DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, November 16, 2024

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.

12:20 GP 1st MYWIFEKNOWSITALL (#5, 9-2) back in more suitable spot after being over-matched while tripping out poorly to boot two weeks earlier. Easily handled Hub City two back, the latter getting the better of today's chief rivals, MISPRINT and WARDA, when that trio squared off on 9/12. – Mike Welsch

12:40 AQU 3rd SHOOT IT TRUE (#5, 8-1) is one of two Ward fillies in this field and she is returning from a layoff that is nearing 200 days, which is the main concern; faced colts in both starts earlier in the year and the short sprint debut at Keeneland was serious stuff, as she powered clear right away with a big show of speed and was ridden out; her only other start came in a much tougher spot in the Kentucky Juvenile, where she got hooked into a fast duel and paid the price; has missed time but flashed real ability early on and might be fastest early in this spot. – Mike Beer

1:40 AQU 5th BELLS BEACH (#6, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).

1:48 GP 4th STATESMAN (#5, 9-2) is a DRF Best (Mike Welsch).

2:19 WO 3rd LEGAL ATTACK (#10, 4-1) has performed like an in-and-outer of late--this will be his day to shine if the pattern continues as he gets some noteworthy class relief. – Ron Gierkink

3:10 AQU 8th ELITE STATUS (#9, 8-1) shot for a big purse in the career debut and actually ran very well in that Fifth Avenue division of the Stallion Series while doing a lot of racing and just failing to last for second; did not run as well in her second start and was given time off; interesting starting back on the grass as a daughter of turf influence Big Brown and two-time turf winner Ruby Dusk; lone sibling to try the grass ran twice on the surface with a win and a second. – Mike Beer

3:30 DMR 1st ANDTHEOMOFTHEBRAVE (#1, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Brad Free).

4:20 WO 7th BOLT ENOREE (#7, 6-1) saved ground over an outside-biased track when a good third behind the sharp next-out winner My Sunny Valentine in her penultimate start. She threw in a clunker most recently, but could pop up on the stretch-out to route here in her first two-turn try on the Tapeta. – Ron Gierkink

5:16 GP 11th A ton of speed signed on for finale which could prove a plus for STREAKING GREY (#2, 15-1) coming off steady series of longer races and who should come running at the end shortening to five furlongs for first time in her career. Toss last when losing best chance right after the start. – Mike Welsch

5:50 WO 10th DRESDEN ROW (#11, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).

6:30 DMR 7th This turf sprint for maiden 2yo fillies is a good spot to take a shot with a filly from a stable that typically races maidens into shape rather than fire first out. But pedigree and workouts by Baltas-trained HEADSTRONG WAYS (#2, 10-1) suggest she might be the exception. Munnings progeny have won an above-average 14 percent clip first out, the filly's workouts at San Luis Rey and DMR are sharp, and Baltas has a sneaky record with debut runners in turf sprints. The past five years, Baltas is 6-for-41 with turf-sprint firsters (15 percent, flat-bet profit), compared to 3-for-65 with all other firsters. – Brad Free