DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, February 7, 2021

12:50 TAM 2nd OX TROT (#4, 6-1) was 2nd best in his latest, which was against lesser, but that was a race which came up quick, and that strong Beyer was verified when the winner, Secret Life Style, returned to beat open $10K claimers in his next start, with a 78 Beyer; sports a solid breeze in preparation for his first start off the claim. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

1:50 TAM 4th ROARING RIVER (#8, 5-1) caught the eye with a strong late run in his debut try, and he was caught up in a little bit of traffic there and had to angle down to the rail; will be tough to stave off here, and while the distance is a question as he goes two turns this is the best angle for trainer Robert Smith, who has won with his last two stretch-outs and who has won at 25% with that angle over the past five years. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

3:10 GP 6th HITECH IS BACK (#2, 8-1) has been working right along for a 5% first-out trainer. Her sire won his 2yo opener and has gotten 10% first-out winners. Her stakes-winning dam produced the local multiple graded stakes winner Tonalist’s Shape, a debut winner at 2. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

3:20 TAM 7th IT’S ME AGAIN (#6, 20-1) was well off the board in both of his two turf tries to date but a slow start cost him last time, and he was against the race flow two back when in against better; while he was never going to threaten for a share he was moving well enough through the back of the field in that last one and he should get a nice set up here, with plenty of apparent speed signed on. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

3:23 LRL 7th FED FUNDS (#4, 4-1) was up against the flow last time out as the top-two finishers controlled the race from the opening bell. Last in the early stages, he made a threewide bid on the turn and finished evenly on the far outside. There isn’t a ton of pace for him to attack in his return to the circuit, but he showed three back that he can get close when the fractions are slower. Expecting him to run hard late. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

3:31 OP 5th SUBIACO (#2, 9-2) is back at Oaklawn and she has built a strong record over the local strip. She’s also moving back to two turns, site of both of her career wins. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

3:50 TAM 8th MISS ALEX (#5, 8-1) rolled through the lane on her own power in that sprint debut, as jockey Carlos Lozada wasn’t asking her when it was clear she’d do no better than 4th and though she was off the board again in her route debut she did make a run on the turn despite the fact that she was rank early on; hoping she can settle more in the opening stages and make one late run. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

5:16 GP 10th MILES AHEAD (#3, 4-1) came up empty as the favorite in a fast Claiming Crown event early in the meet, yet still got an 87 Beyer. He was victorious in each of his three previous appearances, and has been freshened leading up to this tough $16K starter. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

5:30 OP 9th LOVELY LOU (#11, 5-1) gives up recency to these, but owns the field’s best collection of Beyer Speed Figures. As for the race she was second in last out, it has become a key one. The ninth-place finisher, Dixie Cat, came back in her next start to account for a maiden allowance at Fon with a Beyer of 37 and the 10th-place finisher, Banker Nita, a $10K maiden claimer at Fon, with a Beyer of 45. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF

5:41 SA 8th In the money three straight at this Cal-bred N1X turf sprint level, BRIX (#7, 7-2) gets another half-furlong to flatter his closing rally. The late-runner finished fast each recent sprint, but the distances were too short (5f, 5.5f, 6f). Now he stretches to 6.5f; closers won more than their fair share this meet at this distance. BRIX can sit, wait and blast home for the win. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF