DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, July 19, 2020

With most other North American sports being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, we hope the sport of horse racing can entertain you during these trying times. 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.

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12:50 MTH 1st JAMES CIRO (#1, 6-1) must deal with a 266-day layoff, but was in good form at the tail end of 2019. Finished ahead of two-next-out winners in most recent appearance (the fourth-place finisher returned to win at Parx by over 12 lengths with an 83 Beyer, his third victory from his last four races) and has the tactical speed to make good use of the inside post position. Expect to see some fresh speed and he should be sitting just off the early leader heading into the backstretch. – Dan Illman

1:30 GP 4th Ask most any handicapper what’s more difficult, an open $6,250 race or a ‘beaten’ $8k race, and they’ll probably respond with ‘the open one,’ which is a primary reason DR HARLAN (#1, 7-2) figures among the top contenders here; 3 of his last 4, all in the open ranks, have been creditable; uses the rail to his advantage in what looks like a suspect field. – Marty McGee

2:20 SAR 3rd JOHNNIE MERLE (#5, 8-1) still has much to prove, but he is an interesting new face to this group, and he has shown some run in spots in each of his first two start at Fair Grounds; needs to start showing some early interest, but he has not landed in the toughest field for the level. – Mike Beer

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3:11 MTH 6th HEY MAMALUKE (#3, 6-1) disappointed at short odds in the What a Summer at Laurel when meeting next-out Grade 3-placed Victim of Love (recently won the Grade 3 Vagrancy at Belmont). Pressured by that one while racing on the rail, the gas tank was on empty at the five-sixteenths pole. She’s been given plenty of time to recover from that race and can get up close to expected leader Sunny Dale. – Dan Illman

3:16 WO 5th The router SALTINI (#6, 6-1) showed that he can handle six furlongs in his debut, during which he got away slowly before closing three-wide to prevail with an 82 Beyer. The move up from NW3 to open company and the stretchout to a mile seem appropriate. – Ron Gierkink

4:04 SAR 6th SPACE MOUNTAIN (#1, 10-1) is priced fairly on the morning line, is perfectly drawn inside for the drop back down in class; has raced in 11 straight stakes since posting his last win back in May of 2019, also for this $50K tag. – Mike Beer

4:14 GP 9th Minor excuse in better-than-looked first Sweezey attempt for MR TITO’S (#6, 20-1), who fits this lower-level N2L turf route Beyer-wise and otherwise; the April triumph points him out as capable; sufficient amount of opposing speed can move him along late and help right this ship. – Marty McGee

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5:27 WO 9th LAST AMERICAN EXIT (#10, 7-2) was steadied and bumped while in tight along the rail at the half before regrouping to rally for third when returning from a long layoff in his encouraging seconds race June 28. The Frank DiGiulio homebred should take some beating in this longer maiden special if things go his way. – Ron Gierkink

5:46 SAR 9th SPEAKTOMEOFSUMMER (#1, 5-1) looked good winning both turf starts as a 2yo, including an upset of the Chelsey Flower when given a perfect ride to score; just went evenly while no match in the Wonder Again off the layoff but that was a much tougher race and there was no pace in there; think she’ll appreciate the added distance she gets here, as she goes second off the layoff and second with Lasix and blinkers. – Mike Beer B Best Bet

7:07 LS 7th COVERT SPECIAL (#10, 4-1) moves back to dirt for the first time in a while and shows some nice works over the local main track. She’s been facing higher-priced rivals on the grass. – Mary Rampellini

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8:07 LS 9th LIMONITE (#4, 6-1) is a Grade 2-placed runner invading from Kentucky and he owns some of the field’s best recent turf Beyer Speed Figures. He also draws a useful post and has a high percentage team in Winchell Thoroughbreds, trainer Steve Asmsusen and jockey Stewart Elliott. –Mary Rampellini