DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, December 1, 2024

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 WO 1st HUNTINGCOCO (#5, 8-1) has worked encouragingly on the Tapeta in preparation for her first start on a synthetic surface and seems reasonably spotted in this $25K NW2 tilt as she returns from a layoff. Parente has good stats with new shooters and this one is tagged for the first time. – Ron Gierkink

2:38 AQU 6th VITALIZE (#1, 12-1) raced very greenly in the debut when catching a sloppy track then went immediately back to the sidelines for 263 days; has improved since the return on grass, but has more of a dirt pedigree and will be a price. – Mike Beer

3:08 AQU 7th TOP OF THE TABLE (#8, 15-1) flashed some potential in a very green debut run sprinting in the slop, then improved to just miss when stretched out for his second start; has been in improved form on turf recently, though he was not back on this surface early on and Hennig has good numbers with runners stitching from turf to dirt. – Mike Beer

3:38 AQU 8th COURBE (#6, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).

4:21 GP 9th MO HARMONY (#5, 5-1) well prepared for debut and is a half to $872K earner Scotland Yard. Has shown an affinity to the Tapeta in the a.m. Worth a look at first asking. – Mike Welsch

4:28 DMR 3rd Trainer Phil D'Amato entered three in this turf sprint including the past two winners of this stakes. But the call to upset is the less accomplished and recently improved 3yo SORRENTO SKY (#1, 5-1), who won back-to-back allowance turf sprints against older including a fast N2X last out. The versatile colt has speed to establish position, the rail for a ground-saving trip, and he does finish. – Brad Free

5:58 DMR 6th PAVEL IS APPEALING (#2, 3-1) did not have the smoothest of trips finishing fourth in a Cal-bred stakes last out. She got into a bumping match into the lane, tried to finish, but ran out of steam. Not bad. She drops to state-bred N1X; she won her debut two starts back over the DMR track. – Brad Free

6:27 WO 11th AMERICAN GAMBLE (#7, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).