DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, January 4, 2024

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 GP 1st Lots of options to start off the day with first of 11 pretty challenging races on the card. BUZZ ROCKET (#3, 6-1) gets the nod despite switching to grass for the first time. Plenty of winning sibs in family and exiting a very tough MSW route on dirt from which 3rd finisher Burnham Square returned to crush maidens here last week. – Mike Welsch

1:10 AQU 3rd OUSTER (#2, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).

2:10 AQU 5th RUNAMOR (#6, 6-1) debuted going this distance and looked very green in that race while showing some potential; appeared to really need that experience and he will add Lasix for the second start. – Mike Beer

2:55 OP 4th PAYNE (#4, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mary Rampellini).

4:02 SA 4th New York shipper STARTS NOW (#2, 4-1) arrives off a decisive upset win vs. NY-bred allowance company; a repeat performance would be fast enough for this N3L starter. Although pace-presser STARTS NOW benefited from the speed-friendly race flow last time, she is multi-dimensional and can rally from behind. Bottom line: the shipper appears to be the best horse in the field. – Brad Free

4:08 AQU 9th PERFECT FLIGHT (#10, 8-1) hasn't quite run to his best since being claimed back at Saratoga, though he was in too tough in his first start off the claim, and has finished behind wire-to-wire winners in each of his three starts since; might get more of a setup this time and he is going to be a price. – Mike Beer

4:21 GP 9th ECHO LANE (#3, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch).

4:52 OP 8th GUNFLASH (#6, 4-1) came rolling for second at this level last time, one start after defeating two stakes winners in an allowance at Remington Park. He goes for a barn off to a fast start at the meet and is bred to be a runner as a half-brother to the stakes winners Flash of Mischief ($781K) and War Campaign ($776K). – Mary Rampellini

5:22 GP 11th SPECIAL AVIATOR (#7, 12-1) will have to step up number wise but visually was very impressive winning the Our Dear Peg, pulling rider throughout before splitting rivals, running down leaders with a strong closing burst. Galloped out like a monster after race. Has more to give. – Mike Welsch

7:14 SA 10th SARWAR (#2, 6-1) won both recent starts at this N2X turf-mile level, a front-running summer win at DMR, and a win-via-disqualification in fall. The 5-for-16 gelding is the "now" horse, entered for the optional $80k claim tag. – Brad Free