DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, December 22, 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.

12:20 GP 1st LIVE TO RIDE (#8, 10-1) puts three races together for the first time so we know he is feeling good. We actually liked that turf try two back at Horseshoe Indy as the turf racing there is improving by the minute and this gelding beat over half the field home. He then shipped here and just missed on the synth. Castellano gets a leg up and is 2 for 5 for this barn locally. – Scott Ehlers

1:40 TAM 3rd VENEZUELAN FAITH (#6, 8-1) makes his second start off the bench after breaking slowly from his inside draw going six-furlongs on November 30 in what likely was used as a prep since his early success has been at a route of ground. The Outwork gelding stretches back out to two turns after shaking off the rust last out and should sit a dream trip off the likely pacesetter to his inside. – Scott Shapiro

2:19 GP 5th KAMARI (#4, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).

2:58 LRL 6th SIR CHANCE A LOT (#2, 6-1) (1,039 lbs. on 12/1; -1 from prior start) was bumped so hard leaving the gate that his jockey briefly lost the irons. He recovered quickly to set the pace outside the 4-1 winner, cleared off to make the lead and the rail, then dug down deep to just miss with an okay gallop-out. Shouldn't be too far off the pace when they turn for home for barn that went 5 for the last 15 (33%, $4.24 ROI) with newly-claimed maidens. – Dan Illman

3:50 OP 6th BOLT AT MIDNIGHT (#5, 9-2), who has been racing at Del Mar, is proven at two turns. – Mary Rampellini

4:10 TAM 8th PRAIRIE HAWK (#6, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Shapiro).

4:22 LRL 9th MOONFLYER (#8, 9-2) (1,036 lbs. on 10/31; +11 from prior start) has yet to hit the board on dirt, but he was in against better competition in all of those four starts. Outrun behind a fast pace in off-turf heat at Pimlico on 5/11, made a four-wide bid off the turn and finished evenly behind Skylar's Brother, who then ran third for the $45,000 waiver at Laurel with a 55 Beyer. Perhaps he'll offer some value getting back to the surface. – Dan Illman

5:40 OP 10th QUEEN CLANCY (#12, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Mary Rampellini).