DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, June 22, 2025

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.

1:37 BAQ 2nd O P FIRECRACKER (#4, 4-1) was twice beaten by today's rival Khafre in his last two starts, but he didn't get as good a trip as that one last time; was hung 3-wide on the turns before fading late; now makes his 2nd start off the claim for Rudy while picking up Flavien Prat; expecting a better effort this time. – David Aragona | Get PPs for this race

2:26 GP 4th CATALINA CREE (#2, 5-1) is by a 11% debut sire. His dam went 24-3-7-3 and earned 192K. One of two sibs won and is a multiple winner of 95K. This colt only cost 22K so connections in the black with a win/claim. That April 12th work that was fourth best of forty-six might tip hand. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

3:25 MTH 6th ANIMATED (#8, 6-1) had traffic trouble on a couple of different occasions in his Monmouth debut, steadying at the start and then again into the turn in that seasonal bow; he was also against a speed-friendly race flow in that race, as a lack of pace gave the edge to the frontrunners, and he can make the last run given a clean trip and a better set up. – Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race

3:38 BAQ 6th There doesn't appear to be much pace signed on in this one-mile turf affair, which could put HOWLING WIND (#7, 15-1) in an advantageous position as the likely frontrunner; she has to prove she can move up on turf, but we have seen some progeny of Solomini handle turf well; her dam has produced a turf winner, and she looks like one who should handle it; get a rider upgrade to Javier Castellano, and will be a fair price. – David Aragona | Get PPs for this race

4:00 WO 1st DWIGHT (#3, 6-1) has worked well and the son of outstanding synthetic sprint sire Bolt d'Oro is bred to be precocious on the dam's side. The $150K 2yo purchase goes with blinkers and Lasix. – Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race

4:33 GP 8th TRACKSTER (#2, 15-1) broke last in his debut but he got needed race experience and that is what matters most. Connections wasted little time finding this gelding a turf route and they were right when this guy won at 11-1. That 11 post didn't help matters either. He draws better today and now connections find a spot where this guy can't be claimed. We would like a tad more if this was the grass but we are OK with the synth. – Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

4:43 BAQ 8th CLANCY FANCY (#6, 20-1) is a DRF Best Bet (David Aragona). | Get PPs for this race

4:58 MTH 9th AZTECA WARRIOR (#1, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race

5:05 GP 9th ROYAL POPPY (#8, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race

7:06 WO 7th WILLIAM T (#2, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race