DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, September 2, 2023
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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.
1:20 GP 2nd TAPINTOYOURBEER (#2, 4-1) was knocking on the door at TAM this winter/spring but then got some time off. He came back after 3-plus months off to run 2nd in a race like this here Aug. 5. Yanez saw fit to claim him and with that run under his belt after the vacation and blinkers returned he might be set for that elusive first win over winners. -Michael Hammersly | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:35 MTH 3rd WICKED JANE (#9, 10-1) was well off the board in her only turf sprint try to date, back in July of 2022, but she deserves another shot now under the care of trainer Claudio Gonzalez; she is an upgrade candidate after running against the race flow in most of her recent starts and she should get an honest pace to chase in this one. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:34 KD 3rd BAKERS BAY (#6, 8-1) is one unusual horse. He's won a turf race going as far as 1 3/8 miles but showed hints starting two years ago that he'd actually prefer to sprint, which is what connections have kept him doing since he moved to the Midwest. The initial sprint revelation came over this distance when he won two seasons ago at KD, and the horse validated that performance with a good second behind the sharp Bad Beat Brian a year ago. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:06 KD 4thThis race is speed-backed and begging for the right closer, and here's ABOUKIR BAY (#12, 20-1) to take that role. She went last to first winning over this trip last Kentucky Downs meet under this rider, and is a good bet to exceed the recent performance level. Would 100-percent play this race to fall apart while looking for prices like the top pick and TAYLORS TAP. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:12 WO 5th SUNRISE DRIVE (#4, 4-1) won his penultimate start on the Tapeta before a wide fourth-place finish on the inner turf in another race at this level Aug. 11. The three-time winner on Tapeta should take some beating if he stays in the zone. -Ron Gierkink | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:33 LAD 2nd CHACHA TO CATALINA (#7, 15-1) broke dead last in her debut but still beat four home while never threatening the winner. Lone turf sib is 5-1-2-0 and earned 15K. This barn is one of the bests with their turf sprinters at 23%. If they want a second shot at going short on the weeds then there has to be a good reason. She draws better today and the price should entice. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:59 MTH 8th BEATIFUL KARLA (#8, 12-1) certainly can be forgiven for that dull turf try last time, as that is not her game; she was no threat to the winner two back when a remote 2nd but that race came up very fast -- Yesternight earned an 82 Beyer where the average winning figure for the class and distance is 65 -- and she ran a very good race in defeat there, closing along the rail and galloping out nicely. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:01 LAD 3rd VIM AND VIGOR (#7, 12-1) just likes it here as he has now won 2 of 3. It is rare to get 21-1 for this barn but that just happened. Maybe Borel is just a really good fit for this horse as he finished 3rd with this horse 11 back and did so at 13-1 on this turf versus better. As expected, race flow is fine if all stay in. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:14 KD 6th JUST SAY WHEN (#4, 8-1) does have an interrupted work pattern for this long layoff comeback start, but he went 5fs in a minute and change in final drill for this, and have to think Maker has the horse ready for this massive purse. Has the all-important win over the course while going this trip a year ago, and the speed figure that race produced would be a solid fit. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:28 MTH 9th KYGO (#4, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:52 GP 9th SEQUIN LADY (#3, 9-2) has been knocking heads with open foes and holding her own. She gets a drop here and moves in vs. state-breds and that might get her back on the winning track. The last time she ran in a race like this here May 12 she won easily. -Michael Hammersly | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:56 MTH 10th OFF THE MEDS (#9, 6-1) was a non-threatening third in that last appearance but he impressed with a strong late run there; he was nearly five lengths behind BAM BAM WARRIOR in the race for the place in that one but he was moving best of all late and he may be able to turn the tables in this finale if he can get rolling a little sooner. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:21 KD 8th Trends over the last two seasons say don't play M Maker-trained horses in stakes races and avoid horses that last raced in Indiana, but since SMOKEY MANDATE (#4, 12-1) figures to be at least 15-1, I'll ignore both those and take a shot. Not sure what to make of the fractional times from his last-start maiden win - they seem almost too slow to be possible. But if all the times are right, the horse got his final half-furlong in a zippy 5.82 seconds. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:21 LAD 8th CHARLIE G (#6, 5-1) is feeling great as he goes for three in a row today. He likes this sod at 3-1-1-1 (Beyer top here). There is some pace in this race and this gelding wants to pass runners. He has worked twice since his most recent and is locally based. Trainer stats are good across the board. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:05 CBY 3rd DREAMING BIZ (#7, 6-1) ran well the last three times she tried a turf sprint and they all came here. New barn is 33% off the claim. They show a flat bet profit first off the claim, going route to sprint, on the turf, and with their allowance runners. Race flow is fast so this gal will get plenty of pace to chase. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:05 CBY 7th UNSTOPPABLE FORCE (#7, 9-2) tried two turns on the turf in his debut and that alone is very tough. It didn't help matters that he hit the gate at the start. He owns a recent work and now switches to the dirt all for a barn that has good trainer stats across the board. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:31 RP 4th CLAIRE JUNE (#5, 8-1) is well-versed at this distance on turf and she has an age edge on some of these as she is 4. -Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:35 CY 8th WHISTLER (#3, 5-1) exits a key race where 2 of 4 returned to win with figs of 69 and 52. We like that this guy has worked twice since his debut. Added distance helps front running trip and notice that this guy gets in light with the apprentice up. Other speed helps the price, right? -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets