DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, February 16, 2025

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 GIFTEDBYDESIGN (#1, 9-2) was denied a clean trip in his first two starts but returned off the short layoff to run much better. Now connections switch to the turf something we have seen this barn do quite often (15% synth to turf). Turf Tomlinson is solid at 333 and we like this rail draw which should give Gaffalione some early options. – Scott Ehlers

12:38 LRL 2nd JOE THE JET (#1, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).

2:19 GP 5th STRAND OF GOLD (#5, 5-1) likes to win in general yet more so on this turf. Voided claim may alarm some but we see too many horses return to run well under similar circumstances as long as there isn't a big drop. Form cycle hints at better and Irad says let's go. – Scott Ehlers

2:39 OP 3rd ROYAL COURT (#7, 4-1) picks up a tad more real estate for his second start back and his closest finish on recent form came at this mile and a sixteenth distance. – Mary Rampellini

3:08 LRL 7th WESTERN LANE (#2, 20-1) landed on the edges going seven-eighths when returning from an eight-month layoff and is stretching out to the more suitable distance of 1 1/16 miles with that prep out of the way. Her trainer possesses good numbers second-time off a long layoff. – Ron Gierkink

8:05 SA 10th CALMATE (#7, 9-2) is sitting on a maiden win following a better-than-looked fourth last out at a mile on turf. She added Lasix and blinkers, saved ground midpack, was blocked from the quarter pole to deep stretch, and finished well. No reason she won't stay a mile and one eighth. – Brad Free