DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, January 18, 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 AQU 1st LEM ME DRINK (#7, 6-1) caught a bit of stretch traffic before finishing gamely when returned to dirt last time; she is drawn out in the clear this time, and is capable of keeping close in a race that does not project to develop strongly up front. – Mike Beer

1:50 GP 4th MOHAY PLEASE (#6, 6-1) had a brutal trip returning locally a month earlier when away slow, wide throughout, even wider into stretch. Turns back to a sprint, drops, gets Irad up today. – Mike Welsch

2:10 AQU 5th RIDGEWOOD RUNNER (#2, 5-1) will need a trip from the rail bit he has been racing in good form since returning from the layoff in October; good effort vs a tougher field two back when moving up in class off a win, and also might have been in against tougher last time when holding third in a race that featured little movement. – Mike Beer

2:50 GP 6th ADIOS COLE (#2, 8-1) comes off far and away his best yes at Tampa although he lost the apparent victory due to a very careless ride in late stretch. Returns with state breds for only the second time. Switches to Tyler, repeat of that try might be good enough here. – Mike Welsch

3:10 AQU 7th AIR OF DEFIANCE (#8, 12-1) bumped into Fierceness in the debut as a 2yo, then came right back with an impressive maiden win of his own in the second start when running a fast race at Keeneland; landed in a very tough entry-level allowance when returned from the long layoff last October, then tried rating last time and did not run well over a mile; like him cutting back and it is too early to give up in him. – Mike Beer

5:18 GP 11th A lot of horses exiting tough trips in their previous outings, not the least of whom is GALLANT LAD (#8, 8-1) who got shuffled back early on the inside, finished strong on the rail, galloped out far in front in very promising bow. Figures to benefit from the outing and the added distance at a decent price. – Mike Welsch

5:58 SA 8th First-time starter WESTERN FREEDOM (#6, 12-1) and seventh-time starter PAX A PUNCH top this Cal-bred maiden-50; the order of preference is reversed from when this race was originally scheduled last week. WESTERN FREEDOM has trained well for his debut for trainer Brian Koriner, who won with 5 of his last 15 first-time starters. The pedigree of 'FREEDOM hints at early success. Debut progeny (3-year-olds and up) of American Freedom have won at a 20 percent clip; the colt's dam produced four runners including a debut winner. – Brad Free