DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, March 25, 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.

12:40 GP 1^st LYTE CRUDE (#10, 10-1) improved at second asking despite fanning wide during latter stages now gets a set off blinkers making third start of form cycle for suddenly red hot barn. Should offer a little value on the class jump in this pretty wide open affair. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

12:50 TAM 2^nd OPEN SKY (#4, 6-1) was a remote third in her latest but she's a major upgrade candidate off that race, as a slow start cost her position in a race that was light on pace, giving the advantage to the Speeds (note the inverted "S" in DRF pp's); could well get a contested pace to chase, with establish speed to her inside and out. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

12:56 LRL 2^nd Lots of changes for CAVALRY COMMAND (#3, 6-1) who races as a new gelding, adds Lasix, and halves in claiming price for first start following 162 days away. Chased a good group in final start at two (R B's the Boss returned to hit the board in his next four with Beyers ranging from 60 to 69 while Coffeewithchris is now a multiple stakes-winner). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

1:48 TAM 4^th JACK LUVS NOVA (#3, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race

1:50 AQU 2^nd SILIPO (#5, 12-1) was not in good form last summer before the layoff; has much better races to get to and might have some pace to run at here with some speed to his inside as he returns on the drop. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

3:17 OP 4^th SIR (#8, 5-1) is appealing as a January foal who has been facing steeper. He also brings a good deal of two-turn experience to the table. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

3:20 TAM 7^th INANNA'S QUEST (#1, 8-1) was no threat to a couple of these same runners in her latest but she wasn't pushed all that hard in the late stages, once it was clear she would not threaten for a major share; also off the board in her prior try but she made a nice premature move there, and she can make amends here if she gets a clean trip from the hedge and an honest pace to chase. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

3:33 LRL 7^th We'll learn more about IN GOOD TROUBLE (#1, 5-1) as she ships in seeking third straight victory. Battled inside 5-1 shot Lady Lightfeet (finished third) through solid fractions, put that one away in upper stretch, then held favored Mo Co Gold safe in the lane. This looks like a tougher spot from a class and pace perspective, but she looked good upsetting that group at Penn National for barn that is 14 for the last 30 (47%, $3.98 ROI) with last-out winners. -Dan Illman| Get PPs for this race

3:50 TAM 8^th JACKSON STRONG (#2, 9-2) didn't break all that well from his outside post last time out but he made a good middle move while wide down the backstretch and he only flattened out late after a wide move on the turn; moves inside and makes his third start off the layoff, landing in a race where he should get ample pace. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

4:15 GG 1^st Winless in eight career starts, HANNAH IN A HURRY (#2, 4-1) hardly has an exemplary record, but did have troubled trips in her last two races, finishing second and fourth. In both cases, the trouble occurred in the final furlong, too late for her to recover. She was within a length of a win with a better trip in January and may be a factor from slightly off the pace in this modest field. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race

4:45 GG 2^nd WILD BILLY D (#6, 7-2) overcame a poor start to finish second by two lengths to favored Charbonneau in an $8,000 claimer for maidens on March 3. Charbonneau disputed the pace throughout, while Wild Billy D closed from fifth to be closest to the front at the finish. Wild Billy D starts at the same level for his second career start, and drew the outside post. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race

4:59 SA 3^rd Following a better-than-looked third last out at this N3L starter turf-route level, DENDERA (#3, 5-2) holds a slim advantage. Returning from a short layoff, she was borderline rank, pulled hard while unrelaxed, produced a decent kick inside and actually ran okay for third. She has always been difficult to handle, but if she settles, she can handle this bunch. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

5:06 GP 10^th BEDTIME STORY (#3, 8-1) perfect in three starts on Tapeta including most recent try when over-coming brutal trip to remain unbeaten. Must translate that good synthetic form to grass but could prove good enough to become a stakes winner at first asking if she does. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

5:25 TUP 5^th M G BIG MARIA (#2, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race

5:57 TUP 6^th AWESOME BID (#6, 5-1) just won wire to wire and did so going this shortened sprint distance. With Cruz hurt, a new jock is named in Berrios-Lopez but with it comes a weight break. This should help his forward position. Third off the layoff can't hurt. Last race came back key when 2 of 6 returned to win with figs of 55 and 57. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

6:04 AQU 10^th DUST DEVIL (#7, 10-1) didn't show up with his best effort when cut back to sprint off the claim last time but had won two of his prior three starts over this distance and proved that he can still run despite dropping following a voided claim off the layoff two back; this is his distance and he should have some pace to attack as he goes off the claim again. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

7:54 GG 8^th CONUNDRUM (#2, 6-1) is winless in five career starts at a mile, and may have a scenario in this allowance race at that distance that works in his favor. The pace should be sharp, and Conundrum has repeatedly shown an ability to close well in sprints and one-mile races. He was beaten a length when fifth at this level on Feb. 26 against TRIBAL NATION and STONE'S RIVER who are part of this field. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race