DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, October 26, 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.

1:41 BAQ 4th SIR KARTRITE (#10, 6-1) is a $150k yearling by 15% juvenile debut sire Maclean's Music and a half-brother to five winners from this dam; shows a bullet breeze on the way into this for an excellent first-out barn and gets Irad for the debut. – Mike Beer

1:45 WO 2nd It's hard to believe that LAST CALL (#2, 8-1) hasn't won since breaking her maiden in the G1 Natalma two years ago. She was blocked in the stretch while in the midst of her rally when returning to the local scene at this level a month ago, a race that could set her up for the elusive NW2 tally. – Ron Gierkink

2:18 GP 4th PALPITO (#1, 9-2) bet to 2-1 on drop to bottom, chased gate to wire winner before fading late in a race that he might have needed exiting four month vacation. May stand some catching himself this time around if away clean from rail. – Mike Welsch

2:45 BAQ 6th ROYAL PRESENCE (#1, 5-1) rated the break and was outrun to last in the off-turf debut upstate, which he was likely participating in for the experience; rode the rail in that race before racing on evenly in a race that fielded a strong group despite the surface switch; bred for turf and drew perfectly. – Mike Beer

2:55 WO 4th BANKER'S HOURS (#4, 8-1) took the long way home from near the rear of the field to lose a nail-biter in a longer sprint at this class in his much-improved last race. – Ron Gierkink

4:03 WO 6th SERENADING KITTEN (#7, 5-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink)

4:20 BAQ 9th IRISH PROPHET (#7, 6-1) has been shopping for a spot since arriving from California; got rained off when entered in a similar spot last month, then took a look at the Grade 3 Knickerbocker a couple of weeks ago before scratching; looks like a nice fit here with tactical speed for a trainer with a history of success shipping into NY. – Mike Beer

5:40 WO 9th FLYING BLACK (#2, 12-1) missed the break and awaited room on the turn before closing belatedly when exiting a layoff going a mile on the main turf. She's charting unknown territory over nine furlongs on the Tapeta in this N1X/$32K tilt and could make some noise as a longshot. – Ron Gierkink

6:00 SA 5th MIDDLEBURG (#1, 5-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Brad Free).

8:03 SA 9th This wide-open N1X hillside sprint is a good spot to take a shot with potential overlay ANNIE'S JOY (#3, 5-1). She has never raced on the hill, but the pressing style she employs in turf routes suggest this six and a half-furlong distance might be perfect. This is her second start back from an extended layoff; trainer Mark Glatt and jockey Mike Smith are consistently productive: 22 for 71 the past five years (31 percent). – Brad Free