DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, May 29, 2021

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 PIM 1st Trombetta barn looks to be heating up after four-win day between Pimlico and Penn National on May 21, and UNCOMMON VALOR (#2, 4-1) has been inching forward on the Beyer scale in recent starts. Bumped leaving the gate over sloppy going at Parx, he recovered to push the reasonable pace set by the winner. He went after that horse in earnest on the second turn before being rebuffed. It was good to see the improved tactical speed and think he’ll appreciate getting back to faster going. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:37 PIM 3rd MISS MAJORETTE (#5, 10-1) is by a 13% first-turf sire out of a half-sister to stakesplaced turf miler Drewcitable. Half-sister to stakes-winning dirt sprinter Artie B Good gave a good account in debut as she rallied for the place in a field that included seventh-finisher Ashara (returned to finish second for $32,000 with a 58 Beyer). Trainer Ann Merryman is 4 for the last 12 (33%, $4.58 ROI) going dirt to turf and she scored with jockey Feargal Lynch aboard grass sprinter Echo of Victory following a 196-day layoff last year. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:49 GP 4th THE KING AQUILES (#7, 7-2) dons shades for first time in new barn. Chased home a couple of red hot ones last time on the turf. Might be long gone with the equipment change. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:39 PIM 5th Andres Garibay Sr. claimed Xmasinthecity for $5,000 in January, protected him in two fitness-building allowance races on dirt, then dropped him in for a tag for turf return at Pimlico earlier this month. That resulted in a 7 to 1 score under jockey J D Acosta. Guessing Garibay similarly took NAUTICAL NATURE (#7, 6-1) for the nickel over the winter with turf in mind and he’s been overmatched in three subsequent allowances on the main track. Now gets a chance to switch to the weeds while dropping in for $10,000 and ran some fine races on the lawn in 2020. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:49 GP 6th THE ICE BEAST (#1, 7-2) sitting on a win with this kind. Finished third but earned Beyer top fig despite tough trip last time. Got in some much needed gate practice since the outing. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:23 GP 7th LONG BLADE (#1, 8-1) training well for return from recent freshening and drop back against slightly softer after losing best chance when bobbling on turn in most recent try. Figures forwardly placed throughout if away clean from rail. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:31 MTH 8th JEHA (#15, 6-1) was a deceptively good 5th in his latest, as he was against the race flow as a closer, trying to rally into some tepid early splits; he earned a 65 Beyer for that effort -- his figures have been very consistent -- and he’ll be very tough if he can run to those races in his first start over this course. He’ll have to scratch in off the Also Eligible list as well. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:45 LAD 1st MIGHTY ABLE (#8, 8-1) is by a 13% debut turf sire. His dam went 5-4-1-0 on the turf and earned 62K. Two of five sibs won on the grass with another two hitting the board. This gelding just ran better and did so when first here (albeit on the dirt). Now is a good time to try the green if indeed this race goes as there has been a lot of rain here. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:55 GP 8th Taking a price shot of sorts with DR HARLAN (#2, 5-1) who has been a regular in this category for a long time while most of the opposition are stepping up off N3L wins. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:59 MTH 9th WIND OF CHANGE (#1, 5-2) had to outrun the speedy Krsto Skye to make the lead in that Gulfstream sprint last time, and once he was able to dissuade that rival he had to deal with Miles Ahead, who sat a perfect trip behind that pair; this son of Forestry was flattered when that runner returned to score again in a starter allowance race, posting a 96 Beyer, and he figures very tough to catch from the rail in this Mr. Prospector Stakes, which is otherwise a little light on early zip. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:02 LAD 4th GET DIRECTIONS (#6, 7-2) popped and stopped on the turf in her most recent but she has never tolerated the grass before in five starts (5-0-0-0). The last two times that this filly got an early breather she ran well (4 and 5 back). We say that she clears off today and perhaps at a decent mutuel. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:29 LAD 5th GRAND ISLE GIRL (#3, 12-1) should be a good price so dare we say the value? Form cycle hints at better simply because this one goes third off the layoff. This horse is bred to love the grass and two turns while her last turf start was a solid second versus special weights at the Fair Grounds. Her Beyers don’t fit with some of the heavies in here but that is why we are going to get a good price. With a little luck, she should get as good a trip as anyone. If this comes off the sod....we just don’t know. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:23 LS 7th PROSPERA (#8, 5-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Mary Rampellini). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets