DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, December 19, 2021
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.
1:18 AQU 3rd MAKINGCENTS (#4, 7-2) was a stakes winner as a 3yo before finishing a good third in the Empire Distaff vs. older rivals, but she has only managed two starts so far this year and has not run well either time - though she was facing much better horses in those races; drops down looking to salvage something with Saez taking over. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:22 LRL 3rd JOE MIKE JIM (#9, 6-1) didn't break very well in career debut at Penn National, swung widest and failed to make a dent against a solid group of maiden special weights (the runner-up returned to score by 5 1/2 lengths at odds-on with a 58 Beyer). Earned a competitive speed figure and this seems like a lateral class move as she debuts on the circuit for the quarter. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:30 OP 1st SEAU (#7, 9-2) gets the nod on the move back to dirt as his last three races over such a surface have been wins. He's a half-brother to Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver ($1.8M) and a full brother to Grade 3 winner Brethren ($386K). -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:50 LRL 4th Trainer Mario Serey Jr. is 5 for the last 12 (42%, $7 ROI) with newly-claimed runners in Laurel Park mid-level claiming ($10,000-$40,000) dirt sprints, and he took BULL SHARK (#5, 6-1) out of a messy race. Eased off the inside to push Fix Me a Sandwich's pace, he advanced only to be pinched in between horses in midstretch. Not sure he was going to win, but think he would have been closer. Gray gelding has enough speed to find good position. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:26 GP 5th Cubs fan Craig Bernick and his Glen Hill Farm got a badly needed race into FLY THE W (#7, 10-1) before spotting him here for the high tag and the N3L condition; catches a fairly salty group for the level, but a mild upset could be in the offing given his best. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:26 OP 3rd LIL MISS HOT MESS (#7, 4-1) has moved forward with each of her starts off the layoff and could be sitting on a peak performance in this, her third out since July. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:39 AQU 6th HYBRID ECLIPSE (#1, 6-1) has not classed up in her three stakes attempts so far, but she has otherwise been very consistent since switching to its barn and is a nose away from having four in a row vs. non-stakes rivals; drops back down and cuts back with speed from the rail. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:55 OP 4th LADY SHAMAN (#6, 6-1) is back on dirt following the turf test and both of her wins have come on the main track. She also has class appeal as one who has been facing steeper - and she has an age edge on some of these as she is 4. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:25 GP 7th Fairly speed-heavy main-track dash for mid-range 2yo-filly platers might devolve into a 'fastest of the fast' kind of deal, with KINGSTON QUEEN (#7, 12-1) eligible to catapult to the front from her open-air outside box; the Sept. maiden romp seems a fair enough blueprint; this is one of those races where the setup seems rather fuzzy aside from whoever makes the front stands a decent chance at discouraging the rest. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:37 AQU 8th OLLIEMYBOY (#4, 15-1) and YOU'RE TO BLAME (#1, 9-2) are stablemates exiting the same race at Churchill in the slop, where they both ran well while settling for 5th and 3rd respectively. OLLIEMYBOY was off the layoff there, and he chased a solid pace in that spot before briefly fighting his way to a short lead in the stretch; liked his two dirt wins earlier in 2021 before he missed time and getting back over fast dirt in a race that might not develop strongly early could be an advantage. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:51 OP 6th PARLANCE (#7, 9-2) is a January foal who graduated in style last out, moving on to a four-length win over maiden allowance foes at Churchill. She won in good time and the Beyer Speed Figure of 81 that she earned is the best career number in this spot. The outside draw here might give Contreras options, and note this one, like others, will be first Lasix. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:28 GP 9th Calumet and Sisterson went back to the drawing board with FLYING SCOTSMAN (#3, 6-1) after the enigmatic homebred followed his remarkable February jaunt (99 Beyer) with 3 putrid efforts, and now the 5yo returns as a first-time gelding in what's obviously a very contentious turf mile with hybrid alw. conditions; look close, can do. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets