DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, September 30, 2023

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.

12:50 GP 1st ISAYSO (#3, 6-1) comes up tagged for the first time after finishing in front of more than half the field and only 2 1/2 lengths out of second money behind odds on, runaway winner Bubbly Champagne just eight days earlier. Should sit a trip off what figures to be an honest pace in a very wide open race to kick off the card. -Mike Welsch

12:58 LRL 2nd The last time WATER WITCH (#2, 12-1) raced on turf, she was competitive against six-time winner Red Wind (returned to finish second in a $12,000 starter with a 73 Beyer), and she now runs in a strict "non-three" seller. Hesitated a bit at the break in that 7/7 heat, then raced outside at the back. Made a three-wide bid under urging on the far turn, altered course inwards to split rivals and ran on a bit. Retained her form with two competitive dirt tries, should get some pace to attack, and might offer value in first start for low-profile barn. -Dan Illman

1:31 LRL 3rd MIDNIGHT ACT (#7, 8-1) still must prove that he can succeed over this circuit, but the 13-time winner exits an improved performance at Penn National. Asked leaving the gate to stay close to the moderate pace, he tracked three wide and in between after a half-mile before going after the leader in earnest with three-eighths remaining. He was confronted from both sides, but dug deep to deny the odds-on favorite. Likely taken back this time from an outside post, he'll need pace help to adequately setup his kick. -Dan Illman

1:50 GP 3rd PRINCESS BLAKELY (#6, 6-1) in top form at the moment exiting big effort last time and a solid, bullet drill over the surface subsequent to that try. Has right running style in a field featuring plenty of early gas. -Mike Welsch

2:03 LRL 4th Not a big fan of Mastery as a turf sire, but MARLEY'S GHOST (#1, 12-1) is a half-sister to one turf winner out of a half to British stakes-winning turf sprinter Satulagi. Barn went 5 for the last 13 (38%, $3.25 ROI) moving dirt to turf. Sept. 18 workout matches barn's 3-year-old Vax a Nation (won quarter "two-life" off-turf claimer at Pimlico on 9/24 with 61 Beyer; 70 turf Beyer). Perhaps they breezed in company. -Dan Illman

2:21 WO 3rd IGNITE THE STORM (#4, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).

3:27 WO 5th SCORED (#8, 10-1) closed for second behind future allowance winner Uphill Dance when second for the second straight time vs. OS/$40K maidens in her latest. She's adding blinkers off the claim and shouldn't be out of her league in this maiden special on the grass. -Ron Gierkink

4:38 LRL 9th BATUCADA (#7, 8-1) has won three of four starts despite breaking poorly in all of them. Made her first run for Russell a winning one at Delaware against older "second-level" allowance runners. Broke awkwardly again, pulled to track the pace from the outside, raced in between rivals at the half-mile pole, made a three-wide bid in tandem with the wider runner-up, then kicked clear late. This is obviously a much-tougher spot from a class perspective, but she still retains all sorts of upside. -Dan Illman

5:09 WO 8th MRS. GREEN (#3, 10-1) vied for the lead before tiring to fourth behind the win machine Perhaps Tonight in a longer main turf sprint Aug. 12. She's worked thrice since and could track all the speed before going in for the kill this time. -Ron Gierkink

5:15 GG 2nd BLOSSOMING (#8, 8-1) won for the first time on turf in her seventh start on the surface with a come-from-behind rally in a conditional $8,000 claimer at a mile on Sept. 10. The pace was not particularly fast in that race, and is likely to be sharper in this field which has several speedy types such as SHANGHAI MIST, Misty Cat and Airkita. -Steve Andersen

5:49 GG 3rd JAYS ANGEL (#5, 8-1) should get a favorable trip from a stalking position if an expected speed duel develops in this conditional $5,000 claimer. Jays Angel has won two of her last three starts in that manner and is drawn on the outside of the likely speed runners in this field of six. Jays Angel is trained by Dan Franko, whose stable had had a fine start to this late summer meeting with three wins from its first 13 runners. -Steve Andersen

6:13 WO 10th LOOK AT LIL SISTER (#9, 12-1) is debuting with a speed pedigree at a reasonable price for a trainer who can have one ready. Walcott has a 38% strike rate for Sid Attard. -Ron Gierkink

6:21 GG 4th A little luck may have led to a second win in 2023 for A CROWN FOR KITTEN (#6, 8-1) in an allowance race at a mile on turf on Sept. 9. A Crown for Kitten closed from fifth with a wide rally and was in traffic before finishing 1 1-4 lengths behind Proof of Jazz, who set a slow pace. Proof of Jazz is in this field, and may face early pressure from Councilwoman Jilly, which would further enhance the chances of A Crown for Kitten. -Steve Andersen

8:00 HST 7th It's a bit of a mixed bag but I'm going to head right back to ADDENDUM (#3, 6-1) who did not let me down in her last. Trainer Tara Neigel and rider Kerron Khelawan have very good numbers together, so back to back wins for this filly certainly would not surprise. -Lisa Russell

8:35 RP 2nd ZOFFA (#1, 9-2) cuts back to one turn and on the distance move looking for him to be strong through the stretch at this demanding kind of distance of seven furlongs. -Mary Rampellini

10:55 RP 7th KRIK TAK (#2, 10-1), who broke from the rail last out, finishing right behind ANSWER THE CALL. The pair look like chief contenders once again, with KRIK TAK breaking just outside ANSWER THE CALL this time, as that one draws the fence. KRIK TAK might get a nice tracking trip off ANSWER THE CALL. -Mary Rampellini