DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, January 24, 2021

12:05 GP 1st SOUPER BEST BET (#7, 8-1) tracked a hot pace before fading to fifth behind several of these when stretching out to nine furlongs and changing surfaces to the turf secondtime out. The son of Tiznow is bred to improve with racing experience. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:20 AQU 1st ROSIES SURPRISE (#4, 10-1) has been competitive in both prior start vs. maiden claiming competition and may rate one more chance dropping back down for this after getting outrun by better last time; had a chance to get over to the strong rail in that last one after breaking alertly, but didn’t take the opportunity (can’t blame the rider since it was the first race of the day) and was on the outside all the way to no avail. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:53 LRL 4th ABUELO PAPS (#4, 4-1) was a bit naughty behind the gate for his seasonal debut, then finished ahead of a couple of these when chasing odds-on winner In the Loop. He’s been nibbling lately, but gets a chance to turn back to arguably his favorite distance and should be running on in the lane. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:13 TAM 4th ATLANTIC PRINCESS (#7, 6-1) was claimed out of her latest, a sharp score against maiden claimers in a race that came up quick, and though she was off the board in her first and only start on the turf to date she was left with a lot to do after racing well off a mild pace; expecting a good effort here in her first start for the meet’s top connections. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:20 AQU 5th BELLA PRINCIPESSA (#1, 12-1) a bit of a guess debuting here from the rail. Constitution (10% with first time starters) filly is out of a dam who won three times sprinting on dirt in her career, and this is the female family of top NY-bred sprinter/ miler (and Grade 2 winner) Pat On the Back; Sciacca just 4 for 64 with first time starters in dirt sprints over the past five years, but those wins came at odds of 7:1, 13:1, 15:1, and 40:1, three of them over this track. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:23 LRL 5th Perhaps last time was the time for FEDERALE (#2, 9-2) as he halved in claiming price and worked out a lovely trip under J D Acosta to score at big odds. There was a quick pace up front that afternoon and Federale saved every inch of ground en route to a rallying score. Jammed back in at the same class level, he has the tactical speed to adapt to the pace situation. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:11 GP 7th DEXTER ROAD (#7, 8-1) is switching from turf to the main track for his second race after a break, and could end a long drought if things go his way. POWERFUL ALLY wired similar going 1 1/16 miles around two turns three weeks ago. A one-turn mile is also suitable for the need-the-lead type. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:22 TAM 6th PATSY’S BIG GIRL (#4, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:33 OP 4th MIDNIGHT LAS VEGAS (#1, 8-1) is in razor-sharp form and owns what ranks as this field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. He’s also been flattered since his last start, with three runners he defeated returning to win in their next outs, all at Haw with respective Beyer Figures of 80, 73 and 79. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:50 AQU 8th WONDERWALL (#3, 5-1) was dropped in class last month after failing in her first three starts and she responded to bury maiden claimers in a much improve performance; was claimed out of that race by a dangerous trainer and paid immediate dividends while crushing allowance rivals around two turns with a big Beyer improvement; interesting shipping in to shoot for a bigger prize. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:06 OP 5th FUNNY ACTOR (#3, 8-1), who debuted at Churchill Downs, moves into the Arkansasbred ranks with the meet now on at Oaklawn. The race he exits has produced three next-out maiden winners, between Mahoning Valley, Laurel and Turfway, with respective Beyers of 54, 44 and 70. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:06 OP 5th GAR HOLE (#9, 4-1), besides having a memorable name, showed up for the first time on the worktab mid-December breezing a fairly quick 5f a OP, meaning he’d been doing a decent amount of prep work somewhere before arriving at the track. Another, snappier half before some longer drills, and he looks ready now for capable debut trainer. Homebred with decent pedigree, too. - Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:24 TAM 8th One more shot for SWIFT KID (#8, 3-1), who may have finally found the right spot. He was off the board as the favorite last time but that was hardly his fault, as a slow start and a controlled pace left him with too much to do, and he ran a strong race for the place two back; needs pace but should get it here. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:45 GP 10th OUR LITTLE DEVIL (#3, 10-1) put it all together in her last two outings, wiring $12.5K maidens and $20K NW2 opposition. She shouldn’t be out of her league in this firstlevel optional claimer if she continues to improve. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:54 TAM 9th ROBIN TEAM SHOW (#5, 6-1) was moving well late through the lane in his most recent try, and while he was no threat to the top pair, who were close-up from the start, he was flattered when fellow closer Millburn, who was third, came back to score in his next start; figures to get a much improved race flow in this finale, which seems to feature a fair amount of speed. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:09 OP 7th BYBEE (#11, 10-1) returns to the conditioned allowance ranks off a stakes-placing at Lrl. The winner of the race returned in his next start to account for the Dave’s Friend at that track, with a Beyer of 99, while the sixth-place finisher, Day the Music Died, returned to take an optional $8K claiming/starter allowance, also at Lrl, with a Beyer of 79. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:09 OP 7th ROYAL DAAHER (#4, 5-1) freshened for this rich allowance pot and winds up in the same race as the mercurial Hidden Scroll, who figures to be bet far below the listed odds making his first start for trainer B Cox while creating automatic value on other contenders like this one. Running style has evolved for the better from front-running to press / stalk, and that can serve him well here. Handled the surface last season and ought to be a fair price. - Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:17 GP 11th ALASTOR (#8, 6-1) has changed trainers since a front-running fourth in a nine-furlong route at this $20K NW2 class Dec. 6, going from Joseph to Crichton. Shortening up to a mile could enable him to make all the running here with accomplished speed rider Saez aboard. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:09 SA 6th STRIKE ME DOWN (#7, 5-1) shortens from route to sprint, and returns to familiar footing (turf) after a decent runner-up finish first start in California and first on dirt. ‘DOWN was a respectable turf-synthetic specialist back East and in Canada, but typically lost his punch late in races longer than this six-furlong stakes race. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets