DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, July 4, 2021

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.

1:10 MTH 3rd PRACTICALLY DIZZY (#10, 5-1), entered for the Main Track Only, may get to run here if the forecast for weekend-long rain holds up; she was 2nd in her latest in a good effort, as she was forced to try to close behind a controlled pace in a race that was light on speed, aside from the winner. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

1:38 PIM 3rd IRON PEARLS (#5, 6-1) checked hard along the rail on the first turn of recent maiden special weight at Delaware, then rode the inside for most of the way before finishing evenly. Expecting him to be sharper in second start following short layoff and am curious to see if his rally will be enhanced by getting outside and in the clear. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

2:22 GP 4th LADY CLOVERLY (#2, 3-1) could not quite overcome impossible outside post first off the claim for present connections now moves inside, loses the blinkers, ready for big effort here. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race

3:33 MTH 8th ROYAL ASSET (#6, 7-2) hit the board in each of his last two starts over this course and the Beyers he posted in those races put him in the middle of this; those were good efforts and they’re probably better than they look on paper, as he chased the odds-on favorite two back and she spotted position to the eventual winner last time in a race lacking speed. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

3:34 BEL 6th RAISING SAND (#9, 6-1) took a big step forward in start No. 2, running on well for 4th at a hefty 71-1. Sure, he still finished behind a couple of today’s foes but that run may be a sign he’s figuring out things and it’s most encouraging Ortiz Jr. takes the call. -Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race

3:51 WO 6th COO BIRD (#3, 6-1) saved ground on the turn before closing wide for third in his 4 1/2-furlong debut, after which he galloped out in front. The Klimt colt, who’s out of a full-sister to champion Pink Lloyd, has a bit more ground to work with in this fivefurlong maiden special. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race

4:05 MTH 9th ASHLEY’S HOPE (#8, 6-1) ran deceptively well in both of her two starts to start the meet, closing nicely while down inside on Opening Day and rallying some last time despite slow splits in a race where the speeds held the edge; she’s won on turf and on dirt but she’d probably prefer it if this race were moved to the main track. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

4:28 LRC 2nd MISS SHADY (#5, 5-1) was in tough her first two starts; she finished far back vs. Calbred special-weight maiden 2yos. Now she drops in for a $50k claim tag, keeps the same rider and meets an apparently soft Cal-bred field. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

4:52 WO 8th SILENT DIXIE (#7, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race

5:19 PIM 10th LAKI (#4, 4-1) looked good winning the Whiteley two starts back. Gave his usual underrated and sharp break, tracked the pace outside and gamely wore down Lebda in the stretch. Perhaps the veteran came back too quick on three weeks rest in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint, and he was one-paced after being hard-ridden along the rail. Think he’s better with Lasix on and he’ll pick it up for his third start of the form cycle. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

5:23 WO 9th FORT HOPE (#8, 8-1) prevailed in a front-end battle before weakening to second in his 4yo bow two weeks ago. Blinkers are added for this shorter sprint, in which he drew ideally on the outside with Bahen back aboard. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race

5:30 MTH 12th TREMAYNE (#4, 9-2) was well off the board in her first start against winners but that was no easy spot, as she was not only against the speed-friendly race flow but she also was in against tough company, facing allowance runners; the Beyer she posted in that maiden score two back gives her strong credibility. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

5:35 GP 10th RICKI TICKI TAFFI (#8, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch). | Get PPs for this race

5:44 BEL 10th AMERICAN POWER (#3, 6-1) stalked as FIRENZE FIRE set the pace in the G2 True North here June 4 and then couldn’t get to ‘FIRE in the lane. Well, he has more speed in his arsenal so maybe more aggressive tactics will come into play here as he seems the quickest if he wants the lead and being outside FIRENZE FIRE doesn’t hurt, either. -Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race

5:50 PIM 11th Not a ton of turf in LOST UNCLE’s (#11, 10-1) pedigree, but the gelding took some money for his career debut in off-the-grass heat last month. Tried to rally wide against a longshot gate-to-wire winner over a speed-friendly surface and retains upside. Karamanos lands here instead of Leave ‘Em Loaded. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

6:00 LS 1st GLASS EATER (#2, 6-1) was second against steeper last out and the start came at this distance. He seems like a logical choice back. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

7:52 LS 5th AMAZING RIDE (#3, 8-1) moves back to turf and she’s proven proficient on the grass. She also draws a useful kind of post and has an age edge on some of these as she is 4. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

7:58 LRC 9th Class plunger DIVA IN CHARGE (#8, 5-1) drops to $10k claiming route for her first start in two months. She won her only previous start on this track, and has run well with time between races. She is the fastest in the field based on last year’s form. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race

10:12 LS 10th READY TO ROLL (#3, 7-2) is a consistent performer who owns a competitive series of Beyer Speed Figures. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race