DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, October 14, 2023

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.

1:08 BAQ 2nd The lone victory for ROOT CAUSE (#6, 10-1) from her first five starts came at 1/5 odds off the layoff, though she has since run well in three straight races without winning, including a very good effort for second in her stakes debut last time; had little chance in that spot after being rated back behind a front-running winner, but she still managed to make it close at the end; better than she looks and does not appear to be overmatched by this field. -Mike Beer

1:15 WO 1st STORMIN DAVE (#3, 8-1) was carried out quite wide early on the backstretch before a subpar sixth last time out on the main turf. He was previously a clear second on the Tapeta with a career high 77 Beyer, the highest recent fig in this field. -Ron Gierkink

1:20 GP 2nd GRATIA (#6, 15-1) back to more suitable level, picks up new pilot, note easy win over logical choice KRABI when pair met as maidens here last summer. -Mike Welsch

2:23 WO 3rd ONELLA (#2, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).

2:44 BAQ 5th STYLE POINTS (#4, 6-1) is by a very good new sire in Oscar Performance (14% wins with 2yo first-time starters, 16% with turf routers), and is out of a dam who won a Grade 2 and placed in a Grade 1 on turf (also for these connections); Clement among the best around with first-time starters. -Mike Beer

3:16 BAQ 6th CHARGING AERO (#6, 10-1) has improved since switching to dirt earlier this year and posting back-to-back wins at Tampa; good effort to prevail last time when dropped in class, as he was forced to work hard from the start while first back from the layoff; this is tougher but he still has room to improve and might be catching some of his main rivals at the right time. -Mike Beer

4:03 LRL 9th FULL PROOF (#11, 6-1) did some good things in her debut at Colonial. Pulled early to track the pace inside, wanted to come up the rail turning for home, but lugged in a bit, and had to alter course to the outside. Once clear, he split rivals to get second. Seemed much more professional second-time out with blinkers added as he scooted right to the front, and always had more in the tank to deny a well-regarded first-time starter. -Dan Illman

4:36 WO 7th SOUPER PECAN (#7, 20-1) hasn't shown much this year, but she exhibited signs of life last out when fourth on the inner turf. The deep closer has tons of speed to run at in this N1X on the Tapeta and is worth a flyer at a fat price. -Ron Gierkink

4:44 KEE 8th Yes, ROSIE'S ALIBI (#6, 12-1) went to Parx to win a maiden race last fall, but there she thumped Foggy Night, who has turned into a stakes horse and won the Delaware Oaks this summer. Rosie a distant third in the Demoiselle - might have been too far, and she might not have been at her best given fact she just now returns to racing. Watched two of her CD breezes and she is definitely being trained to run well first time off the bench - vigorous gallop outs that ended past the five-furlong marker down the backstretch. Ought to outrun her odds and could get a setup. -Marcus Hersh

5:17 GP 10th STAT (#2, 6-1) owns the distinction of being the only horse to beat Volcanic in that one's last five starts and willingly to toss dull one over tricky Kentucky Downs turf course. Looking for big rebound effort returning with optional claimers at his preferred distance in afternoon's co-feature. -Mike Welsch

5:40 LRL 12th THE LAST SCIP (#5, 10-1) beat four next-out winners over "good" going in June, then might have been in too tough against open first-level allowance rivals on 7/15. Sat a good pocket trip in the latter race, a heat where they ran 1-2 all the way around, and lacked the needed punch after trying to keep up with a quick third quarter of 23.54. The winner of that race returned to finish third in the restricted Find with an 84 Beyer. -Dan Illman

6:40 WO 11th ONANDONANDON (#13, 8-1) got wiped out at the start and was bumped at the top of the stretch before checking in a commendable third in her latest. The leading bug Vives breaks her from the outside post in this large field. -Ron Gierkink

7:26 MED 2nd JOHNNY FROM BOSTON (#9, 5-1) makes his second career start and drops in class from Maiden Special Weight company into a maiden claimer and those are two solid angles for trainer Robert Falcone Jr.; dam was 2nd in her only start on the turf. -Kenny Peck

8:20 MED 4th HARD TO CATCH (#7, 12-1) was well off the board in her turf debut last time out but that was a deceptively decent try, as she made a big middle move down the backstretch before she flattened out late; may be a bit of a reach but she does have room to improve given a better-timed run. -Kenny Peck

11:30 LRL 1st DON'T TELL DEREN (#2, 8-1), unbeaten from two turf starts, appears to carry her speed better on the lawn. A bit eager leaving the stalls at Colonial last time, she saved ground in midpack, stalked in between after a half-mile, angled four wide into the stretch, then gamely ran down the loose leader. Paired up Beyer tops in both turf runs, and still think she has upside for barn that went 6 for the last 15 (40%, $5.64 ROI) with last-out winners. -Dan Illman