-out improvement for excellent barns with the former getting the nod by likely offering a better price on the tote. Star of Shanghai broke sharp in Delaware debut, but just couldn’t go with them early. Finished up nicely on her own with a strong gallopout. The third-finisher from that race returned to best special weights at Charles Town with a 49 Beyer. Dam won the Pink Ribbon Stakes going seven furlongs at Charles Town with an 87 Beyer. -Dan Illman

3:45 WO 6th LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE (#7, 8-1) has worked fast for the same connections as the unbeaten 3yo sensation Shirl’s Speight. She’s by the same sire as SS, Speightstown, and her G2-winning dam is a half-sister to G1 winner Perfect Shirl, who’s the dam of SS. -Ron Gierkink

4:10 LRL 8th COCONUT CAKE (#9, 7-2) must step up to face winners for the first time, but she’s done little wrong from two starts including a nice-looking victory against waivermaidens last month. Hung out four wide on the turn, she reeled in the leader without much fuss and was always holding the runner-up at bay. It’s possible the pace will be faster than she’s ever experienced, but she’s lightly-raced with lots of upside and it will be interesting to see if she can kick them down late. -Dan Illman

4:10 LRL 8th A GIRL NAMED JAC (#2, 10-1) has ample work for first start since last fall and only has to be fit enough to get a short turf-sprint trip. Won 2nd out despite a lousy start and showed in debut she has speed. Has worked on turf, is very much bred for turf, and can improve on turf / with maturity. - Marcus Hersh

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4:33 LAD 2nd MAHALO JOHN (#3, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).

4:40 ELP 7th MOTOWN GIRL (#6, 10-1) was away poorly in the slop debuting last November, never got involved, not seen since. At this point I assume offspring of Uncle Mo are going to move up on turf. Sharp works for strong layoff barn. - Marcus Hersh

4:41 MTH 10th DOMAIN (#7, 8-1) rallied with interest two back, catching the eye with a smooth run through the lane, but he was forced to try to close after he broke tardily; with a clean getaway he can be expected to be involved from the start in this 11-furlong test, as he has shown some early zip in the past. -Kenny Peck

5:21 GP 11th A creditable fourth after taking a bit of regrouping following a frustrating Tampa meet, POZNAN (#6, 6-1) might finally do enough here to send you home a winner as a live Arriagada house horse; oft-beaten favorite has a win in him sometime somewhere. -Marty McGee

5:54 WO 10th CHEEKY PINT (#11, 10-1) raced three- and four-wide en route to a comfortable maiden score when going long on the inner turf in her return. She appears to be a good fit in this NW2 tilt on the same course. -Ron Gierkink

5:55 LAD 5th DONNA’S COURT (#2, 12-1) is just much better in his last two. Sharp horses like this turf course and often with subpar turf breeding. This guy is actually bred to like the green with his 335 turf Tomlinson. Other speed is for others to worry about yet this gelding has passed runners before. A good price for sure. -Scott Ehlers

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6:36 DMR 4th The challenge facing SECRET KEEPER (#2, 7-2) in this route stakes for 3yo fillies is her lack of seasoning and inexperience around two turns. She would be the first this century to win the Torrey Pines in just her third start. But ‘KEEPER is very good. She scored dominant sprint wins her first two starts, and is bred to run long. Her full sibling Into Chocolate won a route and finished third in this race last summer; their dam is a maiden sibling to G1 turf route winner Harmonious. -Brad Free

6:49 LAD 7th OH MY GOSH BECKY (#7, 12-1) ran evenly in her return but it was on this grass and going short. She is just better around two turns. She has two tries on this sod last summer that could win this if duplicated. Can she do so in only her second start off the layoff? We would want all of her 12-1 morning line to find out. -Scott Ehlers

8:35 RP 2nd RATHMEISTER (#3, 12-1) makes a few key moves. She’s back racing for the price of some of her best career finishes. She’s also back on dirt - and some of her best races so far have come on the main track. -Mary Rampellini

8:36 DMR 8th The inconsistent TAKE THE ONE O ONE (#4, 8-1) gets the call to wire the field as he drops out of a pair of Cal-bred stakes into a second-level allowance dirt mile. A horsefor-course at Del Mar (maiden and stakes wins), ‘ONE looks like the speed of the field and can lead gate to wire if he runs to his N1X upset three starts back. -Brad Free

9:31 RP 4th POPPY’S OATS (#1, 5-1) owns competitive Beyer Figures and has recency on one of his chief rivals. -Mary Rampellini

10:27 RP 6th GRAND ROYALE (#5, 8-1) gives up recency to these as he last raced in February, but what he lacks there he makes up for in class as one who has been facing steeper. -Mary Rampellini

11:23 RP 8th BIG LEAGUE BENNY (#3, 8-1) tried turf for the first time last out and the Beyer Figure of 72 that he earned is one of the best last-race turf numbers in this field. -Mary Rampellini