DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, July 14, 2024

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.

1:28 GP 2nd MS ABIGAIL (#7, 20-1) is by a 19% debut sire (all sire stats are for 2YO's only). Her dam went 22-1-5-2 and earned 51K. This is her first foal. Works are fine and this January bred has an age advantage over many of these. -Scott Ehlers

1:44 SAR 2nd The 80 Beyer earned by INDEPENDENT PAUL (#2, 15-1) off the claim in March is a bit suspect, but he earned an 81 breaking his maiden, and has other races that make him competitive in here; just missed getting to the front-running winner when last at this level in April; like that he has had some time between starts after packing a lot of racing in through the spring following the claim. -Mike Beer

2:09 LRL 4th Perhaps last time was the time for MISTER AGENT (#5, 6-1), who took advantage of speed-friendly track when wiring conditioned claimers going seven-eighths. Showed easy speed to clear to the lead and the rail, then drew away nicely in the stretch. He's won from off the pace in the past, and will likely have to opt for those tactics cutting back to this sharper distance. -Dan Illman

2:10 CBY 1st MEGA HEART (#8, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).

2:45 MTH 5th BOLT OF AURUM (#3, 10-1) is only the second starter out of the dam, who raced only once, and his sire was a dirt sprinter, so it's tough to say he has pedigree power as he makes his first start on the turf. That said, trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. excels with grass horses in sprints, and this colt has tactical speed, and those two traits are what makes for a successful turf sprinter; may be overlooked some in this My Frenchman Stakes. -Kenny Peck

2:52 SAR 4th BACKYARD MONEY (#3, 10-1) hasn't started at Saratoga since 2022 when breaking her maiden off the layoff at a price; also came back to win later in that meet in a blowout over a wet track; dropping out of some tougher races and her tactical speed plays in this field. -Mike Beer

3:10 LRL 6th CARROLL GIRL (#7, 8-1) prompted a reasonable three-ply pace from the rail at Delaware, eased outside the pacesetter turning for home, then trudged on with an even finish and an okay gallop-out. She's adaptable to any pace scenario and is a proven commodity over this circuit. -Dan Illman

3:40 GP 6th WHITE CLAW WOMAN (#4, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).

3:46 MTH 7th LAURA'S SONS (#2, 10-1) is the first starter out of an unraced dam but this barn has sent out only one firster on the turf going back to 2019, which is when Hey Leocadia ran 3rd, beaten less than two lengths in her career bow; this colt is training steadily and meets a seemingly average field for the class level. -Kenny Peck

4:46 GP 8th BAHAMIAN MOON (#4, 12-1) finds a great spot and is often a good price. We like the surface switch more than anything as this gal has hit the exacta on this sod in both starts. Race flow is average which means this mare won't be that far off whomever finds the front end. Sounds like an ideal trip to us. Local synth starts have gotten her ready for just this spot. -Scott Ehlers

4:48 MTH 9th POINT LIAM (#8, 5-1) impressed with a solid late run in his latest, which marked his second tart off the layoff, and he has every right to move forward in his third try back; he is a closer and is thus reliant on the pacesetters for help but there does seem to be enough speed in the race to set him up. -Kenny Peck

5:14 CBY 6th HATTIE BLOOM (#11, 6-1) ran well on this sod only two and three back. She was washed off the green in her most recent yet still finished a nice second at 23-1. We think a return to the grass is a plus and that this filly is simply in good form. This post hurts a tad but there is a MTO inside that would scratch if this goes forward on the sod. -Scott Ehlers

5:18 GP 9th JOE DI BAGGIO (#7, 12-1) is an Old Good Horse Getting Better....Again. He certainly out ran his odds in his last two starts when sent off at 15-1 and 8-1. The added half furlong fits nicely and this guy even draws outside for this elongated sprint. -Scott Ehlers

6:19 SAR 10th WRITE OFF JERRY (#7, 8-1) was a maiden winner off a layoff last September shortly after switching to the grass; ran well again with an improved figure in his next start vs tougher, then drew an outside post and showed a speed/fade running line at Churchill in November; hasn't been on turf since, though he has run some good races on synthetic in the interim; back to the grass in the right kind of spot for his third start off the claim. -Mike Beer

8:56 SAC 3rd MADAME GAZELLE (#5, 8-1) makes her second start off the bench after chasing early and tiring late in a non-winners of three $10k claimer last month. The daughter of Tom's Tribute has failed to hit the board in both of her recent efforts over the dirt but has been most successful when on or right off the early lead. The Efrain Miranda trainee should find herself in that spot in this 5.5-furlong dash given the lack of early zip signed on. The Cal-bred takes them gate to wire to kick off Sunday's thoroughbred action. -Scott Shapiro

9:24 SAC 4th BEAUTY IN AUTISM (#3, 10-1) makes his first career start for trainer Isidro Tamayo. Tamayo is 4 for 18 over the last two years with 3YO first-time starters in for a tag with an ROI of $4.19. I am not concerned with the fact he is in for $25k at first asking since the pedigree on the dam side is underwhelming. The Taboada Racing Stables runner just appears spotted to win by a barn that has had a lot of success over the years at Sacramento. -Scott Shapiro

10:20 SAC 6th WORK TO LIVE (#5, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Shapiro).

11:16 SAC 8th GALWAY SHAWL (#2, 12-1) was beaten out of the gate in her first try over dirt last out at Pleasanton and forced to chase gate-to-wire winner Cee's the Image from start-to-finish, but she projects to make the lead on the drop in for $5k assuming a clean break. Trainer Isidro Tamayo added blinkers after her debut in April and they led to improved speed. The equipment change pays off today with a win in frontrunning fashion to close out opening weekend. -Scott Shapiro