DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, December 12, 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.
12:05 GP 1st Looking for DOCTOR D J (#1, 20-1) to welcome the return to GP, where he knocked out his N3L condition in September prior to a couple of two-turn tries across town; needing the right kind of trip from his tricky rail slot. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
12:12 TAM 1st Thought EXCEED THE GOAL (#2, 4-1) was closing well through the lane in her first start off the short layoff, and she wasn’t pushed hard by jockey Jose Batista once it was clear she was going to be no better or worse than fourth; that race came up quick (62 Beyer, where the Beyer is 55) and this mare could well improve in her second try off the freshening. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:12 TAM 3rd NOBLE DRAMA (#6, 5-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
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1:18 AQU 3rd BRONX BOMBER (#8, 6-1) has just missed in two of his last three starts, the first of those while getting carried out by an in-form Foolish Ghost at Saratoga, and more recently when nearly surviving in a race that went to closers, and he caught slop in between; has been at his best over this track and draws outside the other speed. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:35 GP 4th For SALLY’S CURLIN (#3, 3-1) to be most effective, she’s at the mercy of pace and whether or not her left-field style is compromised by the way the track might be playing; sure seems like they’ll go quick enough up top so that she and C-Lan can make up the ground in furious fashion, as she did in the G3 Hurricane Bertie over this track nine months ago. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:45 AQU 4th MARQUET LEGACY (#3, 15-1) weakened late when dropped to this two-life claiming level last time, but only after making a wide run around the turn in a race that went to closers; ran better than it looks in that spot and has the back races to factor here. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:53 LRL 4th MCQUEEN’S BULLITT (#6, 10-1) did little in his debut but we can forgive any debut. He got race experience and that is what matters. All 3 sibs won with one a multiple route winner. We like that connections waste little time finding this colt a route race. This barn is 20% with their maiden second time starters. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:38 GP 6th Man oh man is there a ton of gas in this renewal of the Sugar Swirl, which might well set the table for the likes of BRONX BEAUTY (#4, 8-1), whose efforts in the Regret and Skipat speak to her improvement since she was a distant 4th behind LADY’S ISLAND in this race last year. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:45 AQU 6th BEACHSIDE (#10, 8-1) returned to dirt two back after spending time in turf to no avail through the summer/fall, and he ran a winning race that day while carrying on wide and fighting his way to a stretch lead, only to get closed down by a rail-running winner; back to a better spot second off the claim after getting in too tough last time. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:53 LRL 6th BIG HAMBONE (#9, 15-1) drops in class and seems to like an elongated sprint. Forget his most recent when 7 wide on the turn. That effort does darken his form which helps his price. What if this gelding just didn’t like a sloppy Joe track two back? Those figs from 3 and 4 back certainly fit at this level. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:08 GP 7th The $2.15M Godolphin purchase ALEXANDER VALLEY (#6, 6-1) debuts after a steady pattern of 14 works beginning in late August at Belmont for his HOF trainer; colt by the great Medaglia d’Oro out of a G1-winning mare, he’ll take tons of beating if living up to his lofty reputation. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:17 AQU 7th BLINDWILLIE MCTELL (#6, 8-1) starting to look a bit like a horse that isn’t going to deliver on his ample early promise, though he did earn a career-best 90 Beyer off the layoff at Saratoga, an thought he ran well over that wet track last time without the best trip in the race; think he’ll stretch out and willing to give him one more chance if he’s a price. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:23 LRL 7th THEDUKE OF HAZZARD (#7, 8-1) pushed the pace going a flat mile two back and then came from off the pace in his most recent. We like that. Connections jump him in class and since they are 23% with their 2YO’s then we like that also. Versatile style and added furlong go hand in hand. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:50 TAM 8th FADE AWAY (#6, 10-1) seemed to steady when in tight in the lane in that last one, and he showed interest in the late stages and through the wire, an indication that he is better than he was able to show in that loss; figures to be overlooked some in the wagering after finishing off the board at this same level in each of his last two starts but he’s a threat at a square price if he gets a clean trip and an honest pace up front. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:34 LRL 9th IMAGINE VICTORY (#7, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
10:27 RP 6th CASCADE KING (#6, 4-1) shortens up some in distance and his natural speed should serve him well at this five and a half furlong trip. He also owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
10:55 RP 7th ASTOUNDING (#5, 9-2) is a class play as one who has been knocking on the door against steeper. The runners he finished third behind last out both had compiled outstanding win streaks in recent times. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets