DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, October 23, 2021

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.

12:06 LRL 2nd Although CALYPSO GHOST's (#1, 8-1) bid for a hat trick was denied in the final furlong of recent starter allowance, the gray filly gave a strong effort. She engaged favored Ms. Headley (finished fourth) through enervating fractions and eventually got the better of the duel only to be run down from behind. Stretches out to seven, but she's been successful at a mile and has shown the versatility to win from on or just off the lead. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:41 LRL 3rd Think there's going to be some pace and that could bode well for MOON BOSS (#9, 10-1), a maiden switching surfaces. She's by Grade 2-winning dirt sprinter Holy Boss from the family of Grade 1-winning dirt router Buy the Sport so there should be enough pedigree for her to handle the main track. Must break better, but shows promising dirt works at Fair Hill. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:22 GP 2nd MILA (#2, 15-1) makes second start of current form cycle and showed enough from gate last week to merit consideration at what figures to be square price for red hot barn. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:54 GP 3rd OCTOBER TIME (#6, 20-1) improved when put on grass for first time despite some early trouble and with several good looking works over PM green subsequent to that outing. Kin to undefeated G3 winning speedster R Adios Jersey. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:04 KEE 3rd Think SOARING BIRD (#3, 4-1) might get a little better trip -- and definitely at a better price -- than likely favorite QUICK RETURN. QR's pilot is going to have to decide how to handle the presence of outside-drawn major pace player PETIT VERDOT -- who runs as fast as he can, as far as he can -- while drawn down on the inside. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:25 WO 4th REIGN BY REIN (#9, 12-1) was shuffled back while blocked along the rail on the turn last time in a race you can draw a line through. She's dropping to a new low in this $15K NW2 route, and can handle either surface. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:54 LRL 7th High-percentage trainer Jerry Robb is showing a great deal of confidence running FILLE D'ESPRIT (#5, 12-1) seven-eighths against the mighty HELLO BEAUTIFUL in first start following injury-induced 309-day layoff. Great Notion mare won six of her last seven starts last year including good-trip score against open "two-other-than" foes in final race of 2020. Tracked a big longshot's fast pace while in the pocket, split rivals on the turn and was on her way to beat two next-out winners (third-finisher Kiss the Girl has since won two stakes races). -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:26 LRL 8th Trainer Jason DaCosta has had some success here with Thistledown-based juveniles (Jamaican Don ran second in this race in 2017 while Latin Spice placed third at 47 to 1 in last year's Maryland Juvenile Futurity) and he saddles two in this year's Nursery. GOOD IDEA (#9, 10-1) chased a longshot gate-to-wire winner that set reasonable fractions over a speed-friendly track, and finished decently while a bit green. Should get some pace to attack from the middle of the pack. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:00 WO 7th SOUPER FLASHY (#5, 15-1) came charging from the rear of the field after a sluggish start to land her debut impressively going 6 1/2 furlongs in a good OS/$40K sprint that contained two next-out winners. She galloped out strongly then and has a blend of speed and stamina in her pedigree. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:02 GP 7th SIMPLIFICATION (#1, 8-1) should benefit from even effort over the Tapeta returning to dirt, trying state breds for first time today. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:44 KEE 8th Really think the Ack Ack on dirt was. as much as anything, a stepping-stone race to get MR DUMAS (#5, 6-1) back to preferred surface, turf, and here connections find an allowance he fits despite having five wins and a victory in a graded-stakes race. Surely needed that CNL comeback run two back and was caught up in a hot pace, but he's a horse who has rated off the lead with success, a seeming must in this pace-filled spot. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:57 LRL 11th CROUCHELLI (#4, 10-1) had all the best of it when scoring a three-turn "two-other-than" at Timonium last month. Saved ground behind a hot pace, split horses in late stretch and just got up. The fourth-place finisher returned to win for $25,000 with an 84 Beyer. Good trip win notwithstanding, he wants every bit of this demanding distance and has been racing in good form. Give him some pace and he can make a run at a price. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:01 WO 9th BELENTIME (#4, 10-1) has a number of improvement angles going for him in this $25K maiden sprint, including a drop in class, a turnback in distance, and first-time gelding. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:16 KEE 9th Will MISS SPEEDY (#11, 6-1) take to dirt? No idea, since we can't see workout video from Churchill Downs (wish everyone were a little more horseplayer friendly!), where she has posted two timed workouts since moving out of Canada. We do know that trainer M Casse won this very race in 2018 with Shamrock Rose, who exited synthetic-surface races at Woodbine, but Shamrock Rose had previous dirt form while Miss Speedy has only raced on Tapeta. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:32 WO 10th VEERY (#3, 6-1) made a threatening three-wide bid before fading to fifth when favored at first asking at this class and distance. Her trainer's second-timers have been more effective than his firsters at the meet. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:48 KEE 10th SANTIN (#6, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

8:07 RP 1st SUMMER CAT (#4, 6-1) is a February foal who showed speed around two turns and now cuts back to one, which can be an effective move with a horse. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

8:20 MED 4th BOLD DADDY (#6, 5-1) not only has some of the best Beyers in the field but he also has proven speed in a race that's a little light on pace; steadied late in his first start off the layoff while tiring some but he certainly has license to move forward in this one with that race under his belt. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

8:47 MED 5th MOON CHANT (#3, 15-1) faded after setting the pace on a loose lead at Laurel last time but she had to work hard to get clear in that speed-filled field, and she was also trying 1 1/8 miles there; cutback helps the cause, as does the improved pace scenario she seems likely to get today. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

9:59 RP 5th GORDON ANTHONY (#6, 6-1) faced older rivals for the first time last out and ran a good fourth to Take Charge Deputy, a 10-time winner who came back in his next start to account for a $25K claiming race at EmD with a Beyer Speed Figure of 76. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

11:51 RP 9th OLD SOT (#1, 9-2) finished in front of a number of these last out when second over the local course at Remington. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets