DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, Sept. 19, 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.

1:30 GP 3rd R TUN WHO (#4, 6-1) gets some pace to chase so her trip might be better than a few of these. Tough luck runner was off slow two back and then stumbled while clipping heels last out. We like that this horse still ran well two back. She seems to be a hard trier and who doesn't like those? - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

1:33 GP 2nd WAITINGFORAHOLIDAY (#2, 6-1) had quite a wide trip over a rail-favoring track last time when seventh vs. $15K non-two stock. He's halving in value to the bottom non-two class with blinkers added. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

1:50 BEL 4th It can be difficult to compare form from different circuits, but it certainly appears that TENEBRIS (#8, 12-1) might have been catching some tougher fields than this in recent starts down in the mid-Atlantic; two back met stakes-quality foe Shane's Wonder, and other rivals from those races routinely run Beyers in the 80s; big, strapping gelding may be in better form than it appears and should appreciate the return to Belmont Park. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

2:08 LRL 5th VEKOMAMONA (#9, 6-1) will make her debut for Robb and boasts some lovely peripherals; her specializes with juveniles and has had this one training well for some time; sire Vekoma wins with 22% of juvenile firsters, though there's little info on the dam; the upside is fairly obvious. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

2:25 BEL 5th Didn't want to just default to the pair dropping out of a weak Skidmore; instead went shopping for a price and landed on IDEATION (#6, 12-1), who certainly has the pedigree for this; he's by excellent 2YO sire No Nay Never and his dam won the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf; she herself hasn't been much of a producer, which probably explains the modest $200k price tag. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

2:34 GP 5th GUERRERA (#1, 6-1) is by a 25% debut sire (2YO's only) and a 4 for 7 debut turf sire. Her dam went 30-4-7-4 and earned 104K (36K on the grass). Of 5 siblings to race, 4 won and all 4 beat winners (74K, 35K, 124K, and 95K). Two of three sibs won on the grass. This February bred only cost 8K so connections well in the black no matter what. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

3:00 BEL 6th Couldn't fully get behind firsters, so will lean on experience; SOLO STRYKER (#2, 20-1) is unlikely to get much respect despite owning the top turf Beyer in this field; clearly needed his debut, but showed encouraging progress last time, never seeing the rail and still rallying well through the lane; like that connections are now taking the blinkers off, and don't mind the rider change to Dylan Davis; expecting another step forward here, which might be enough for a breakthrough. - David Aragona | Get Past Performances for this race

4:15 LRL 9th FRENCH FRICTION (#1, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Patrick Moquin). | Get Past Performances for this race

5:01 WO 8th EPIC STYLE (#8, 4-1) ships in from Maryland off a sharp closing score in a rich conditioned allowance/optional claimer over the undulating course at Kentucky Downs. She has speed to rally into in this six-furlong stakes on the main turf and could be along in time under leading rider Moran. Z Z'S rode a speed bias on the Tapeta in a decisive score over N1X opponents most recently while earning an 86 Beyer, a much-improved performance in her first try for JC. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

5:02 LRC 3rd The last time MISTY DANCER (#2, 6-1) ran in a conditional claimer she won a $5,000 claimer for nonwinners of two at Santa Anita in June 2025. Fast forward 15 months and Misty Dancer has lost her last 11 starts in claiming races ranging in value from $6,250 to $10,000. She is part of a substandard field of six fillies and mares in this $6,250 claimer for nonwinners of three. Misty Dancer's best chance is probably as a stalker. The presence of jockey Tiago Pereira is promising. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race

5:03 LAD 2nd TRUE FIRE (#5, 4-1) is by a 15% debut sire (2YO's only). Her dam went 32-7-9-6 and earned 294K. One of two sibs won and is a multiple winner of 46K. Team Geiner are 19% with their debut maidens. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race

5:28 GP 10th FRIOLENTO (#9, 8-1) might really like a flat mile. He had the lead at the 1/8th pole in his first try (eight back) and then won his last race. He draws best and gets good race flow. Team Pulgarin are 4 for 10 with their horses that won their last race. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

6:08 GP 10th CELEBRITY WARRIOR (#1, 6-1) attended the pace before going on to beat maiden special types last out in a 7 1/2-furlong inner turf tilt around two turns. She could track all the speed before going in for the kill in this non-two allowance going a mile on the same course. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

6:10 CBY 3rd CAUGHTYOULOOKING (#3, 10-1) is by a 6% debut turf sire. Her dam went 6-1-2-1 on the green and banked 48K. Four of eight sibs won on the grass. Team Mac are 13% on the turf and show a flat bet profit. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

