DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, August 7, 2021

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.

1:14 MTH 3rd ODDSONDUSTYMILLER (#5, 9-2) threw a clunker as the favorite when last seen but she had subtle but legitimate excuses, as the track favored frontrunners that day, the race came up fast (winner posted a 72 Beyer and the average winning figure for the class and distance is 64), and that sprint lacked speed, with the winner controlling the tempo from the start on a loose lead; should get a much different race flow in this one, and if she can sit off the duel and make one run she can win this. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:19 PIM 2nd SELF ASSURED (#1, 9-2) might have found the nine furlongs a bit too far in recent return to turf. Pressed a contested pace three wide under the wire the first time, then battled outside before assuming the lead and the rail late on the far turn. Tried hard in the stretch, but just couldn’t resist the winner’s late surge. She’s been given plenty of time to recover from that hard effort, capped off her preparations with a bullet three eighths at Timonium and might try to control this from the start. Toledo departs for Broadway Melody. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:41 MTH 4th LADRO DI FICHI (#2, 4-1) is the first starter from the dam, Sweet On Smokey, who was a multiple stakes winner who posted 10 career victories and earned over $465K; this filly has been training forwardly toward her debut and she doesn’t seem to meet the deepest of fields for this first start. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:55 PIM 3rd Although TAM CHAR (#2, 9-2) didn’t have the strongest late kick once clear last month, don’t think the filly appreciated being locked along the rail in the pocket for most of the trip. The third-place finisher from that race returned to finish second for $32,000 with a 66 Beyer. Overcame breaking a beat slow to exceed the Beyer par for this level with a dominating maiden win in first start of the year. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:35 GP 4th Something of a default pick here with the Zerpa beginner BRONX (#10, 9-2), an Arindel homebred who finds a pretty light spot when starting off with bottom-level mdn.- claimers; full set of Palm Meadows works suggest the colt can succeed right away. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:31 PIM 6th DOC ELM (#10, 6-1) doesn’t have a ton of blacktype in his pedigree, but it appears he’s found a good spot for his debut at this bottom maiden claiming level. Sire clicks with 10% of debut runners and this gelding hails from the family of Canadian turf champion Free Vacation. Recent bullet gate drill matches up with Eppler’s 4-year-old filly All About Kathern, a three-time winner on grass. Perhaps they breezed in company. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:34 MTH 8th KING OF SPADES (#9, 8-1) was behind a couple of these last time out but he’s a stone closer and he didn’t get the best of set ups, as a lack of speed in that race gave the edge to those runners closer to the lead; that pace scenario was very likely for the Beyer dip he experienced there and he can be expected to rebound here given an improved race flow. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:08 PIM 7th Trainer Ann Merryman is 3 for the last 10 (30%, $1.73 ROI compared to $1.40 overall) with turf horses adding blinkers and LADY PERRY (#1, 15-1) might add to those numbers after earning career-best Beyer cutting back to this distance last month. Broke sharp, but was outsprinted through fast fractions while saving ground. Never left the rail and gave an even finish. Lightly-raced filly has upside. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:30 MTH 10th SUCCESSFUL LEGACY (#7, 8-1) gets back on the turf, which is her preferred surface, and she figures to use her early speed to her best advantage, likely to be the one who gets first run on the speedy DONYA’S MAGIC, who does tend to tire late even given loose leads; the former has some Tampa races showing that are good enough to win this and her trainer, Tom Clark, does his best work with turf runners. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:55 GP 8th Bet down to 4-5 in his debut 4 weeks ago, KUHL STAR (#3, 9-2) showed very little -- but now he resurfaces as a first-time gelding for the meet’s runaway leader; looking for the Vegso homebred to fare much better given the mulligan and all that’s transpired in the interim. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:59 MTH 11th SPEEDING KID (#7, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:33 GP 9th FREEDOM MATTERS (#3, 9-2) was swooped up for $16k by Saffie after that gutsy win for prior connections and now wheels back for the optional $25k in a race that should have many serious Rainbow players spreading liberally; remarkably consistent steed has been a valued commodity, what with his 23-for-29 in-money record; there or thereabouts once more under these new silks. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:00 WO 10th HIGH SOCIETY GIRL (#7, 6-1) disposed of three rivals on the front end before fading to fifth in a deceptively good race vs. NW2 OS/$40K foes on the inner turf three weeks ago. She could wire this field with Wilson back in the saddle. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets