DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday Aug. 23, 2026

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 SAR 1st CLEAR CONSCIENCE (#1, 8-1) tends to get good trips in his races, and he was a NY-bred stakes winner with a 91 Beyer here last summer, after which he ran in one tough after another; back to turf and breaks from a great post after having his return from the layoff moved to a sloppy main track. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

2:05 GP 4th HOPE TOWN GIRL (#4, 9-2) is by a 10% debut turf sire. Her dam went 3-0-0-0 on the green and earned 1K. Lone grass sib is 1-0-0-0. Horses that like the Tapeta often like the grass. This filly tries five furlongs for the second time and her distance Tomlinson of 418 screams short sprint. Speed with other speed makes her trip worrisome but good horses often find a way. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

2:10 WO 3rd MOR JOE'S SPIRIT (#7, 10-1) has been working right along for his first outing since getting softened up in speed duel at first asking against the likes of Voodoo Doll and Brachetto Nov. 13. Lasix is added for the surface switch to the grass--his dam was a turf winner who dropped two turf winners. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

2:23 MTH 4th CARELESS NAVIGATOR (#9, 6-1) debuts for trainer Eddie Owens Jr., who has saddled five firsters at this meet, with two winners and three runners getting 2nd; dam was winless in three starts but she produced three winners, including Carats Forever, a full sister to this gelding who posted both of her two career wins over this strip. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

2:49 MTH 5th FOREVER CHOCOLATE (#4, 8-1) is an upgrade candidate in the Charles Hesse III Handicap, coming off try against open optional claimers where he was against a speed-friendly race flow and a sprint prep in the John J Reilly Stakes; he was a neck behind RIDING PRETTY in this race last year in his 4th start off the winter freshening and though his recent Beyers are light improvement is expected today given a clean trip and a better set up in terms of the pace scenario. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

3:40 CBY 4th WILKIN COUNTY (#7, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get Past Performances for this race

3:54 WO 6th CLOCKWORK ANGEL (#6, 8-1) bobbled at the break when a sagging fifth while bet down to 7-2 at first asking on the Tapeta. The daughter of 13% turf sprint sire Hard Spun is the first foal from an unraced mare. Her second dam produced two stakes horses by Hard Spun--Green Light Go and Rafaroo. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

4:08 GP 8th EL OREJON (#5, 4-1) loves, loves, loves seven furlongs so he should do the same for today's 6 1/2 panels. What if this freshening actually helps? Team Klesaris are 17% off this type of layoff. His 405 distance Tommy fits nicely (the horse not the barn). A pair of speed horses set the pace table nicely. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

4:22 MTH 8th MY TWO SOPHIA'S (#3, 6-1) came up a head short in the 2025 renewal of the Eleven North Handicap but she may be able to make the last run in this year's running if the early pace is quick and contested, as expected; she was behind JEWEL OF THE OCEAN and SUMMER'S COMIN in the Spruce Fir earlier at this meet but those two controlled the tempo from the start in that sprint, and this mare did make a late run after a nice move between horses to get into contention into the turn, a deceptively good effort. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

4:40 CBY 6th TIKIHUT (#4, 4-1) did break her maiden on this sod going two turns only three back and did so nicely. She found herself well back in her most recent but still closed the gap to lose by only 4 1/4 lengths. Second time with new barn can only help. We like that Americano keeps the call. Race flow is more than fair for this filly. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

4:43 GP 9th ZIRZOP (#7, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get Past Performances for this race

5:00 DMR 1st A tepid pace scenario benefits DUSTEM TOO (#8, 5-1) in this $12.5k claiming sprint for 3yo fillies. She looks like the controlling speed after she chased/pressed a fast pace last out and finished third vs. similar. Now she meets a field otherwise void of speed, and can be long gone. - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race

5:20 SAR 8th ALWAYS ANGELS (#3, 8-1) earned an 80 Beyer when just missing in a sprint on this track last summer; blew away a field of $50k claimers in her return to NY earlier this year going the mile; was returning from a short layoff in that last one, where she chased from the outside for a long way and got tired; right back in a similar spot off the claim. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

5:55 SAR 9th MINORINCONVENIENCE (#3, 8-1) won both Saratoga dirt starts as a 2yo, including a clear-cut victory in the Funny Cide; hasn't faced NY-breds since finishing a game second in a fast running of the Gander back in March; has been in too tough recently, though he actually did some running in the Curlin last time; finally back in a spot where he can be competitive. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

6:30 SAR 10th TAMARIN (#9, 10-1) broke with speed, but he was in a MSW run at a strong pace, and one that ultimately went to closers, in his GP debut earlier this year; starts back with class relief, and he is faster than it might appear. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

8:51 DMR 8th SOPHIA MIJA (#4, 4-1) gets a needed class drop to maiden-16 after fourth- and fifth-place finishes her first three starts vs. Cal-bred maiden-50s/MSW. Although 'MIJA has no speed, she does finish okay, and adds Lasix. Tepid choice in a strange maiden race that is conspicuously void of speed other than the mare on the rail. - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race

9:24 DMR 9th The outside post (12 of 12) is a challenge for ORANGE THUNDER (#12, 8-1) in this Cal-bred allowance turf mile, but the Clubhouse Ride filly might be sharp enough to handle the post and class hike after upsetting a starter allowance last month. 'THUNDER improved this summer after shipping to DMR, and is bred to continue her upward pattern. Sired by Clubhouse Ride, she is a sibling to multiple G2 winner Closing Remarks. If she tucks in without losing ground, and if she can weave through traffic, and if she continues her improving pattern, she just might score another off-the-pace upset. - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race