6:12 LRC 5th HALNINETHOUSAND (#6, 5-1) can show improvement in this $12,500 claimer for statebred maidens at a mile with a better post than the inside draw from his last two starts. Halninethousand was sixth and second in two starts at this level from an inside post at Del Mar. He raced without blinkers for the first time when second on Sept. 3 and delivered his best effort in six starts. Halninethousand seems best suited to racing as a closer and should have a pace to follow in this field of nine. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race

6:27 LAD 5th STAR OF BETHLEHEM (#1, 6-1) actually debuted at Belterra and the racing there can be tricky good. This guy has gotten the lead at the first call in all of his starts. Never easy to ship to a new track and win but that is what he did only two back. Sure there is other speed in this race but not a ton of it. With a good break, this colt might forget to stop. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

6:28 CD 2nd INDUSTRIOUS (#5, 9-2) the first of two seven-figure first-time starting 2yos on this card for trainer S Asmussen. One lonely work video, that 3f from gate on Sept. 7 - I liked it! Sharp break, looked like decent speed, traveled nice enough. Will give him a try. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

6:55 LAD 6th FLOWER GIRL (#8, 20-1) is 20-1 on the morning line and we think she has a shot to upset the apple cart. She has improved her Beyer in four straight so why not five? She is bred to love two turns on the turf with grass and distance Tommies of 343/359. Her stalking speed gives Barrera some early options. We like that she has already won on this sod. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

7:30 RP 1st LITTLE BIT OKIE (#8, 8-1) makes her debut for trainer Scott Young, who already has a win with a 2-year-old firster at the meet (Miss Alva); this filly is the first starter out of a dam who started only three times but she has to be considered a threat in an opener where the experienced runners haven't yet distinguished themselves. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

7:56 MED 3rd ATOMICO (#7, 8-1) is a double pace upgrade, exiting two straight races where he was off the pace in races lacking early zip which thus favored speeds (note the bold "S" symbols in DRF pp's); the win three back is what he's capable of if he gets an honest race flow and if he can run back to that effort and figure he may be good enough to win this. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

7:58 RP 2nd OVER REACTED (#4, 10-1) adds blinkers after a dull try in her first start off the layoff and that's a strong angle for trainer Juan Padilla, who is currently clicking at 9% overall but scores at 30% with this equipment change; figures to be prominent from the start and she can steal this if able to shake loose early on. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

8:23 LRC 9th Though winless in eight starts, HUNGOVER (#9, 5-1) can record a breakthrough victory in this $12,500 claimer for statebred maidens at six furlongs. Granted, Hungover has been in this position before. On June 26 at Los Al, in his first start at this level, Hungover was fifth as the even-money favorite after a disrupted start. Trained by Ryan Hanson, Hungover was eighth after another troubled start on July 24, but a brighter second on Aug. 20 in his last appearance. Tight Dally and Cardboard Tommy should provide sufficient pace for Hungover to follow. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race

8:40 CBY 8th MIA BABY (#5, 8-1) is just better of late. We are betting that she can put three good races together. Team Fields didn't start a whole lot of horses for the meet but 9 of 20 hit the exacta. Discount that turf try three back and she looks even better. Is six furlongs her best distance? - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

8:52 MED 5th ENCHANT (#6, 5-1) finally broke through for the maiden score in her 22nd career start two back and though she was a remote 2nd in her first start vs. winners she did run a decent race in defeat; she's at her best when she's able to sit just off the pace and make one run and given that type of trip she could be tough to stave off late. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

9:20 MED 6th OUTRUNNER (#2, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get Past Performances for this race

10:10 CD 9th BUTTONS AND LACE (#4, 10-1) is a − get this − an llinois-bred. Those are going extinct. Throwback to Arlington days and really old Illinois racing history - went all the way back to the fourth dam, Lumination, bred by Millard Seldin and trained by Hoss Inman - those are old-time Chicago racing people. More recently, Buttons and Lace's second dam, Kate the Great, was an Illinois-bred turf stakes winner for this trainer, and she produced Katie the Ladie, another Illinois stakes winner, and Blue Sky Kowboy, who had untapped graded-turf stakes potential. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

10:18 RP 7th SUTTER BUG (#9, 10-1) is fairly aggressively spotted for his first start since February, which could be viewed as an encouraging sign, and he lands in a seemingly good spot in terms of race flow as a closer in a sprint that features a good amount of early foot; can make an impact late if ready in his belated seasonal debut. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

10:46 RP 8th OUR DREAM RYE'D (#2, 5-1) is an upgrade candidate off his latest, when he was well off the pace in a pace-starved field where the speeds held the advantage; he managed to post a decent figure despite that hurdle and he has every right to improve tonight given a better set up and with this drop in class. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race