DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, February 22, 2025

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.

12:10 LRL 1st GAMBLING TZAR (#3, 5-1) came from far back for third during a wide trip over a muddy, speed-favoring track when dropping to this $7.5K price Feb. 1. The five-time winner is being reunited with Torrealba, who was aboard for his last victory in late November. – Ron Gierkink | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:30 OP 1st Oaklawn races Saturday through Monday this weekend, with Rebel Day on Sunday. In the Saturday opener, GOOD NEWS ROCKET (#7, 4-1) is appealing for the fact that he exits a key race. The winner came back to take an N1X at Hou with a Beyer of 73 and the third-place finisher, a maiden allowance at Hou, with a Beyer of 66. – Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:48 GP 3rd FORTUNA BELLE (#8, 5-1) second best behind 8/5 Royally Blue under similar conditions last time while coming off a seven month hiatus. Figures to improve off the effort. Well drawn outside all the other speed types in this lineup. – Mike Welsch | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:43 AQU 5th SONDSLIKSOMDINIDDO (#1, 5-1) was poor from the gate while still gaining experience early on, and he earned that maiden win two starts back when carrying a long run after getting away last; broke better when last seen, and he ran well again in that spot while giving game chase to the at-the-time in form Gun Maestro, who would return to win each of his next two starts, the second of those with a 91 Beyer; just has to be ready off the bench. – Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:07 OP 4th SPIN THE BREEZE (#10, 6-1) has lined up against some quality fillies and could be sitting on a peak effort in her third start since August. – Mary Rempellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:13 GP 8th BARZINI (#6, 6-1) getting a little class relief while perhaps more important returning to favorite surface, the turf, for the occasion. Should find ample pace in here to run at. Too good for these at his best. – Mike Welsch | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:47 AQU 9th GOOD MONEY (#6, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:00 SA 4th TAISHAN (#2, 7-2) rarely wins (3 for 43), but this $8k claiming mile is the lowest level at which he has started, and his runner-up finishes last fall in $16k and $20k claiming races would be plenty enough for this crew. Since his most recent win in December 2021, he has lost 23 in a row. Tepid choice, nonetheless. – Brad Free | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:17 AQU 10th TWIRLY (#13, 6-1) sold for $130k last April after breezing 10.1 but never really got going as a 2yo. Daughter of 17% debut sire Twirling Candy has been training up steadily since November, and her dam was a multiple stakes-placed dirt sprinter from the family of Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed; interesting at first asking. – Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:32 SA 7th Late-runner ORANGE THUNDER (#9, 5-1) and front-running stretch-out ODIES MEMORY LANE top this turf mile for Cal-bred maiden fillies. In a close call, the edge goes to ORANGE THUNDER, who uncorked a :23.90 final quarter last out finishing second behind race-1 contender Lady Mendelssohn. It was the best race of in the six-start career of 'THUNDER, and this field has plenty of pace to run at. A sibling to multiple graded stakes-winning mare Closing Remarks, 'THUNDER can blast home for the win. But she will have to catch the speed of the speed. – Brad Free | Bet this race with DRF Bets

8:02 SA 10th TIRUPATI (#6, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Brad Free). | Bet this race with DRF Bets