DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, June 3, 2023
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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.
12:25 PIM 1stThought the rail was good at Pimlico on 5/25, and JONES FALLS (#6, 10-1) wound up tracking three wide on the first turn. Raced from the four path on the backstretch, then commenced a four-wide rally into contention on the far bend. Finished up evenly in between, but couldn't go late with a longshot winner that saved ground most of the way. Jockey-trainer combo scored here with Savoy at 8-1 on May 13. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
12:56 PIM 2nd SILLY LILY (#3, 5-1) broke slowly in debut over Gulfstream's Tapeta, raced three wide/in between at the back, dropped inside on the second turn, then finished evenly without threatening. That race produced two next-out 79-Beyer winners (Soviet Excess took a first-level allowance on turf). Barn hit the board with six of their last eight turf starters. Ruiz departs for Miss San Gabriel. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:10 WO 1st MOON OVER EGBERT (#3, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:30 BEL 2nd PRET A TOUCHER (#8, 5-1) looked like she might have needed that Gulfstream debut when just going evenly behind a winning stablemate (Queen Picassoreturned to win the Grade 3 Soaring Softly here last week with a 78 Beyer); dam went 2 for 2 in her career in Ireland while handling longer distances and this is the female family of multiple Group 1 winner Salsabil. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:20 GP 4th VOY Y VENGO (#7, 6-1) back for a tag and back on Tapeta over which he ran credibly at first asking at 2. Showed speed faded late last time in another super key race that produced trio of next out grads. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:26 PIM 5th It will be interesting to see what CORRECTED PEDIGREE (#1, 6-1) can do on faster going as he caught slop in both starts to date. Broke sharp going two turns at Charles Town last time, battled inside a 9-2 shot that finished seventh, then couldn't step with the winner when that one came calling outside after a half-mile. Didn't seem to like getting the slop kicked in his face when he took an awkward step in upper stretch, but still held third (runner-up returned to win a maiden special there with a 53 Beyer). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:30 MTH 5th RUNNIN' BLOCK (#9, 6-1) has mostly raced at Oaklawn since his last try on the turf, which is why he hasn't been on the green since that effort, but he's on the grass today and that strong effort in November suggests this may be is best surface; meets a seeming average field for his local debut and he's eligible to make the last run if he gets a clean trip and an honest pace to chase. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:32 BEL 4th LADY LAOBAN (#8, 6-1) didn't show much speed in that shorter debut on Wood Memorial Day but she appeared to be trying to switch out into the clear in the stretch when she was eliminated by a spill; Irad takes the call for the second start; full-sister Lisa's Vision won her second career start while stretching out from six to seven furlongs on turf, also for this trainer. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:40 WO 4th BUSTA GROOVE (#4, 12-1) hit traffic along the inside on the turn after breaking inward from the one-hole before closing for third when debuting in a similar spot. He should be better for the experience and could prevail at a square price. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:57 PIM 6th TIC TIC TIC BOOM (#7, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Dan Illman). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:45 WO 6th BREATHING FIRE (#6, 8-1) rallied stoutly from sixth to win her lone inner turf start in a five-furlong stakes for OS 3yo fillies last August. Her esteemed trainer has begun the meet with a bang and has been scoring at a 23% clip with six-month-plus layoff runners. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:01 LAD 3rd FREIGHTRAINFREEMAN (#8, 12-1) likes this sod and figures as good a trip as anyone. The last time this guy returned off a layoff, and on the turf, he finished 2nd at 8-1 and it came on this turf and at about this level. A better price than most of these we would think. This gelding is just better on this turf, right? -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:16 WO 7th SWEET ENOUGH (#6, 20-1) competed in some tough middle-distance stakes at Gulfstream over the winter. She's been working right along under Wilson for her return from a freshening and might welcome the turnback to 6 1/2 furlongs in this G2 fixture. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:40 BEL 8th ORMSTOWN (#6, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:50 MTH 10th CATCH THE SMOKE (#1, 6-1) didn't have much chance to close enough ground to win that last one, as that was a racetrack that favored through runners close to the pace, but he did rally with some interest, and he galloped out nicely past the wire; also stands to benefit from that experience, as that was his first start off the layoff, and he can run them all down late if he can take a step forward in his second start off the layoff (24% angle for trainer Claudio Gonzalez). -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:58 GP 9th Lots of pace should help LOVIN MAKES CENTS (#6, 5-1) get back on winning track, this filly having proven mettle on more than one occasion to be able to sit off, run down the leaders at her best. Won this same condition by a couple of widening lengths to launch her campaign. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:18 MTH 11th SWAN LAKE (#8, 6-1) outran a couple of other speeds to make the lead in the English Channel Stakes last time out, and though he faced challenges midway through the race he was able to maintain his lead, drawing off with relative ease in the lane; there is other speed in the Jersey Derby but he could well be good enough if he can once again beat COSMIC SPECULATION and others to the front. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:12 BEL 9th FREEDOM TRAIL (#7, 12-1) still looked in need of experience despite winning on debut last September; returned with a much strong effort in the Awad when coming widest and then finishing hard to close that race down as the chalk, then took a shot on dirt in his final start as a 2yo; 0 for 2 so far as a 3yo but he did not get a good trip off the layoff and still almost got third despite not going all in; failed fire a good late shot last time but didn't care for the trip he got that day while strongly rated and staying inside all the way; sticking with him at a price. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:31 GP 10th KINISON (#1, 5-1) gets the tepid nod back for straight tag after even try switching to turf for his last one. Re-unites with Jaramillo here. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:21 LAD 8th SASSI'S WORLD (#4, 6-1) is by a 8% debut sire and a 0 for 5 debut turf sire. Her dam went 4-1-0-0 and earned $8,400 (no turf). Lone sib is 13-5-4-2 and earned 170K (9-4-3-1 on the turf for 136K, won turf debut). This barn is a very good 22% in turf sprints. We think this filly will love the local green and maybe at a price? -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:14 SA 7th The fourth-place debut by WATSONVILLE (#2, 6-1) was actually okay; he can spring a minor upset in this maiden turf sprint. He did not break well first out, rallied inside horses into the turn, raced greenly in the lane, and missed by less than three lengths in a solid effort. Maidens from this stable generally improve with racing; the switch to leading rider Juan Hernandez is a plus. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:59 GG 8thIn a race with no shortage of speed, HARBOR ABBEY (#1, 8-1) can gain a favorable trip as a stalker from an inside post. Harbor Abbey closed well despite a wide trip to be second in a $14,000 claimer at a mile on turf on May 12 in her first start in three months. She won on turf at Santa Rosa last August from off the pace. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
8:29 GG 9th A year ago at this time, SYNC (#5, 8-1) was in the midst of a span in which he won five of seven starts. The last of those wins was in July, the 4-year-old gelding's most recent victory. Sync is winless in six starts this year and will have his second start for trainer Isidro Tamayo in this wide-open conditional $4,000 claimer at a mile. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
8:37 CBY 6th MARINA'S GOLD (#2, 8-1) has speed and draws inside. Yet to try this sod but she is proven on the green and is only a 4YO with good upside. This filly broke her maiden on the green at Horseshoe Indy where the racing is getting better and better. This filly is bred to love the green with her 334 turf Tomlinson. This horse does not have to have the front end to run well. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets