DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026

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.

12:56 LRL 3rd CHALK TALK (#4, 12-1) was forced off the turf last time and understandably did little running, but the 65 Beyer she earned on the grass at Delaware in August stands out as a notable effort; Merryman will sensibly get him back on his preferred surface against several more experienced maidens, which could be a mark in his favor. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

1:00 KEE 1st MAYFIELD (#7, 6-1) took betting action but didn't have much of a trip debuting Aug. 16 at Ellis, where, frankly, he showed little in the end. Back to the drawing board. Gotten in five drills since that debut, and those on video show a horse ready to show why he was 2-1 in his first start. Expect major improvement. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

1:05 WO 1st GLINT OVER ESSA (#1, 8-1) is by the good 15% 2yo debut sire Reload and her dam produced a stakes-placed sprinter. She went better than her company in a decent five-furlong work that I clocked in 1:00.85 Sept. 19. Hayashi has excellent first-out stats with these Buttigieg homebreds. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

1:11 BEL 3rd GNOSIS (#10, 8-1) didn't get much of a Beyer on debut, but that race may have been underrated; she was facing males and showed some likable qualities; she broke professionally, contested the pace, and only lost 3rd by a neck after battling on through the lane; now drops in against fillies and should be set for a step forward. Liked the Fasig-Tipton sales work for CONVINCING, who sold well for a daughter of Mandaloun; Derek Ryan can occasionally connect with firsters at big prices, and this one has some sprint pedigree on the dam's side. COMETS CHOICE contested the pace before fading last time at Saratoga; got hung wide all the way around the turn and still held 2nd; she's had more chances than some others, but has run well in each of her last 2 starts without ideal trips. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

1:37 WO 2nd WHISKEY OVER WINE (#2, 15-1) tracked a quick pace and held on for second in her excellent penultimate race on the main turf. A wide trip on the inner course led to her downfall most recently. – Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

1:44 BEL 4th EXHIBIT (#3, 12-1) got away to an awkward start, bounced around early, before chasing from mid-pack and fading; got the sense even going into that race that he might want a surface switch, which he gets here; Munnings is a decent turf sire, and the dam was a stakes winner on grass, earning all 4 career victories on this surface; both siblings to try the turf are winners over it. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

1:56 GP 4th CAMIGOL (#8, 8-1) much improved since switch to the synthetic but obviously a question mark if this one stays on grass. Never better and stretch running sort does get what figures to be plenty of pace to run at once again. - Mike Welsch | Get Past Performances for this race

2:04 KEE 3rd EPISIST (#5, 6-1) really didn't get much of a run from a wide draw making her turf debut three back at Ellis, and after the end of that 1 1/16-mile race, she galloped out like a horse looking for more ground - which she was. Didn't quite get the 12 furlongs two back, but also might not have been quite as fully formed that race as she was eight days later blasting home a sharp 9 1/2-furlong maiden winner. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

2:36 KEE 4th AUTODRIVE (#1, 9-2) almost certainly "needed" his August long-layoff comeback race, and while well-beaten, he showed enough there to suggest he's at least the same horse we saw in the spring. Turf experiment failed in April, and in the start before he ran into Built and Maximum Bourbon, both at least minor players in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. At the listed odds, I'd take him all day and every day over morning-line favorite FLOODLITES. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

2:50 BEL 6th MEDINAH (#5, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (David Aragona). | Get Past Performances for this race

3:01 LRL 7th WHAT SAY THEE (#11, 5-1) got caught down on the rail while trying to close last time, backing off and never engaging thereafter; this outside post presents a different challenge, but at least it's a chance of pace after three straight breaks from the rail; at his best, he's a serious threat in this group. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

3:12 GP 6th SUPER SIENNA (#6, 6-1) Group 2 placed in Peru on the grass who may want longer in U.S. debut although sharp looking Tapeta work on 9/19 could have her primed for big try for top percentage barn who reaches out to main man Herrera for the occasion. Addition of Lasix could prove a plus. - Mike Welsch | Get Past Performances for this race

3:22 BEL 7th GOLDEN SIREN (#2, 4-1) hasn't run quite as fast as some others in this field, but may be better than she looks on paper; missed the break on debut, making an early move to the lead before succumbing to a more experienced stablemate; seemed to really benefit from that start, running a much more professional race 2nd time out; set a pretty quick pace for 2YOs and still kicked on impressively up front; that mental maturity should benefit her here. - David Aragona

4:20 GP 8th NEAT (#9, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch).

4:29 SA 2nd OUR MOONLIGHT (#3, 6-1) will benefit if a speed duel develops in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1-2 furlongs between the filly TOASTER and mare THERMAL, who are both very easy to like. Our Moonlight has been third in her last two starts in sprints at Santa Anita in March and May. She won an allowance race at a mile at Los Al in June and closed ground to be second in the restricted Tranquility Lake Stakes at a mile at Del Mar on Sept. 5, never threatening winner Magnificat. This shorter trip, and the race scenario, may work for Our Moonlight. - Steve Andersen  | Get Past Performances for this race

4:44 KEE 8th LUSH LIPS (#2, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh). | Get Past Performances for this race

6:02 SA 5th The addition of blinkers, a jockey switch, and a return to a maiden race can help EMPIRE OF ASH (#4, 8-1) win for the first time against statebred 2-year-olds at six furlongs. Trained by George Papaprodromou, Empire of Ash finished fourth in two starts at Del Mar during the summer, closing from off the pace in a maiden race on Aug. 16 and again in the I'm Smokin Stakes on Sept. 7. Empire of Ash will be fitted with blinkers for the first time in this race. - Steve Andersen

6:02 WO 10th PAYNES SPIRIT (#7, 6-1) chased a lively pace while three-wide over a track that favored speed and inside runners before flattening out late to third Aug. 30 in the restricted Elgin Stakes. He's a good fit in this conditioned allowance/optional claimer with leading rider Pietro Moran taking over. – Ron Gierkink

7:00 MED 1st TOLD (#7, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck).

7:30 RP 1st JALAPENA LENA (#1, 6-1) is winless in three prior tries on the green but she hasn't run all that badly in defeat, and given her early foot and inside draw she should be a factor from the bell in this opener, which isn't loaded with speed; expecting jockey Ramon Vazquez to be aggressive with her from the break. – Kenny Peck

8:26 RP 3rd MOR LANA SPIRIT (#2, 8-1) clearly came back running from the short respite, and he not only won for fun but he wasn't pushed at all late, winning in hand; that has proven to be a key race, with a couple of the also-rans coming back to win (with 12 and 29-point Beyer improvements), and the resulting Beyer puts him in the mix tonight despite the rise in class. – Kenny Peck  | Get Past Performances for this race

8:52 MED 5th EXCLUSIVE CHAMPION (#8, 7-2) has been in good form all year and that includes her latest, when she rallied late to edge GOLDEN RING for the place; she makes her third start back following the short freshening and though she's widest she clearly has the ability to get position right from the start. – Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

9:22 RP 5th DEVIOUS LOVER (#9, 8-1) has been routing but he's run well at this distance, and though he's turning back from longer races and he draws outside he can be expected to make his presence felt from the bell; dangerous at this reduced level. – Kenny Peck  | Get Past Performances for this race

9:50 RP 6th SHIP HER WEST (#1, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck).  | Get Past Performances for this race