DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, Sept. 12, 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.

12:20 GP 1st STARSHIP CONTENDER (#4, 6-1) is by a 22% debut sire (2YO's only) and a 3 for 6 debut turf sire. Her dam went 6-0-1-0 and earned 8K (mostly turf). This is her first foal. Works are perfect and we like this barn on the grass. AMERICAN REIGN is the one to beat off back to back turf tries. Her last race came back key when 2 of 4 returned to win with figs of 55 and 59. Early speed always comes in handy for a short sprint. -Scott Ehlers

12:45 CD 1st Do we think new trainer Joe Sharp ran EXCEL CALCULATOR (#1, 4-1) 7f against tougher competition last out at CNL with the sole intent of trying to win that race? Or prepping him for this stretch back to 9f and return to starter-allowance company? Going with the latter, though to be fair, getting 9f is not assured. Second off claim, and all due respect to the former trainer, she's 3-43 this year while Sharp already has 126 winners. -Marcus Hersh

1:03 LRL 3rd BLO YOUR MIND (#5, 8-1) will make her debut without a tag for Keefe, who seems intent on taking advantage of this Maryland-bred condition; sire Blofeld is a standout local sire for dirt sprinters and the dam E Dubai's Honor produced the talented local sprinter Wickeddivine; this trainer doesn't waste much time. -Patrick Moquin

1:16 CD 2nd DETERMINED ACE (#7, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh).

1:52 MTH 3rd PRINCESS CLEO (#6, 6-1) has been working well toward her career debut for trainer Cal Lynch, who has good stats with his firsters over the past five years (26% strike rate, $3.00 ROI, 53% in the money); dam was a six-time winner and she produced Under Budget, who won six races of her own, albeit all on the main track. -Kenny Peck

1:55 GP 4th SHERMAN FURY (#6, 8-1) is a new gelding that ends up in a barn that is 15% with recent acquisitions. Works are well spaced including a bullet best on the 22nd. There is little speed in this race so perhaps this guy takes advantage of. -Scott Ehlers

2:18 CD 4th My stars, the speed signed onto this heat. It's inside, middle, and on the far outside, too in Semper Primus, and I don't see how they don't go flying down the backstretch and into the turn. CIRCLE TAP (#10, 5-1) can contend in a vacuum and has the perfect style to make a winning run into the enervating pace. -Marcus Hersh

2:40 LRL 6th LES REYS (#8, 6-1) will stretch back out to six furlongs in her second start at Laurel for Clement, she first tried this surface in May and faded in a $100,000 stakes off the layoff, but she came back to fire an 88 Beyer at six furlongs at Aqueduct the following month; it's becoming increasingly clear that she needs a little more ground, making this an ideal spot for her to return to Maryland. -Patrick Moquin

3:05 WO 5th EMBOUTEILLAGE (#7, 5-1) came from fourth to prevail in her 5 1/2-furlong debut on the Saratoga sod under John Velazquez, who retains the mount after having other options in the G1 BC Win and You're In qualifier. The daughter of excellent European miler sire Kingman is out of a G3-winning turf miler. -Ron Gierkink

4:12 WO 7th OSCAR (#3, 6-1) was a thoroughly professional debut winner going long at Saratoga in a maiden special that contained two next-out winners--runner-up Bold Leadership came back to just miss in a three-horse G3 at the Spa. AL HUDAIBA won all three of his starts at Newmarket, including a G2 tilt, before a close third among two next-out winners in a G2 at Goodwood. His high-profile connections captured this G1 BC Win and You're event in 2021-22. -Ron Gierkink

4:30 LRC 2nd The unexposed BAD UNCLE ERNIE (#4, 6-1) and the first-time starter PRIZE CANDY have landed in a weak $50,000 claimer for statebred maidens at six furlongs and are rated as alternative selections to the veteran maiden CHARMZ AWAY. Bad Uncle Ernie finished seventh of 11 against a similar field at Del Mar on Aug. 29 in his debut. He made some progress in the final quarter-mile after a troubled start. With a better start, Bad Uncle Ernie can be closer to the front. -Steve Andersen

4:45 WO 8th SERENDIPITY (#7, 7-2) won the G3 Selene here in front-running style last year before a stint with trainer Brad Cox in the U.S. She's been working up a storm on the Tapeta for her return to the local scene and is drawn outside the other speed, which gives her a chance to assume an early stalking position before making a threatening bid. -Ron Gierkink

5:05 GP 10th We're gonna try and beat the big chalk. DUNE ROAD (#4, 12-1) tried a tough seven panels off the layoff and ran evenly. He goes second out for new barn and tries the grass for only the second time. Was this the plan all along? He is bred to like two turns on the grass with turf and distance Tomlinsons of 325/363. One of three sibs is a multiple grass winner of 604K. We really like this barn on the sod. -Scott Ehlers

7:30 RP 1st STORM AFTER DARK (#1, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck).

7:45 LAD 7th QUARRY (#3, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).

8:10 LAD 8th We shall attempt to blow up the tote with BALANDEEN STORM (#7, 20-1). This is sire's first grass runner. His dam never tried the green. Two of four sibs won on the grass while the other two hit the board. The best sib is a multiple grass winner of 362K. The other sib is a multiple grass winner of 60K. This guy caught an off track in his debut and then had trouble in his second start. -Kenny Peck

8:10 CBY 5th JET SET REBEL (#1,8-1) has only run poorly once and that came in his debut. He drew the rail two back and that was his turf and route debut. He ran great when 2nd at 11-1. He switched to the dirt previously and beat over half the field home at 7-1. Now he returns to the grass and draws the rail once again. His upside is good while team Rarick are just good on the grass at 17% (flat bet profit). -Scott Ehlers

8:40 CBY 6th SUTHERLAND (#6, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).

9:40 CBY 8th ATHENA'S WISDOM (#3, 6-1) won with ease the that last time that she returned off a layoff (three back). She has tactical speed to help the trip and four local works. With a good break, she might steal this. New barn is the X factor. -Scott Ehlers

9:50 RP 6th HELENE'S POWER (#3, 6-1) was off the board in her local debut but she didn't run a bad race there, as she made a premature bid before flattening out, and the resulting Beyer puts her in the mix here; tonight's drop in class adds to the appeal. -Kenny Peck

10:18 RP 7th CUR NON (#4, 8-1) returns from a four-month layoff and seems to land in a favorable spot in terms of race flow, as she may well be the deceptive clear speed in this spot; something clearly went amiss in that last one but the race two back was exceptional, as she fought off early pressure and lasted in a race where the closers otherwise held the edge, and if she's back in form for trainer Boyd Caster she can surprise these. -Kenny Peck

10:46 RP 8th FORBIDDEN LOVER (#5, 12-1) comes out of a claimer but she's an upgrade candidate off that race, as she was pressing the pace from the start in that sprint, which set up well for the closers (note the bold "C" in DRF pp line); there is some speed in this field but she is inside her main pace foes and she could get brave on the lead if allowed to set her own pace. -Kenny Peck