DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, November 19, 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.
11:50 AQU 1st SELF CONFIDENT (#4, 6-1) hasn't earned particularly noteworthy figures in her first two starts, though she ran pretty well both times, especially in that debut when putting in a good late run from off the pace; bred to get better with time and distance and might get overlooked a bit in this spot. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
12:52 AQU 3rd IT CAN BE DONE (#1, 5-1) was a stakes winner at two, and was multiple Grade 3-placed last year on the turf; has yet to find the winner's circle after only four starts this year, though he just earned a new top figure in his first start for Pletcher; good trip coming with tactical speed from the rail. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
1:13 LRL 3rd GRACE'S SECRET (#1, 6-1) has lots of room to improve off that last running line, as she makes her first start off the claim for Anthony Farrior, a trainer who wins at 26% with such runners, and she also figures to improve if she gets a better race flow, as that last one featured a race flow that greatly favored speed-types (note inverted "S" in DRF pp line); may be able to make the last run if she gets clear sailing from the rail. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
1:18 AQU 4th MILLEAN (#5, 6-1) went longer in his return to NY last time and got jammed up a bit while taking a hold to concede the early lead, before dueling and tiring inside the final furlong to finish third; still lightly raced and can do better dropping back in distance. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
1:42 LRL 4th EXPECTATIONS MET (#2, 9-2) is out of an unraced dam but Ms. Cornstalk has produced three stakes winners, all of them winners in their respective career debuts, including Biofuel, a multiple graded stakes winner; working well enough toward her bow for trainer Jorge Duarte Jr., wo is always dangerous with firsters. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
1:53 WO 2nd A MAIZE ZING DOTIE (#4, 8-1) finished a distant second after a three-wide stalking trip over an inside-favoring track in a shorter sprint at this level under Kimura Nov. 3. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
2:11 LRL 5th BOSS ANGEL (#2, 6-1) was off the board in her last two, both against non-winners of two, but she didn't get the best of pace set ups in those races, and she figures to get an improved race flow in this sprint; first start against winners was a two-turn try against better, at Timonium, and she didn't run all that badly there. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
2:44 AQU 7th CHURCHTOWN (#1, 6-1) ran very well to win two back after getting caught wide around the first turn and then going early to challenge before the stretch; stepped up in class last time and ran well again while dueling and just getting nailed by a closer; has appeared to be hard to settle in those last two starts but there is a good trip coming for him here if he can come to hand from the rail. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
3:21 GP 7th LUCK IN THE DUSK (#5, 6-1) stepped up switching to Tapeta, adding blinkers when overcoming wide trip to prevail in first try over the Tapeta and around two turns on graduation day. Figures to have plenty of pace to run at once again in this spot. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race
3:26 WO 5th ESME (#5, 8-1) ran second to the promising Renegade Rebel when adding Lasix to her arsenal three weeks ago. The Claiborne-bred has improved with each subsequent start and has worked twice leading up to this engagement. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
3:48 TUP 3rd ARRABIATA (#5, 9-2) ran evenly versus better on the turf at Santa Anita so he simply needs that kind of an effort to beat these. You can't fault his only win outside of California when he easily beat allowance foes at Arizona Downs. Local works are just fine and this barn often uses this jockey. The Evans barn has started the meet strong and their trainer stats are good across the board including 22% on the green. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
4:29 DMR 3rd Front-runner ANGELCENTS (#3, 8-1) can wire this N2X turf sprint. A six-time winner and 4-of-9 on turf, she won on this course in summer with jockey Jose Valdivia, and looks like the speed of this field. Trainer Librado Barocio has been on a roll, his starters are consistently performing their odds. His last four runners include $13 and $26.40 winners, and 8-1 runner-up Taming the Tigress in a stake here Sunday. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race
4:55 WO 8th DEVIL'S BIT (#2, 8-1) saved ground over an outside-favoring main course that had some give to it when a flat fifth three weeks ago. She's since worked a fast five-eighths on the Tapeta and could break through at a square price in this nine-furlong N1X. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
5:25 WO 9th TAKOTA (#6, 12-1) got the job done in the second start of her previous form cycle in the spring and could duplicate that feat in this $25K claimer after tracking all the speed. Stein was up for each of her last two triumphs. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
5:29 DMR 5th TASTERFOR THE KING (#8, 4-1) did not care for wet turf in his debut at Kentucky Downs; he chased and faded. That was two months ago, he worked well since and will get firm turf for his second start. He shipped from Keeneland to DMR with stablemate maiden 2yo filly Playlist, the favorite Friday in race 5. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race
5:50 TUP 7th MAJESTIC STREET (#5, 15-1) has fresh speed and that is often the best speed. This colt is 2 for 7 here and 0 for 10 anywhere else. When last seen locally he was winning at 9-1 all while facing better. Oh, it was at this distance. That was a Beyer top three back so this colt might be better now than when last seen here. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
6:20 TUP 8th SUPERSTAR BEA (#2, 8-1) goes for a 24% turf barn that shows a flat bet profit on the green. She draws fine and goes second time this sod. A bit of wide trip didn't help matters last out. This mare gets some pace to chase and the price should be solid. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
6:45 GG 7th MOMMA MOCCA (#1, 10-1) stalked on turf at this level here Oct. 2, made a threatening move into the lane but flattened out to end up 3rd. Still, considering that was her first start in 3 months and the move she made was while wide it was a very nice effort. She can benefit from that outing and the return to the main track, and with her tactical speed and the rail should be in line for a nice trip. -Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race
7:15 GG 8th WAR GAMES (#6, 8-1) has the speed to be in control from the start. The 5yo hasn't run in a couple months but has run well before off the bench and certainly loves this footing. -Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race
7:45 GG 9th CLASS PROOF (#7, 6-1) continues to trend north, topped off by a big win over $4K N2L foes on this track Oct. 30. He steps up i price but the way he's progressing he looks ready for such a challenge. He has speed to be in it from the start and his trainer is having a super meet. -Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race
8:07 RP 1st CATO'S LADY (#1, 5-1) is back sprinting and back on the main track and she's a multiple winner under such conditions. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race
9:20 WBS (Harness) 8th E L GLADIATOR (#9, 10-1) raced okay in the Harvest series and he should find this spot easier. I’ll give him the nod hoping for a square price from post 9. – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race
11:23 RP 8th MISTER WAYSIDE (#2, 8-1) returns to the overnight ranks off a stakes-placing to Fly to the Bank, who has since won another local stakes to make for a record of three straight wins at the meet. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race