DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, July 18, 2026
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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.
12:00 MTH 1st The 2026 Haskell card kicks off with an interesting maiden claimer scheduled for the turf, but there is rain in the forecast. With that in mind, BECK'S DREAMER (#10, 9-2), a Main Track Only entrant, may get to run, and if he does he'll be tough; he has steady recent Beyers and the tactical speed to get position, which could very well prove important, depending on who is left in the field if this race is moved from the grass. – Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race
12:20 GP 1st NERO TULIP (#7, 6-1) ran great the last two times that he returned off a layoff. He has speed and draws outside for a good trip while recent works are well spaced. This gelding did try tougher in SoCal and is proven on the local Tapeta. – Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race
12:35 SAR 1st GOT TOUGH (#1, 12-1) has looked good breezing up to his debut. He capped off a solid series of works in Kentucky with a bullet half from the gate, and he dusted an unraced mate in that last five-furlong drill on this track; has some pedigree for LaRose, who studied under an excellent first-out trainer. – Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race
12:54 MTH 3rd RUSE (#7, 10-1) was off the board in each of his last four but his last two were on the synthetic strip at Gulfstream and he gets back on the grass today, which is his best game; he also had pace excuses in that last pair, too close to the pace in an extreme Closer-friendly race in his latest (as evidenced by the inverted "C" in DRF pp lines) and off the pacesetters in a race devoid of speed two back (note the inverted "S"). – Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race
1:52 MTH 5th Willing to take a shot with JOLLY JOLENE (#6, 8-1), who ran creditably in her grass debut at Delaware last time when she was beaten only three lengths despite prompting the early issue in a race that ultimately set up for the closers; she also handles dirt, and she certainly wouldn't be all that hampered by a surface switch. – Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race
2:12 CNL 7th MASSETO (#10, 5-1) delivered a statement performance off the layoff last time when he ran on for a game fourth in a second-level allowance at Aqueduct last month; it might not sound like much for the Casse trainee, but the 88 Beyer he earned more closely resembles the form he displayed before a long layoff that cost him all of his 2025 season; he will get some class relief and run for a $50,000 tag this time, which should be enough to get him back in the winner's circle. – Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race
2:13 SAR 4th BITE AND STRIKE (#3, 6-1) recovered from a slow start to post an impressive win when sprinting for the first time on turf off the Rice claim in May; ran an even better race last time when handy from the start, before once again powering away from the field to make it 2 for 2 for this trainer; figures tough right back. – Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race
3:12 GP 6th TEOFIMO (#6, 6-1) puts three races together for the first time and drops in class. His even running style might work better at this one turn mile. Breaking last hurt two back. – Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race
4:15 GP 8th VINDICATE CHA CHA (#1, 12-1) has speed and the rail so she just needs a good start to take these gate to wire. Arrieta is the new pilot and we think highly of him. He has always been a good gate rider. This mare just ran a Beyer top and could get another early breather. – Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race
4:29 SAR 8th SAPPHIRE BEACH (#3, 5-2) rated the pocket and put in a game run to outfinish main rival CY FAIR in the Grade 3 Limestone two starts back; has since handled a field of allowance horses with ease in her prep for this; going good now, and she will be right up close from the start. – Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race
5:17 GP 10th MILITIA (#9, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get Past Performances for this race
6:04 DMR 3rd A solid maiden win gives ZIP ME UP (#7, 5-1) a license to win right back in this allowance turf sprint for Cal-bred fillies and mares. ZIP ME UP, sired by Om and produced by outstanding turf sprinter Unzip Me (10 stakes wins), has speed for a pressing trip over a five-furlong course that was kind to speed last year with the turf rails down. Seven rails-at-zero turf sprints produced two gate-to-wire winners and two winners that pressed from second position. That is where ZIP ME UP should be positioned. – Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race
6:49 SAR 12th LAKE ARIEL (#3, 10-1) received a good education on debut here last summer while forced to chase and spending some time racing in and among horses; was entered for turf in the 3yo debut, where she ran well behind a pair of talented fillies, both of whom were entered MTO in that spot; stayed on dirt for the second start back but had no chance with that blowout winner; entered for turf again. – Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race
9:40 DMR 10th FARAN (#3, 5-1) must improve off his modest debut sprint victory to win this N1X route. Expectations are that he will do just that. A $3.4 million yearling by Not This Time, FARAN reportedly needed his debut, which he won with a low 72 Beyer Speed Figure. Two turns should be up his alley, and this field did not come up particularly strong. Tab for an improved effort second time out. – Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race