DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, January 23, 2021

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.

12:43 TAM 2nd MOMENTS TO SAVER (#6, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck) | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:50 AQU 2nd DARK STORM (#5, 6-1) caught a wet track for his return last time when dropped in class and couldn’t make an impact in a race that found a couple of longshots holding things together late out in front; cuts in half for Weaver who has good numbers with horses like this - 50% claiming tag drop, routes: 4 for his last 9, 44%, $2.27 ROI - and who doesn’t have good numbers first off the layoff, as this horse was in that last one; contends with one of his good races. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:23 LRL 3rd STAND MY GROUND’s (#6, 5-1) lack of early speed is a bit concerning in a race lacking much pace, but he’s improved since being dropped to this level two starts back. Saved ground most of the way in recent nine-furlong appearance, split horses three wide on the turn to loom large turning into the stretch, then flattened out in the final furlong. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:00 OP 1st ALEX’S STRIKE (#4, 5-1) gets the nod for his consistent finishes against steeper. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:04 GP 6th Experience counts in these types of races especially at tricky 7 furlong distance and HOLY REDEEMER (#1, 15-1) has plenty of that including near miss behind Asmussen trained Scarred going seven-eighths last fall at Churchill Downs. Training well with the blinkers on for local bow. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:20 AQU 5th KAZ’S BEACH (#5, 4-1) blew out Penn National maidens when switched to dirt for the first time at the end of last year while earning a solid 74 Beyer, and he backed that race up with an even better performance last time to chase up to challenge the talented Jerry the Nipper on the lead, only to settle for third at the end; lands in a much softer race for the level here and this pace does not project to be as strong as that last one. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:38 GP 7th ZOFELLE (#3, 5-1) back to reality off the freshening after being over-matched in the Just a Game. Training well for return, looks like good fit here at her best. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:44 TAM 6th CLASSY OF COURSE (#8, 5-1) beat a decent field of $16K claimers in that last one via a stalking trip but she could be the main speed in this one, which is even lighter on pace, it seems; hoping she can get away quickly and establish position immediately, and if she’s able to get clear she will be a handful late given her current form. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:50 AQU 6th TREMAYNE (#8, 15-1) debuted for a slightly higher tag last month in a race that was dominated up close, and he didn’t have much of a chance in that spot after crashing into a rival at the start to wind up last early; tried a wide move in the middle part of the race without reaching in what may have been a deceptively good effort. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:09 GP 8th Distance the key question for in form SISTER HANAN (#2, 12-1) who came off the bench with big effort dead heating for win in her first local start since third place finish in the G3 Honey Fox. May not have seen the best of her yet. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:15 TAM 7th JACK B WINKLE (#5, 12-1) does like to run 2nd, and that’s certainly a knock, but he seemed to steady at a crucial point in the lane, but then showed interest after that incident to make up some ground near the wire; he’s up in price for this but with the right kind of trip he is a candidate to take a big step forward off his latest. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:20 AQU 7th FREEDOM FORCE (#6, 15-1) stretched out to a mile last time and elected to back off early after a good start, which left him down toward the worst part of the track, and he was just being help together in the stretch after failing to make an impact; has better races that that to get to as he cuts back in distance and he isn’t forced into an entry this time with the rider change. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:33 OP 4th IMPRESSED (#2, 10-1) might benefit if the strip is fast after catching a wet track last out at Haw. He’s back in the straight claiming ranks here, after a series of starts against optional claiming foes. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:52 TAM 8th FOX ROX (#8, 5-1) did well to get the up in time in that starter allowance score last time out, a strong effort which came on the heels of a deceptively good runner-up finish in his prior start, also a turf sprint; he’ll be looking to make the last run once again but there’s plenty of speed to set him up. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:59 GP 11th NORTH DAKOTA (#4, 10-1) may have turned the corner. Freshened since a strong G3 SW going longer on AQU turf Nov. 21, has targeted this since and been working strongly for Shug. – Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:17 OP 9th TRUMPET LILLY (#14, 6-1), who is on the also-eligible list, hooked a quality kind of winner last out and owns what ranks as this field’s best career Beyer Speed Figure. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets