DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, January 9, 2022

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.

12:30 GP 1st Giving the aptly named RAIN OF BLESSING (#5, 12-1) the best chance in the 12:30p ET opener, even with that undesirable 0-for-12 record; newly turned 5yo has stayed fit with a couple of so-so main-track tries after getting beat just a neck on the Tapeta in November, a race that represents something of a pinnacle. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:50 AQU 2nd LITTERBOX (#2, 7-2) last started for this claiming price in October, where he fought his way to a lead in the stretch and fell to the last move while finishing a good second with a new top figure; may not have run as poorly as it looks last time when caught wide throughout over a wet track. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:14 TAM 5th MYRA FLEENER (#4, 5-1) was no match for the sharp winning firster in that last one but she wasn't badly beaten for the place; caught the eye three back when she rallied some late and galloped out nicely, and the failed turf test two back is easily overlooked. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:18 AQU 5th MATTY'S MARAUDER (#4, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:26 OP 3rd FLASHY BIZ (#5, 5-1) is back in the conditioned claiming ranks after facing starter foes and her best finishes to date have been against similar. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:55 OP 4th LEA RO (#2, 5-1) hooked a quality winner last out in her Oaklawn debut. She also gets in light under apprentice Hiraldo. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:20 AQU 7th SOUTHERN DISTRICT (#3, 5-1) has only made two dirt starts to date but they are arguably the two best efforts of his career, they both came around two turns; looked good posting that maiden victory first time on the main track at Churchill last May, and he faced a tough field in his next start at Saratoga in a race that is surrounded by layoff lines. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:21 OP 5th EV'S SHERMAN (#2, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mary Rampellini). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:25 TAM 7th LOVIN LIVIN (#4, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:30 SA 1st European imports SUNNY MORNING (#5, 5-1) and FORBIDDEN both ran well in their U.S. debuts in the same race, both maidens should improve second start back. SUNNY MORNING ran better than her seventh-place finish indicates, and can score a minor upset. A front-runner overseas, she was purposely rated in her U.S. debut, raced greenly, but finished with run and galloped out in front on the backstretch. It was a useful schooling run, perhaps she will use her speed this time. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:50 AQU 8th AGILITY (#8, 9-2) went a tough distance in his debut in November and ran a winning race that day while contesting the pace all the way in a race that ultimately went to closers; stalked from the outside and scored easily in his second start, with a pair of next-out winners in his wake; steps up with forward to go and drew well toward the outside since again. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:51 OP 6th EGO (#3, 5-1) has represented himself well against some quality foes like Taishan, who runs later on the card in the feature, and Dean Martini. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:25 TAM 9th BRYCENS GOLD (#6, 15-1) has been turfing but her lone career win came on this main track and she has license to run back to that race if she can at least stay close early on in this seemingly paceless two-turn test; especially tough if she's able to shake loose in the early stages. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:55 TAM 10th FARM BOY (#5, 4-1) was game in defeat in his local bow last time, and the resulting Beyer makes him very tough in this finale, especially considering his prior figure was even better, which gives that 74 Beyer credibility; nice works in the interim, and likely to be able to use his early speed to his best advantage in a race lacking a clear-cut pace scenario. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:14 GP 10th First tag and the turf-to-synth move from QUALITY CONTROL (#5, 8-1) ought to make her a popular choice among these 3yo fillies in the week's finale as she clearly faced far more demanding assignments in her first 3 starts; something along the lines of her forward mid-Nov. try in NY surely would put her squarely in the thick of this once they wheel for home. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:05 SA 6th QUEEN OF LOVE (#3, 4-1) finished in the money her last two starts at this maiden-20 level, and catches a field light on speed. Long gone, perhaps. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets