DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, March 18, 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.

12:25 LRL 1st Race flow is key for FEDERAL OFFENSE (#6, 9-2) who was cooked by very hot fractions when running poorly in lone start this year. Battled with three others while two path/in between and soon called it a day in a race that was declared a no-contest due to a gate malfunction. Similar situation occurred three back when chasing a 23.53 second quarter in a race that produced four next-out winners. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

12:40 GP 1st SOUPER ROYAL MOON (#5, 15-1) a bit over-matched in lone turf try. The also-rans in the field included Invective, who dropped down to win this same race on 2/25. Galloped out second best behind winner that day, has worked well since. Might be worth a stab at big balloons in opener. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

1:20 AQU 1st SORPRESO (#9, 8-1) faced a solid field and didn't appear comfortable over that wet track when back to dirt before the layoff at Parx; dropped to this level last time and wound up tiring badly in the stretch to finish fourth, though those circumstances might not have been ideal; was returning from a layoff going a mile in that spot and wound up contesting the pace with odds-on favorite Laurel Valley before fading as the race was picked off by a pair of longshot closers (see Boys Code); can do better and might be a fair price. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

1:30 TAM 3rd MONTANA JOYCE (#7, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race

1:35 OP 1st STORMIN ARMY (#1, 10-1) has struggled since an encouraging 2yo debut last summer. Think the addition of blinkers last time had the desired effect, the problem being the horse was in the wrong kind of race, a route. Cuts back to a sprint and has caught sloppy tracks in his two outings this meet. Possibly obscured ability waiting to come forth. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

2:22 AQU 3rd HEY MAMALUKE (#1, 12-1) has something to prove after finishing last in each of her first two starts as a 7yo, though she was in very tough in those races while having to deal with the in-form speed of Disco Ebo (has won five of her last six, including two stakes, Beyers of 96 and 93 in the last two); tough in here with her good race and she might have the best speed in this matchup. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

2:37 GP 5th GUNS N' LILIES (#3, 20-1) back to turf for just the second time in her career, the first try going a mile when on the lead before fading to finish fourth behind no less a rival than Chop Chop who was ultimately G1 placed on dirt and a SW on grass. Recent works over PM sod make this one a viable alternative to the logical ones in here. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

2:55 AQU 4th OUR SON JAKE (#3, 12-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race

3:03 TAM 6th MOTOWN MISCHIEF (#4, 12-1) was well off the board in that first start off the layoff but that was no easy trip, as she was caught up in a race-long duel in a race that ultimately set up well for the closers (note the bold "C" in DRF pp line); this sprint seems likely to feature a much more favorable race flow for her and she can steal this if she can get away with an unpressured pace. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

3:37 GP 7th EXCHANGE DAY (#6, 12-1) looked like he was going to be right in the thick of things to the wire when forced to take up very sharply losing all chance at mid-stretch when facing same kind last month. Deserves another look at what may be a better price this time around. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

3:47 OP 5th KEWPIE DOLL (#1, 12-1) was terrible last out but might have floundered in the slop. She clearly has issues and appear to be an all or nothing sort, but speed on her best days and several performances that could win this at a price. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

3:55 AQU 6th GOOD ACCELEBRATE (#2, 10-1) got in too tough in her debut vs. open MSW rivals at Laurel but improved while gamely gaining ground for third when shipped here for her second start; finished behind a couple of these same rivals last time but thought she could have used a more aggressive ride early. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

4:07 GP 8th LIVE IS LIFE (#5, 10-1) taken as an alternative to short priced SUPER CHOW turning back in distance and exiting big work for this. Will need lots of early help with favorite, however, if he's to spring the upset. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

4:23 LRL 9th CIRCLING THE DRAIN (#3, 6-1) was taken in hand entering the backstretch when sent off the odds-on chalk last month, tracked four wide at the back of that compact field, made an outside bid and stayed to his task in the stretch. Interesting that blinkers are added after the win, but perhaps he'll focus better with them, and he's unbeaten from two starts over course and distance. Might get some pace to attack in the stretch for barn that won at a 31% clip between 2/17 and 3/12. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

4:54 TUP 4th LAST RENEGADE (#7, 5-1) seems to like his new barn. He tried two turns for the first time only two back and ran a Beyer top. His most recent had him finishing 2nd at a nice 12-1. We like that connections want 6 1/2 furlongs right back. This guy draws better today. The only knock is that there isn't much pace in this race. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

5:22 OP 8th MILES AHEAD (#3, 15-1) simply is a horse that likes to win, with 12 victories from 27 starts. He's run well over a variety of surfaces but really don't think he cared for the Oaklawn slop on Jan. 28. Miles Ahead was spinning his wheels so badly that he fell back to last at the quarter pole before coming to life the final three-sixteenths and quietly turning in a quick final furlong. Rate him higher on a fast track and look for the gelding to get back to his best form from last fall and contend at a price. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

5:57 TUP 6th GOOD BYE PUTIN (#1, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race

6:59 TUP 8th YANKEE TEA PARTY (#5, 5-1) ran evenly in his debut and we like how he broke 2nd. We like that connections want this elongated sprint right back. A jock switch to HH is telling as he is 39% for this barn. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

8:16 GG 8th DANNY MICHAEL (#6, 5-1) is not the most consistent runner. He has won once in 17 starts and is winless in his last six appearances, but he should have a pace to follow in this $4,000 claimer for non-winners of two at a mile. He was second by six lengths to Luck Is Golden in a race at this level on Feb. 25 when that rival set the pace and pulled clear as the even-money favorite. Danny Michael has since worked well. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race