DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, April 9, 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

1:09 GP 2nd RIA FORMOSA (#3, 6-1) looks like the one late threat in a field loaded with pace. Tries the main for first time since debuting here last fall but has handled dirt well enough in the a.m. to take a shot with at what figures to be a square price. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

1:38 GG 3rd CAGUA (#1, 20-1) perhaps a bit of a sleeper in fairly wide open spot returning to preferred surface for barn who has been on a bit of a roll of late. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

3:38 GP 7th Taking a shot with KHOSEA (#1, 8-1) who did not get the best of trips and while hung wide much of the way from tough post. Drawn inside, best puts him right in mix here at a square price. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

4:07 GP 8th BROOKLYN STRONG (#8, 10-1) checked last early one, ran wide on the second turn, angled back to rail late, still managed to finish third in promising Tapeta bow. Eligible to spring the upset if able to find a few extra lengths with a cleaner run back with same kind today. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

4:36 GP 9th SPEED SALSA (#5, 8-1) was running up on the heels of the leaders taking up sharply in late stretch turning back to a sprint last month and figures to get ample pace to try and run down once again under similar conditions. Barn broke bit of a drought to register career win 1,000 earlier this week, might be indication of good things to come. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

6:15 GG 5th STANFORD MISS (#7, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Steve Andersen). | Get PPs for this race

7:15 GG 7th EL CHARRO CHAMP (#3, 8-1) was fifth of seven in a conditional $6,250 claimer on March 26, beaten slightly less than four lengths despite a troubled trip from a rail post. This conditional $4,000 claimer should be a good fit for the three-time winner, a closer who starts from post 3 in a field of seven. El Charro Champ won a conditional $5,000 claimer on Feb. 24 in a 9-1 upset with that style. He figures to be a shorter price in this field. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race

8:00 SA 11th AJAAWEED (#4, 5-1) finished next to last his most recent start, but his runner-up effort two back would crush this starter allowance/optional claiming field. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

8:15 GG 9th THUNDER OF ZION (#3, 4-1) should be well-positioned to end a two-race losing streak in this conditional $20,000 claimer at 5 1-2 furlongs. He should have a robust pace to follow and has repeatedly shown he is best as a closer. In races at this level in his last two starts, Thunder of Zion finished a troubled fourth in February and a decent third last month. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race