DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, January 3, 2020

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 AQU 1st MARIA’S GIFT (#6, 4-1) has caught slop in each of her first two starts while facing better, and she has shown speed both times while unable to get to the lead vs. those faster horses; gets Lasix to go along with the right class drop for this and might be a tougher customer if able to make the lead this time. – Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:12 TAM 3rd ELUSIVE RO (#7, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:06 GP 5th MY SARASOTA STAR (#3, 9-2) is a DRF Best Bet – Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:12 TAM 5th CANTERBURY GOLD (#5, 8-1) has speed and some upside. We think the other horses with some zip will let this one go in the early running. In a field that isn’t very good, then, we would rather have someone with early speed, especially if an early breather is possible. Turf breeding is OK. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:20 AQU 5th PRINCESS COREY (#8, 4-1) made a pair of well-spaced starts last year for different, high-percentage trainers and grabbed a piece both times; started back on the drop at Laurel for a trainer that has been winning everything at that track and easily broke her maiden after showing sharp tracking speed; drawn outside taking the next logical step. – Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:40 GP 6th MINE FOR PASSION (#5, 6-1) checked in fourth of 12 behind a next-out winner when debuting at Churchill Nov. 12. The expensive daughter of Mineshaft has since worked four times at Palm Meadows for a live barn. – Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:50 AQU 6th DARK STORM (#2, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet – Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:22 TAM 9th LADY CLOVERLY (#8, 30-1) is by a 6% debut turf sire. Her dam never tried the green. Three of five sibs won on the grass. We can forgive her debut, as she had trouble and, then, a wet track in second start. This filly should like the surface switch, but more so the added distance. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:35 SA 5th JEN’S BATTLE (#2, 7-2) drops from New York-bred N1X to $25K claiming N3L, her races in New York are probably fast enough for this California turf claiming mile. With blinkers on, stretching out from six furlongs, she should be forwardly placed. – Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets