DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, July 2, 2023
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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.
12:50 GP 1st UNCAPTURED BOY (#4, 8-1) took a little money for debut, turned in even effort while hung wide and well spotted for improvement with a race under his belt. – Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race
1:35 MTH 3rd VIKRAM (#1, 6-1) switched barns and ran a Beyer top of 84. That is well above his previous figs but then again this 4YO gelding did cost 225K. Some horses just take a while for things to click. It helps that he likes this dirt where he has hit the exacta in 60% of his starts. Race flow is another plus as we spy three speed horses in this race. This guy gets to save all the early ground. Any chance this guy is a new route horse? We like that connections find a spot where this guy can't be claimed. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
2:52 WO 4th TIPSY MOON (#1, 10-1) was steadied along the inside during a poor performance that you can draw a line through vs. $25K NW2 distaffers in her latest. The big chestnut has attracted leading rider Kimura off the claim and she posted the best work of her life last weekend, a solo five-eighths in :59. – Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
2:54 GP 5th One of only two multiple winners in this lineup along with UNIFIED WEEKEND (#7, 8-1). Ran down that one two back. Taken to be along again with clean sailing. – Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race
3:10 BEL 5th The success trainer L Gyarmati has recently found from a limited sample of first-time starters has come in turf routes, but nonetheless will guess at debuting LADY FORTUNA (#6, 10-1) being at least somewhat live. Late to debut but young sire Accelerate is much better with 3yos than 2yos. Lady F's half-sister Sun and Wind, by Freud, the dam's first foal to race, just debuted June 23 at BEL and was a second in a 2yo MSW. Work pattern solid enough - just wish there were video of at least one of those drills. – Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race
3:25 WO 5th MEHLEK (#2, 8-1) was herded in at the break before closing from farther back than usual to lose in a photo when switching to the inner turf off a freshening June 18. He should be dangerous on a repeat in this main turf mile around one turn with Civaci taking over. – Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
3:27 MTH 7th PLAYGROUND LEGEND (#8, 10-1) is a new turf horse but that is no suprise as his turf Tomlinson is a very good 345. His distance Tomlinson screams sprint at 352. Form cycle hints at better as this guy goes third off the layoff. Versatile style rounds out the appeal. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
4:24 MTH 9th FITTS (#7, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race
4:59 WO 8th Fast-working OTTAWA (#2, 8-1) is debuting in an N1X/optional claimer and probably isn't out of his league. The son of high-percentage first-out sire Violence (the sire of champion Forte) was bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm and is nominated to the King's Plate. – Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race