DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, August 21, 2022

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.

1:05 SAR 1st HOLA GATA (#7, 6-1) was in the MSW that was declared a no contest earlier in the meet, where she was around 9/1 at post time as the less-fancied of two Chad Brown runners (the other was odds-on Idea Generation); appeared to be traveling well in that race before being pulled up on the backstretch. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

1:14 LRL 2nd SMART EULEE (#5, 7-2) tried hard all the way around the track when second to odds-on pacesetter Hop Picker. She broke well, but wound up tracking three wide over that speed-friendly track. Attacked the winner from the outside on the turn and gave little quarter in the final eighth. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

1:15 MTH 3rd KURT'S A KEEPER (#3, 6-1) has been away since last October but he returns with a nice work tab for new trainer Frank Russo, who has a couple of recent wins with fresh claims; this gelding's lone win came in a turf race but he ran well enough in his tries at this distance. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

1:45 MTH 4th LOVED AGAIN (#8, 9-2) makes his first start for a claim and fits nicely here based on his best turf/sprint Beyers; barn excels under these conditions, which adds to the appeal. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

2:20 LRL 4th DOLICE VITA (#5, 9-2) battled inside of two other pace foes, was hard-ridden on the turn, and kept on going over speed-friendly track earlier in the month. She's won two of her last three, is proven over this distance, and can get close to the pace once again. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

3:03 WO 6th BABA VOSS (#9, 8-1) has worked well for second-leading trainer KA and is strongly bred for the turf on the dam's side. The barn's go-to rider Hernandez has the mount on the son of the late Empire Maker. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race

3:15 MTH 7th RELISHMENT (#7, 9-2) hasn't gotten much pace help in his starts at this meet but he's run well in defeat on several occasions; finally got at least some help in that last one and he closed well for the place, and he may be able to run them all down on the wire if he finally gets a quick, contested pace. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

3:18 SAR 5th Thought Maker found the key to TIBERIUS MERCURIUS (#8, 8-1) when using his speed to wire a couple of allowance races over the all-weather upon taking over; did not get aggressive with him last time when cut back to a shorter distance and dropped, but he still ran well in that spot before being turned away and weakening. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

4:02 LRL 7th Trainer Sarah Nagle boasts an excellent record with turf runners over this circuit and she ships in BALISTICO (#10, 5-1) following a no-problem score at Colonial 11 days ago. Competitive here three back, she seems to be in career form. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

4:23 WO 8th MARCH TO THE ARCH (#7, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race

5:01 LAD 3rd SWEET PRESENT (#2, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race

5:28 LAD 4th FIANNA HILLS (#3, 15-1) is the value. This mare loves this dirt at 7-2-2-3. She has tactical speed in a race without a ton of zip. All of her return tries have been promising but we think this 7YO is circling around to an even better try today. We would love to get half of 15-1 Morning Line. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

5:34 DMR 2nd SELF TAUGHT (#3, 4-1) returns to $25k claiming following a creditable fourth in a N1X/optional $40k claiming race at Los Alamitos that was a bit too tough. But his $25k claiming starter win two back gives him a big look. The veteran late-runner ran well at DMR each of the past two summers, he can mow them down if he gets pace to run at. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

5:35 SAR 9th GRAND OAK (#5, 8-1) showed ability on debut when putting in a game run on the dirt after a slow break; was much sharper in her second start when moved to turf and running away from maidens; tried to Queen Mary to no avail right off that maiden victory, though she was right up close to that strong pace and only weakened late; has some talent and might get a bit overlooked here. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

5:55 LAD 5th STARRGARITA (#4, 12-1) just ran a Beyer top and did so when first on the green. Turf breeding is solid but route breeding is even better. This mare is always a great price. What if she can improve second time on the grass? Or second off the layoff? Or second time with Guerra up? -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

6:08 SAR 10th BAYOU WIND (#2, 15-1) dropped for the first time on turf two starts back and went fast on the lead before proving to be no match for the favored winner; stepped back up in class last time to no avail; drops back down with speed from the inside. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

6:55 WO 12th MR. DIFFLEY (#9, 20-1) showed signs of life last time when a belated fifth in his second start off the bench, and could break through at a square price with blinkers on and Nicholls taking over. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race

7:06 DMR 5th CALIFORNIA STREET (#3, 4-1), who began his career five summers ago at DMR and has won twice over the track, can win this $40k claiming sprint rallying from off the pace. Although he would prefer seven furlongs rather than this six and a half-furlong race, the consistent gelding shows up most every start and enters as simply the best horse in the field. He must catch rivals whose up-front styles give them a tactical edge. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

7:25 WO 13th SKIPOVER (#4, 8-1) woke up second time out when switching from turf to the Tapeta, during which she was impeded a little at the break before contesting the pace and then fading to third. She's bred for the turf and therefore deserves a turf mulligan. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race