DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, May 14, 2022
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.
1:38 MTH 4th EPIC QUEEN (#9, 5-1) is out of a dam who won five races, four of them dirt sprints, and she has produced a couple of minor winners; this filly has shown a couple of decent works for this debut including her latest breeze, her first spin over this strip. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:43 WO 2nd ADORA (#8, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:47 PIM 3rd Looking for a price with MONEY ROOM (#6, 6-1), who adds blinkers after racing in and among horses in first start off the claim. He's cracked the exacta in half of his races, and boasts the pedigree (by Keen Ice, the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, out of a mare by Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone) and body type to succeed at two-turn racing. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:19 PIM 4th JAMMIN STILL (#6, 6-1) rebounded with a strong performance last month at Laurel. Battled with two other pace rivals through solid fractions, then disposed of those horses only to be run down in the stretch by perfect-trip winner Excalibur. His tactical speed should have him in a good spot on the backstretch. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:32 MTH 6th PROBABLY GRACE (#5, 6-1) sat off the pace last time when she landed in a sprint packed with early zip, and a slow start made it necessary for her to stalk the pace two back, but she figures to be on or near the lead in this claimer for non-winners in six months; this also represents a class drop for this mare, which only adds to the appeal. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:45 GP 4th AUTHENTIC HEART (#5, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Randy Goulding). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:51 PIM 5th RAPIDAMENTE (#8, 15-1) was a strong maiden winner of a turf sprint at Delaware last summer. Saved ground in midpack, advanced into traffic on the turn, then found a lovely split in upper stretch before drawing off in "ridden out" fashion. Weather, course issues and the conclusion of turf season kept her on dirt since that race, but she looked good winning two back on the main track, and seems in good form for grass return. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:32 MTH 8th FRIENDLY FELLA (#4, 6-1) has good back figures, and though he was no threat in either of his last two starts he has license to improve today on the move back to two turns, which seems to be his best game; expecting him to show more early speed in this optional claimer, and he ran well here last year under very similar circumstances. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:55 WO 6th TARANTO TITAN (#4, 8-1) has been working up a storm and should be heard from in this OS/$40K maiden sprint. The son of Giant Gizmo is a full-brother to sprinter Tuscan Damsel ($72K), who graduated fourth-time out for these connections. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:23 GP 7th In his last start SPAN OF CONTROL (#6, 6-1) hit the gate pretty hard at the start and after forcing the pace while going three-wide he came up empty in a first-level allowance race with a $25K claiming option for 3-year-olds and up. He is facing 3-year-olds only today and with just a couple of starts we probably have not seen his best yet. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:27 LS 5th RANCHO BARGO (#5, 6-1) is a horse for course that just won on this dirt at 8-1. New connections waste little time finding this gelding a race and we like that. New jock and new distance should matter but horse for course beats that. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:59 WO 8th CEREBRO (#3, 8-1) has worked decently and is by the good 16% debut sire Maclean's Music. His dam was a stakes-placed sprinter with earnings of $550K, and this is her second foal. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:01 LAD 3rd RONALDS GATSBY (#6, 8-1) has been a bit unlucky as far as clean trips early in his career go. He blew the first turn two back so forget that turf try. Did something go awry in his last start before the layoff hence the layoff? That turf try three back at the Fair Grounds was more like it and this guy did beat over half the field home. His turf breeding is actually good. He hails from a good barn that is 15% on the grass. Guerrero gets a leg up and is 31% for team Wilson locally. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:09 SA 3rd STRESSED (#1, 4-1) was no factor in a sprint here April 2 but that was her first start in 11 months, she dueled hard from the start and was facing tougher. She can benefit from that outing and today's drop, and she may be the primary speed. Four works since encourage, too. -Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:23 LS 7th ARYESCELESTIC MAN (#2, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:55 LAD 5th JAGO (#6, 20-1) is by a 8% debut turf sire. Her dam never tried the grass. All 3 sibs won on the green including a multiple winner of 62K (won grass debut). Poor debut helps the price and we like how connections want the grass once again. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:01 WO 10th ALLEN DIGGS (#10, 8-1) has worked nicely here on the Tapeta after wintering at Palm Meadows before a two-work stop-over at Churchill. Kimura rides for KV, who's 4 for 13 (31%) with first-timers going back five years ($6.03 ROI). -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:19 LS 9th KAYLEE'S SHADOW (#2, 10-1) is by a 15% debut sire (all sire stats are for 2YO's only). Her dam went 2-0-0-1 yet earned 29K. All 7 sibs beat winners including 3 debut 2YO winners. Two best sibs earned over 100K. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:41 GP 11th IRISH SAMURAI (#6, 8-1) figures to move forward following an odd debut where she was in striking range early but drifted out on the turn and it looked like she was going to finish well back. However, she regrouped and finished with some interest to just miss being the runner-up. Adding to her appeal are the solid numbers Hawkes has with second-time starters. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:49 LAD 7th CHIEFWEAVE (#9, 15-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
8:55 YR (Harness) 7th NEXT BIG THING (#5, 5-1) makes his second start for Shane Tritton here and reunites with Bartlett. I think this is also an easier spot than the claiming races he's been in, so let's see if all those factors work out for him. – Greg Reinhart | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:00 WBS (Harness) 7th SUNDOWN KID (#1, 6-1) had some late pace last week, but he swung widest so it is kind of hidden in his line. He gets needed class and post relief here and he will be a single and Best Bet for me tonight. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:30 MED (Harness) 10th BACKSTREET SHADOW (#7, 4-1) added Lasix and raced much better last time. As I don’t see them racing him from last, this seems like the time to send him to the front and see what’s in the tank for his 7-year-old season. – Derick Giwner | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets