DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, Sept. 5, 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 TSAVORITE (#6, 10-1) is by a 21% debut sire (2YO's only) and a 0 for 8 debut turf sire. His dam was un-raced. Lone sibling is 6-1-2-1 and earned 29K (2-1-1-0 on the grass, 20K, won turf debut). This colt only cost 10K so today's maiden claimer placement figures. Works are plentiful and well spaced. -Scott Ehlers

1:30 GP 3rd MONEY TRAIL (#3, 10-1) did run well on this sod only two back. She was stuck between runners in her most recent and that might have hurt a tad. Team Tomlinson are 20% on the turf and 25% with their route runners. Meneses gets a leg up and is 2 for 2 with this barn. -Scott Ehlers

1:38 CNL 3rd GOALPOST (#1, 6-1) will make his debut for Motion and seems to have been saved for a start in dirt route; sire Maxfield wins with 16% of juvenile firsters and has passed down exceptional dirt ability across the board, while the dam has produced the dirt sprint allowance winner Huntress for Hire and Super Allison, a New York-bred stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles. -Patrick Moquin

1:44 SAR 4th THREE B'S (#4, 5-1) was impressive clearing his first-level allowance condition in January; has achieved mixed results since then, though with viable excuses for the seemingly poor efforts - wide against a strong rail in the February start, didn't seem to handle the sloppy track in April; turf to dirt with Lezcano returning. -Mike Beer

2:17 SAR 5th CHRISTOPHER VEDDER (#1, 8-1) raced greenly after getting outpaced from the gate and wound up wide when checking in a no-threat fourth behind a much more well-fancied winning stablemate in her debut going shorter; can benefit from that experience for a trainer having an excellent meet with his 2yos. -Mike Beer

3:40 KD 5th Pretty strong opinion here on RED SQUARE (#1, 4-1). Broke slowly in debut, shuffled back, stuck on rail with no place to go down backstretch and into turn, finally found space to stretch out past the three-furlong marker - and stretch he did. Roared into homestretch with leader far, far ahead, had to steady a touch when coming between horses at the sixteenth pole, got back on track and galloped out like a wild horse. Broke through gate pre-start second out and ran flat, after which Ward took him back to KEE and freshened for this spot. Should like the distance. -Marcus Hersh

3:58 SAR 8th PASS ON BY (#1, 8-1) flashed brief speed before fading when making his career debut in a short sprint on dirt; bred for turf and distance; stretches right out while making the surface switch, and breaks from a perfect post. -Mike Beer

4:21 KD 6th Pretty high on POSSIBLEMENTE (#6, 10-1), though I could see him getting bet to something like half his morning-line price. Turned back to sprints over the winter - and turned into a new horse. Strong showings on Tapeta, and was just as good in the Turf Sprint at CD - got going a little too late at a distance a little too sharp, and gallop-out afficianados were applauding that one. Probably at the end of his best last out at SAR following those four strong showings - but fresh now. -Marcus Hersh

4:22 MTH 8th REAL SENSATION (#2, 15-1) makes his (very) belated seasonal debut but if he's ready off the layoff he could surprise here; he's better than his most recent two races might indicate, as he faded in extreme closer-friendly races, and his back figures are good enough, if he can run to them, a decent possibility if he can make the lead from his inside post. -Kenny Peck

4:30 DMR 1st A strong comeback last month by six-start maiden CHEEVER (#4, 3-1) sets him up for a maiden win. He got caught in tight quarters on the turn, angled outside in the lane and finished well to miss by only a length and a half in a fast race that was validated when winner Roscoe's Brother, his stablemate, returned with an allowance romp last weekend. With a clean trip second start back from an extended layoff, CHEEVER can score an overdue maiden victory. -Brad Free

4:53 GP 9th MINDFUL GRACE (#9, 8-1) does have some upside with this being only her fifth start. Form cycle hints at better. New barn is 38% off the claim. This filly gets off the rail and puts three races together. -Scott Ehlers

5:00 DMR 2nd This allowance/optional claiming turf marathon includes several on the downslope of their career. But not PATH TO POWER (#7, 4-1), a lightly raced 3yo maiden winner who just might post an upset. 'POWER was gelded prior to his maiden win, and returned as an improved horse. He circled the field and won going away like a horse that will relish the additional quarter-mile of this mile and three-eighths race. The only 3yo in the field, 'POWER is less accomplished than most of his rivals, but this is only his fourth start. -Brad Free

5:32 DMR 3rd Maiden filly CHERRY CIDER (#3, 4-1) looks like the speed of the field, making her first start in eight months with a series of fast workouts. She ran well over the DMR main track last summer as a 2yo, and can lead gate to wire if she shakes away from FIRST OR LAST. The latter finished second in her local debut in a fast maiden turf sprint. The winner Little Opal was scheduled to start as a contender Friday in race 4. -Brad Free

5:36 KD 8th GLACIUS (#3, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh).

6:20 SAR 12th SALT PRINCESS (#1, 12-1) was right there at the wire in her first two turf starts last year, then picked up a well-deserved maiden win before the layoff; she was in too tough in her second start back this year, then had no chance when racing behind a soft pace when dropped to this level last time; one more chance. -Mike Beer

7:10 CBY 3rd ADRIENNE'S BALBOA (#2, 6-1) gets in light and has speed. We think she is quickest and can get an early breather. Her 307 turf Tommy is good but her 389 distance Tommy is even better. This barn is 16% with their turf sprinters. Wire please. AUNT GWEN'S has tried two turns on the turf here three times and ran well in two of those. She can save all the early ground all while putting races back to back. Jock switch to Bridgmohan might be key as we dig this rider on the green. -Scott Ehlers

7:23 KD 11th A replay watch gave me a better impression of GRADE A's (#1, 9-2) race over the KD course than I got looking at it on paper - and the more I went through the filly's overall form, the more solid she looked in a spot without much heft for the class level. Think she gets the setup and this is thee right trip for a horse who's kept decent company this year. -Marcus Hersh

8:10 CBY 5th VICTORIOUS VANDA (#5, 9-2) is a new turf horse and who doesn't like those? He just ran a Beyer top for his new barn and now team Mac show extreme confidence with this jump into stakes. This gelding has worked four times since his most recent and we love that. Race flow is more than fair. -Scott Ehlers

8:54 RP 4th CITY OF CLOUDS (#3, 9-2) won his latest going away with the aid of a very favorable race flow, as that abbreviated sprint was packed with pace and thus favored the ralliers (note the inverted "C" in DRF pp's, indicating a severe edge to the Closers), but at this extended distance and now in a race light on speed he should be more forwardly placed; perhaps good enough given that scenario, as the tempo could be controlled. -Kenny Peck

9:10 CBY 7th MIGHTY SAMURAI (#3, 6-1) won nicely in his debut and then was thought enough to try stakes foes at Prairie Meadows. Versatile style is fine. Team Padilla are 20% in stakes. Win rider returns. Curious as to price. -Scott Ehlers

11:14 RP 9th SHARI'S MAGIC (#3, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck).