DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, January 21, 2023
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 ESCAPE MISSION (#2, 4-1) showed speed to contest the pace in his second start and wound up tiring late after prevailing in the early duel; faces another challenging pace scenario but he can improve again and getting back over a fast track might help. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
12:46 TAM 1st CLEVELAND ROCKS (#6, 12-1) is out of a dam who won four races, all of them dirt sprints, and that includes her own career debut; kin to eight other starters, all of them winners, and at least three of those runners won their first career starts. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:09 GP 3rd BATTLEFIELD PARK (#1, 6-1) caught a wet track, showed off some early foot before fading to last debuting last month in N. Y. Switches to turf, a surface he should love being by War Front out of a multiple graded stakes placed mare on grass. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:23 TAM 2nd FELIX THE FOX (#4, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:22 TAM 4th FIRE BARON (#1, 12-1) gets back on the main track, and though he has mostly turfed that sprint try on the dirt two back suggests he can handle this surface, as he was really moving well through the lane there; first time goin long on dirt and this could well be his best game. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:18 AQU 7th LISTENTOYOURHEART (#1, 8-1) hasn't run a fast race yet but worth noting that he never really got going as a 3yo following a good effort in the Mike Lee, then made only one start last year while dealing with obvious issues; looked good winning off the long layoff last year with a new top figure, then ran better than it looks in his next start when stretched out beyond his best in the Saginaw; might be better than he looks and he will be a price. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:37 GP 8th FORT WILDERNESS (#3, 8-1) broke slow then got hung wide throughout while showing some late interest debuting in an off the turf event four weeks early. Switching to what figures to be preferred surface being a full to two time turf winner Stony Point. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:20 LRL 9th ICESTORMING (#2, 4-1) broke pretty well here two weeks ago, but was rated off the pace, and wound up last on the rail on the turn. Gradually made a three-wide bid, swung widest into the stretch and picked up some tired horses late. The runner-up from that heat returned to graduate for $30,000 with a 51 Beyer. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:29 SA 4th Comebacker ALEX'S GIRL (#6, 5-1) gets the call in this maiden-20 sprint, her first start since a creditable third last spring in a Cal-bred maiden-50. Her late-December workouts are fast for a stable usually works them slow. The presence of leading rider Juan Hernandez signals positive intent. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:36 GP 10th NIC'S BRO (#3, 10-1) continues to improve. Checked at the break, was still coming at the end between horses last time and re-unites with Zayas who guided him to maiden win over this surface on 10/8. Working well for this. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:14 GG 6th The experienced gelding MOTHER'S PRAYER (#2, 7-2) is a three-time winner who tends to run near the front. He has won from a stalking position, and such a strategy could be vital if Nauvoo scoots clear from the rail in the opening furlongs. Mother's Prayer has earned higher Beyer Speed Figures in each of his starts at a mile and there is no reason to think he cannot do that again. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:29 SA 8th If she can stay the mile-and-one-half distance, WARRENS CANDY GIRL (#1, 6-1) can score a minor upset in this $100k stake. Her recent fifth in a G3 was better than it looks. The pace was dawdling, she got stalled behind rivals on the far turn and into the lane, then finished fast in a race dominated by speed. The 1-2-3 finishers were positioned 1-3-4 early. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:59 SA 9th An impressive LRC nighttime comeback win two weeks ago by KING ADROCK (#2, 6-1) stamps the gelding the choice to upset potential favorite ARMY STAR in this starter allowance for newly turned 3yos. In his comeback racing 1,000 yards, 'ADROCK got banged around at the start, shuffled and away slowly, then circled the field and won going away. Big win, he wheels back in peak form, and can rally for the upset. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
10:25 MED (Harness) 11th ADRIANO HANOVER (#2, 10-1) got slammed by back-to-back post tens to start 2023, but he drew well tonight, and I'll hope he still has that closing kick he showed at the Meadowlands in mid-December. – Greg Reinhart | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets