DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, April 11, 2021

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.

1:14 LRL 2nd UPLIFTING (#2, 12-1) drops a notch after gaining needed fitness in first run following 220 days on the sidelines. Off a beat slow, he rushed up to contest the moderate pace four deep before understandably tiring in the stretch. Scored three starts back in gateto-wire fashion and should get forward stretching out to favorite distance. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:20 AQU 1st AS IT SHOULD BE (#3, 12-1) was let go at a big price first time out at Oaklawn and only earned a 43 Beyer in finishing 7th, but she ran better than it looks in that race while encountering trouble at a couple of different points; half to the good dirt sprinter Tumbling Sky from the female family of the speedy Forest Music may be set to run much better with that experience behind her. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:53 AQU 2nd EAGLE PASS (#5, 9-2) is a prior multiple winner on this circuit, and he has picked up three more victories since returning to dirt just about a year ago; like this distance for him as he switches barns, and a wet track would not bother him at all. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:07 GP 3rd FIGHTING FORCE (#5, 15-1) drops in with allowance types for first time after holding own with much better including that key race two back when beaten 2 1/2 lengths by multiple SW Annex. Should find plenty of pace to rate off here. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:27 TAM 5th Willing to give TONY SMALL (#10, 6-1) a pass for that failed turf test last time out, as that was a marathon grass race and he didn’t get any help at all in terms of pace, as the fractions were slow and he was looking to close ground late, as usual; he’s at a more conventional distance here and he figures to get an improved race flow, which should certainly help his late kick. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:31 OP 2nd CALL DISH (#2, 4-1) moves back to two turns for her second start of the year, and seems like a candidate to take these a long way on the lead. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:02 LRL 5th ALWAYS FORGIVEN (#5, 10-1) often breaks slowly and that puts the gelding at the mercy of racing luck. He received none of it last time out as he suffered a horror trip. Again off poorly, he saved ground in midpack, crept into a tight pocket on the second turn and was stymied by traffic for the majority of the stretch. He showed some run when clear, but it was too late. The third-place finisher returned to finish second for $8,000 with a 73 Beyer. Give him some pace and a clear trip, and he’ll kick late. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:02 OP 3rd ENERGIZER (#7, 9-2) comes off a series of quick races and draws a post that might give Santana options. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:27 LRL 6th IRISH SAGA (#5, 6-1), daughter of stakes-winning dirt router Sagamoon, broke sharp from the rail in a driving rainstorm, then was outsprinted to a loose stalking spot outside. She finished with mild interest along the rail, drops out of the special weight ranks and is expected to move forward with that debut run under her girth. The third place finisher returned to beat special weights with a 58 Beyer. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:31 TAM 7th FIFTYSHADESOGRAYCE (#4, 9-2) seemed well spotted to turn her form around in that last one when she dropped to the $16,000 claiming level but a slow start absolutely ruined any chance she may have had; given a clean getaway today she figures tough, as she could in fact be the fastest runner in the field out of the gate. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:59 AQU 6th THERISASTORMBREWIN (#7, 6-1) is stepping up in class pretty significantly for this but is doing so following a career-best performance off the claim last time; always traveled on the lead in that race, which came over this track and trip, and he hammered that field in the stretch en route to a new top figure; Rice is solid with last-out winners, and tends to be dangerous when she moves her in-form horses up in class; has speed from the outside and faces a field that consists of several underachievers. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:01 LRL 7th FOREWARNED (#5, 5-1) ran quite well in the Harrison E. Johnson Memorial considering the race flow. They went very slow early in that stakes and ended up going 1-2-3 around the track with Forewarned one of the few horses making up significant late ground. He catches a short field and it might not set up for him, but he usually offers value and has some back races that would make him tough. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:34 AQU 7th SPITBALL (#9, 8-1) stretched out to a mile last time and wound up on a fast pace for the level, before giving way to finish last; has run poorly in two of his last three starts, but with excuses, and he cuts back for this with a chance to sit a more comfortable trip. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:39 TAM 9th D’CRAZINESS (#6, 3-1) should be well positioned to take advantage of a lively pace in this finale, as there’s a good amount of speed in this field and he does seem to have the best closing kick in the race; he also has some of the best figures in and he should have every opportunity to run to them given a clean trip. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:50 GP 8th RAIN (#7, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:57 KEE 8th After an exciting start to her career early in 2020, AIN’T NO ELMERS (#6, 6-1) has failed to show too much progression, but there are a number of potential excuses that might make her development look worse than it’s been. She broke from the rail in her two stakes races later last year, probably needed her first start back this season, and apparently hated the wet track last out at OP. Now she has a sweet draw, a fast recent work, and a solid chance to clear the condition at a air price. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:30 KEE 9th PICASSO COLLECTION (#5, 5-1) wheeled outside and closed her final quarter mile in 22.69 seconds to finish second by a neck to a decent filly while making her career debut over the KEE sod last fall. That, and not the two Turfway Tapeta starts, is the performance pertinent to this grass race, and she’s gotten in ample TTC work while attracting Rosario, a great jockey for a turf closer. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:40 OP 8th NOVEL SQUALL (#4, 10-1) cuts back to one turn and has | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Betsher best work to date sprinting. She also will be first Lasix. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:54 GP 10th COMPETTI (#1, 6-1) has been freshened since her latest, taking on younger opposition in finale. Showed enough from the gate to give nod if away clean from the rail. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets