DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, January 2, 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.

12:20 AQU 1st JOYCEE HAZ PIZZAZ (#7, 2-1) is a DRF Best Bet – Mike Beer. | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:03 GP 3rd Lots of pace signed on here. FIRST HOMESTEAD (#4, 3-1) dropping in company after racing forwardly against much faster off a long layoff at GPW, expecting better with that one under belt for new connections off the claim. – Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:40 GP 6th Trip likely to decide this one with RIJEKA (#5, 12-1) and MORNING STRIDE obviously proven commodities at the distance and over this course. – Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:44 TAM 6th A K’S SONG (#6, 8-1) just got up in her return try but got zero pace help when chasing a 48 and a 4 half mile. That race came back key when two of the four returned to win with figs of 78 and 69 (the other two finished second and third with figs of 76 and 72). This filly is bred to love the grass and should improve second off the layoff and second time this sod. This filly improved her Beyer by 18 points in her second start when she got a 70 Beyer on the Keeneland turf and that was as a 2YO! Recent work is just right. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:20 AQU 7th FIRST LINE (#1, 4-1) broke his maiden when stretched out at Saratoga back in July, and he has landed in some very tough spot since, including that fast race two back where he had to steady a bit on the turn- though he likely wasn’t getting anything anyway behind subsequent Discovery winner Forza Di Oro; taking a significant drop for this while cutting back a bit with blinkers on. – Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:13 GP 9th OYSTER BOX (#1, 5-1) is an impressive debut winner despite getting away a tad slow from the tough inside gate in only previous outing. Working well for stretch to a mile. Kin to graded SP Flavius. – Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:20 AQU 9th BEACHSIDE(#9, 6-1) was defeated as the favorite at this level and over this distance two back, but he ran well that day while caught on the outside as the eventual winner saved ground; drops back down after getting in too tough in his first start off the claim. – Mike Beer Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:22 TAM 9th WILDCAT MERRY (#7, 5-1) exits a key race where two of four returned to win with figs of 42 and 46. Local tab is fine and this mare owns a recent work. – Scott Ehlers Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:50 TAM 10th MAD GRACE (#9, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet – Scott Ehlers. Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

7:35 SA 9th MESUT (#4, 3-1) was also entered in the G2 Hernandez Friday but opts for this much friendlier spot. Veteran has been competitive with some of the top turf sprinters around and a bullet work Dec. 27 says he’s doing well. – Michael Hammersly Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets