DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, April 16, 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.

12:18 TAM 1st BIG BUCKSALOT (#3, 6-1) stretches out to two turns for his first start off the claim and he lands in a seemingly good spot, as there's not all that much speed in this opener; he galloped out nicely past the wire in that last one. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:00 KEE 1st Seems clear that if SEA TO SUCCESS (#7, 20-1) were to run to his best form he could win this. His two starts this year were, of course, far from his best form, but both were in N1X allowance company and, probably more pertinent, contested over sloppy tracks. Figure he didn't handle the surface, note the fast recent work - looks like a contender. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:20 AQU 1st IMPULSIVE SPENDING (#4, 12-1) has something to prove and needs to find a finish as he stretches out for the first time while returning to dirt on short great; was never going to win that race here last week when up off the claim on grass; debuted sprinting in the slop and has some speed in that race to get position after breaking from the rail, only to tire readily in the stretch; has some pedigree behind him and is one of the few in this field that is not already exposed. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:35 OP 1st THUNDERSHOOK (#1, 4-1) ran a fine race sprinting last time and now moves back to two turns, site of his last win on form. On a pedigree point, his stakes-placed dam ran a notable race at this mile and a sixteenth distance at Lone Star Park. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:38 GP 3rd NO ANGEL (#1, 6-1) a popular item at claim box of late and perhaps getting some class relief for current connections after not being badly beaten for second money despite fanning very wide off the turn, lugging back in to fence behind odds on Tape to Tape in latest. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:30 LRL 5th There's some rain in the forecast for this weekend, and HE'S ON FIRE (#7, 6-1) earned both of his victories over wet going. Gave a game effort over course and distance to score at a big price last month as he set a pressured pace inside the favorite, and kept grinding away to prevail over three of these. Mancilla barn went 6 for 17 (35%, $7.75 ROI) between 3/18 and 4/7. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:56 AQU 4th STARRY MIDNIGHT (#3, 8-1) looked green getting outrun early in her career debut sprinting, before coming with a big run from last to close that race down; went into stakes after that and never factored either time, though she was still green in the Franklin Sqaure while really resenting kickback early, and she was taken back under a hold going a mile last time in a race that was wired by a longshot; one more chance cutting back with Lasix on. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:09 GP 6th LITERATE (#6, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:40 GP 7th CAJUN TEASE (#5, 6-1) ran well fresh at two dominating a decent field in her debut and training like she's capable of duplicating that effort finally getting back to action at 3. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:06 LRL 8th BRZINA (#2, 10-1) needs Beyer boost as she hikes out of the conditioned claiming ranks, but she was a visually impressive winner going seven-eighths last month. Tracked a quick pace three wide, advanced outside to take over the lead under confident handling, then drew away to win as much the best. Magee barn went 5 for the last 10 (50%, $2.46 ROI) with last-out winners. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:11 GP 8th BOURBON THERAPY (#3, 5-1) raced very wide losing momentum into stretch, finished well, galloped out past the winner when several in this group met four weeks earlier and gets an extra sixteenth to work with in the rematch. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:12 KEE 7th At something like the listed odds, I'd have to bet that DAMON'S MOUND (#12, 6-1) takes to turf in his first start over it. Pedigree-wise, the young sire's progeny have made but four starts in turf sprints, winning one of them, and Damon's Mound is the first foal to race from a dam who was 8-2-2-1 on grass and preferred it to dirt. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:29 TAM 9th OBIWAN (#7, 5-1) has some of the better Beyers in the field and comes off a game effort in defeat in his latest, closing to miss by just a half-length; he's a close in need of pace but there's no shortage of speed in this nightcap, and he should make his presence felt late. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:06 AQU 8th HEY THERE (#3, 6-1) was green in her first two starts last year while showing potential, then just failed to last going seven in her next start; got very unlucky in that final turf sprint at Saratoga when bumped at the start to wind up last and then ridden conservatively to the stretch; swung wide and finished well in that spot while coming up short; back to grass third off the layoff. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:38 AQU 9th GEORGIE'S LADIES (#9, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:58 OP 9th MR. COUGAR (#13, 15-1) is on the also-eligible list, but would be a chief contender were he to draw into the body of the race. He was second last out to a winner who was to start as a leading contender in a race earlier on the card Sunday. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:16 GG 5th SOMETHINGNEFARIOUS (#5, 5-1) set the pace in his first 2 tries vs. winners but faded in the lane both times. In his defense, not only did she use fuel early she was facing tougher. She gets some class relief here and that plus an outside slot from which she can either go on with it or stalk can be the difference. -Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

7:46 GG 8th CHROME'S BEST COPY (#4, 9-2) has shown talent on synthetic and that often bodes well for handling turf. Daddy, besides being a multiple G1 SW on dirt, was a G1 SW on turf so she's bred for this. Her sprint speed can have her forwardly placed from the start and she can vault forward 2nd time out after a long layoff. -Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets