DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, July 5, 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.

1:15 BEL 1st CHASING LOSSES (#2, 5-1) improved with the class drop in her second career start and did so while keeping after a fast pace for that level of race, before getting clear late; claimed away from a sharp trainer but is logically spotted right back by her new connections. -Mike Beer

1:28 GP 4th Tons of early speed in this two-turn N2x alw. route to set the table for HARBOUR MASTER (#3, 3-1), who now makes the third start of his form cycle after giving futile chase in a couple of pretty solid groups; patient ride from Luca can produce him late; call him the day’s best. -Marty McGee

1:31 WO 2nd DEPUTY OF EGBERT (#5, 10-1) went three-wide on the turn over an inside-favoring track before landing on the edges in his final ‘19 outing, in a race at this level that came up fairly tough. -Ron Gierkink

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2:10 MTH 4th BRIMSTONE (#5, 5-1) could potentially be the controlling speed, as this is not a sprint loaded with pace, and the fact that he goes from open claimers at Belmont into a restricted claimer for $5,000 represents a sizable drop in class; very sharp work last week adds to the appeal. -Kenny Peck

2:23 BEL 3rd FED FUNDS (#1, 6-1) went seven in the slop in his lone start as a 2yo and never factored in that race while racing on late; starts back on the drop for an underrated trainer and can show more speed this time with blinkers on. -Mike Beer

4:00 GP 9th She’s a girl taking on boys in this 2yo allowance dash, and yet PRINCESS SECRET (#6, 9-2) might simply take it to them when tripping out nicely as the outside speed; came well-backed when blowing doors vs. some nice fillies in her early May debut. -Marty McGee

4:10 MTH 8th KONG STYLE (#2, 7-2) makes his seasonal debut and his first start for trainer Kelly Breen, who does well both with absentees and with new faces; working well for this and that’s another strong angle for this barn. -Kenny Peck

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4:32 BEL 7th MADELEINE MUST (#7, 8-1) really improved in the second half of her 3yo campaign in Europe last year and was highly-regarded going into her stateside debut on opening weekend here, where she faced a strong field and failed to fire after taking an uncovered three-wide tracking trip; rates the benefit of the doubt for that one but it’s not like things get any easier here. -Mike Beer

4:46 WO 8th WHERE’S THE WIDGET (#12, 6-1) was softened up in a speed duel when exiting the shelf in a grass sprint. His hot trainer doubled up on Thursday, and he should be sharper for this Tapeta tilt. -Ron Gierkink

5:05 LS 3rd SHE’S DIVINE (#5, 9-2) makes a rare main track sprint appearance and for the occasion adds blinkers and worked a bullet half-mile in 47 seconds. Her trainer, Karl Broberg, wins at a 23 percent rate with his turf to dirt prospects and a 29 percent rate with his route to sprint prospects, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form. -Mary Rampellini

5:35 LS 4th TAKE CHARGE WOMAN (#3, 7-2) has never run worse than second when sprinting on the main track, which she does in this spot. On a pedigree point, she’s a half-sister to three-time stakes winner Ima Discreet Lady, who runs later on the card Sunday. -Mary Rampellini

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5:49 WO 10th AMERICAN DRIVEN (#8, 9-2) only missed the board once in five starts on the Tampa turf during the winter. His tactical speed could come in handy in this inner turf event. -Ron Gierkink

5:54 MTH 12th FLEET WARRIOR (#7, 5-1) weakened after pressing the pace as part of a three-ply duel in his return from the layoff but and that was a deceptively good effort, one which makes him a threat here in his local debut; expecting him to be able to get clear in the opening stages under Juarez, and with that type of trip he’s going to be tough to reel in. -Kenny Peck

6:08 BEL 10th MORE LIKE IT (#6, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).

6:20 WO 11th FREEDOM MACHINE (#6, 8-1) was along for second in her only race traveling a mile on the grass nearly a year ago. She was in South Carolina before working thrice locally on the Tapeta for a successful layoff trainer. -Ron Gierkink

7:37 LS 8th SHES OUR FASTEST (#7, 7-2) should be sharp for the move back to two turns off the sprint start and she would also seem to have reason to move forward here, in her second out since February. From a class standpoint, she’s a five-time stakes winner who was just edged in this race, the Lane’s End Danny Shifflett Scholarship Stakes, in 2019. -Mary Rampellini

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