DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, May 7, 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.
12:15 LRL 1st DIAL EMMA REILLY (#6, 4-1) has been knocking on the door with runner-up efforts in her last two races. Forced to move early into a slow pace, she battled on gamely to just miss. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
12:20 GP 1st MILLENNIUM CONDO (#6, 6-1) is a half to Graceful Kitten who was a turf stakes winner going this distance and a mile, so it wasn't surprising he ran a decent race in his first try going around two turns on the green stuff. Easy to imagine him improving with the experience behind him. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:17 GP 5th ALWAYS EDEN (#6, 12-1) was running well on Tapeta at the end of last year and maybe the addition of blinkers will help her get her back on track. If the equipment change has the desired result, she will be tough to handle here. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:58 TAM 5th INITFORTHELOVE (#1, 6-1) has won two of his last three, including his latest, and while he was off the board two back he was closing well at the end of that race, too; obviously needs to work out a clean trip from the hedge, and he needs help from the pacesetters, but given that he may be able to run them all down late once again. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:03 LRL 6th NO MONEY DOWN (#4, 7-2) was not ridden aggressively two starts back. He angled widest into the stretch and finished well despite being compromised by a slow pace. He received a better set-up last month and ran on well for second behind an odds-on winner. A wet track wouldn't hurt. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:48 TUP 3rd ELIJAH SCHNELL (#11, 12-1) beat zero home in his return try but now puts races together for the first time. He adds a full furlong today and gets a positive rider switch to Negron. Notice that this gelding tried better in his debut but was buried on the rail going 6 1/2 furlongs where he broke dead last. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:59 LS 4th DIXIE CARROUSEL (#6, 12-1) is the value in this Joe 6-pack of a race. She just loves this dirt where all of her winning has come. What if she didn't care for two turns in her most recent starts? She cuts back to 5 1/2 furlongs where she is 2 for 2. This barn is 21% turf to dirt, 24% on the dirt, and 23% in sprints. Race flow is fine and this mare is working locally. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:01 OP 6th HONEY PARADE (#9, 4-1) has been a popular claim among horsemen. She brings tactical speed to the table. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:06 MTH 5th EPIC QUEEN (#7, 6-1) is out of a dam who won five races, four of them dirt sprints, and she produced a couple of minor winners, but while the pedigree isn't outstanding the appeal lies in this filly's work tab, which hints at some speed; worth a shot at the right price, as this seems like an average group of statebred maidens. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:21 LAD 4th WHEN'S TEE TIME (#7, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:42 MTH 8th GLIDER (#8, 4-1) didn't break all that well in the Gotham and he was never able to recover, finishing a well-beaten 5th, but his two prior Beyers and efforts put him right in the middle of this Long Branch Stakes; he hasn't been out since that Grade 3 try in early March but he has been working well toward this return, and he does fit the expected race flow very well as a closer, as there is plenty of speed drawn to his inside. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:47 LAD 5th CABO'S RUMOR (#1, 9-2) has hit the exacta on this dirt in seven of ten starts. He gets back to the dirt and that is his best surface. Race flow is fair enough and this gelding gets to save all the early ground. His last race came back key when 2 of 6 returned to win with figs of 79 and 62. Local works round out the appeal. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:48 WO 9th SKILLS TEST (#4, 6-1) was competitive in both of his outings against $15K maidens, including a clear second in his season opener. He shouldn't be out of his league vs. these sophomore OS/$40K maidens and is the lone entrant with racing experience. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:51 LS 8th TEXAS THUNDER (#8, 8-1) is the speed of the speed. She draws better today and escapes stakes foes. Until her most recent, this filly had improved her Beyer speed figure in every start. We love that bullet work on the 1st. She faces the boys and that helps the price. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:12 LAD 6th MISS KENNEDY (#3, 10-1) is by a 6% debut turf sire. Her dam went 2-0-0-0 on the weeds. All 3 siblings beat winners on the grass including a debut turf winner. This filly is capable off a layoff and should love two turns on the green. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:15 TUP 7th WAY TO FIRE (#9, 6-1) has never missed the board in a shortened sprint. Her last race came back key when 2 of 6 returned to win with figs of 77 and 67. Works are fine while this barn is 20% with new runners. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:16 GP 12th DUKE SKYWALKER (#4, 6-1) looks as good as any in a race that is hard to get a firm grip on. Easy to toss his debut on turf as he was in deep in the $75K Hollywood Beach and he ran a solid race on Tapeta in his second start in a $25K maiden claimer. He is out of a mare who won going long on turf and he could make a big impact as a first-time gelding who is also using Lasix for the first time. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:25 OP 10th IMA BLING CAT (#12, 6-1) has been in nothing but quick races all meet long, winning one of them in March. He's from a mare who won 3 races and earned $44K. SMARTY GRIMES cuts back to one turn and his last win came at the configuration. He adds a set of blinkers in what is a high percentage equipment move for Deville, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:57 CD 12th The Kentucky Derby features a fair amount of pace -- at least on paper -- which suggests those runners with a decent stretch kick could hold the edge. WHITE ABARRIO (#15, 10-1) won the Florida Derby with a late rally from just off the pace and if he can avoid traffic he might be the one to make the last run, and take advantage of the expected race flow. Also using MO DONEGAL (#1, 10-1) for the same reason, even if the rail draw is not ideal. TAIBA (#12, 12-1) wants to be close but has a proven rating gear, and while SIMPLIFICATION (#13, 20-1) was on the lead last time out he's also capable of taking back early and making a stretch bid. 50 CENT TRIFECTA PLAY: 1, 12, 15 / 1, 12, 13, 15 / 1, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15, 16, 21 = $27 Ticket | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:45 MED (Harness) 2nd UPTOWN LADY N (#5, 8-1) takes a meaningful drop in class and while she is somewhat pace dependent as a closer, there seems to be ample early speed signed on and she is capable of winning first-over. – Derick Giwner | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:40 YR (Harness) 3rd JUST PLAIN LOCO (#2, 3-1) missed out on the first leg of this series when he came up sick last week. Trainer Dan Morrissey has sent out six winners from just 25 starters so far this year at Yonkers, and this horse was a game third after doing the first-over work on April 26. I'll bank on him being ready despite the scratch. – Greg Reinhart | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:50 WBS (Harness) 9th JIMMY FREIGHT (#4, 8-5) shoots for his sixth win at the top class in seven starts here and there is no reason to think he won’t get it; best bet. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets