DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Saturday, September 9, 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.
1:10 MTH 2nd I'M ON FIRE (#8, 8-1) stretches out for the first time but he still figures to take back off the early pace and try to make a late run, as he doesn't have much natural speed; may appreciate this added distance, especially given trainer Pat McBurney's record with horses moving from sprints to routes. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:28 PIM 5th CATCHING STARS (#7, 6-1), listed as a Colonial vet scratch on 8/3, broke sharp last month at Charles Town, then tracked a gate-to-wire winner's slow pace over an inside, speed-friendly track. Sat pocketed on the good rail, eased out into the stretch, and was easily second best. He's hit the board in his last three starts, two over this track, and has enough tactical speed to stay within hailing range. -Dan Illman | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:51 KD 5th HINGHAM (#5, 15-1) sports quite the eye-catching work pattern for his career debut. Not much to report from the dam's side, and sire Mendelssohn just average with first-time starters, but trainer Paulo Lobo over the last year has gone a robust 8-34 with debuting runners in maiden-special-weight company. Just two KD firsters over the last five years, and while neither did much, that's too small a sample. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:08 WO 5th MY GIRL DELLA (#2, 6-1) is well-regarded by trainer Kevin Attard, who sent out the future champion Moira to win at first asking going long at 2 in a restricted stakes. The daughter of elite sire Medaglia d'Oro is the first foal from a stakes-placed sprinter/miler on synthetics who graduated second time out at 3. -Ron Gierkink | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:40 MTH 7th GO GREEN (#10, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:41 WO 6th SOONER LUNAR (#4, 20-1) was last seen finishing a distant third in a potent key race July 30--victorious Patches O'Houlihan subsequently notched a G3 stakes with a 92 Beyer. The first-time gelding worked strongly with his older stablemate Malibu Mambo last Saturday, five-eighths in a sizzling :58.80. -Ron Gierkink | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:48 GP 7th MARILYN (#6, 9-2) has had more than her fair share of chances on this track at this trip at this level. While that's a drawback, she does come off one of her best efforts when a near-miss 2nd. after a very wide run into the lane so maybe, just maybe, the 13th time is the charm. Three of her four sibs to race are winners including Wait (6-2-2-1, $71K). -Michael Hammersly | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:10 MTH 8th SEA STREAK (#6, 10-1) is a firster trying stakes company in the Smoke Glacken, which is never easy, but he's been working with interest for trainer Eddie Owens Jr., who has saddled a pair of debut winners so far at this meet; sire off to a quick start with his juvenile firsters (six-for-13) and this colt is kin to 2021 Smoke Glacken winner Speaking. -Kenny Peck | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:14 WO 7th SOUNDS PRACTICAL (#4, 6-1) is by a good 19% 2yo debut sire, Practical Joke, but her dam has been a modest producer. The $30K 2yo purchase worked well from the gate last Saturday, which wasn't the first time that she posted a fast breeze. -Ron Gierkink | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:40 MTH 9th FERAL'S JOY (#7, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:05 LAD 1st CANAL ST. CUPID (#5, 10-1) is by a 11% debut sire (all sire stats are for 2YO's only). His dam went 32-11-5-8 and earned 520K. Of 9 sibs to race, 8 won and 6 of those beat winners (4 earned over 150K). Works are solid. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:16 KD 9th Had assumed HENRIETTA TOPHAM (#5, 12-1) was over the top after her Mint Julep win June 4 - but is she? Bumped out of the gate and conservatively ridden two back at Indiana, she finished fastest for third, and her trip last out at Ellis was impossible. Stuck inside, the jockey acting like the mare prefers an outside run, Henrietta got stuck behind a wall of horses past the three-furlong marker shuffled all the way back to last at the quarter pole. Tried for an outside run again in upper stretch, blocked, steadied, back to the rail, found stride again and came home as well as anyone before galloping out in front. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:33 LAD 2nd ROCKY BOY (#2, 15-1) is by a 10% debut turf sire. His dam went 5-1-1-1 and earned 46K (won turf debut). Both sibs won on the green with the best a multiple winner of 129K. This gelding missed the break in his debut but still beat half the field home. Trainer stats are good across the board. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:29 LAD 4th FUNTIMEGIRL (#10, 20-1) is by a 7% debut turf sire. Her dam won her only turf start and banked 16K in the process. One of two sibs won on the grass and is a multiple turf winner of 68K. This barn has won with a debut turf runner before. We are expecting a good price as we chase a flat bet profit for the entire meet. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:15 CBY 5th ANGEL OF ATTACK (#7, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Bet this race with DRF Bets
7:53 LAD 7th MAHOMEY (#12, 8-1) draws best for this elongated sprint and gets back to his favorite surface. This gelding has some tactical speed to help his trip and tries this dirt for only the second time. Class drop can only help. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets