DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, June 4, 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.
12:55 PIM 2nd IRISH LACE (#2, 8-1) has some things working against her as she races out of conditions (eligible for a “two-life”), cuts back precipitously in distance, and must avoid being outrun in the early portion of this sharp sprint. That being said, she didn’t have the easiest trip in her turf debut around two turns at Delaware. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race
1:00 BEL 1st DREW D’ORO (#4, 6-1) debuted on turf and never made an impact in that race, though he was never really aggressively ridden in that race, either; has more of a dirt pedigree for a trainer who tends to do much better with his young maidens after a race - past five years 2yo, maiden, second career start, dirt, sprint: 16 for 63, 25%, $2.07 ROI; can do better with that experience behind him. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
1:10 WO 1st MACHISIMA (#6, 6-1) faded in the drive after racing at least four-wide throughout in a recent Tapeta sprint. The enigmatic mare was competitive around two turns on the inner turf in the past, and could end a drought with the live bug AV back aboard. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
1:39 WO 2nd PORT RENFREW (#5, 6-1) is by the good 18% first-out sire Violence, the sire of champion Forte, and her dam produced two stakes-placed runners from as many starters. Banach has posted excellent numbers with first-timers since the beginning of 2022. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
1:48 GP 3rd VACATION SUITE (#6, 9-2) took a run at 3/5 winner, faltered late in debut but should benefit from the experience. Figures to trip out nicely if away cleanly from outside gate. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race
2:50 GP 5th KEANU (#1, 12-1) shows up tagged for first time and looks too quick for these if away running from the inside. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race
3:03 BEL 5th NIEUWENDYK (#8, 6-1) has only sprinted in his limited opportunities on turf to this point and actually ran pretty well in the first two of those; showed speed when moved back to this surface two back and managed to last for second after the favored winner overtook him in the stretch; faced a much stronger field for the level last time and had no chance to make the lead, so was conservatively ridden and never really factored; would like to see Davis get aggressive here as he stretches out with speed. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
3:07 CBY 3rd GRUNDER (#5, 8-1) ran evenly off the layoff even if he only beat one home. Added half furlong can only help and this gelding gets in light all while drawing the attack post for the distance. This barn shows a flat bet profit second off this type of layoff. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
3:26 MTH 7th NOTABLE QUEEN (#5, 10-1) was on the turf in her career debut, and though she was off the board there she did show some mild interest in the lane; barn wins at a strong rate (21%) with horses making this surface switch and this doesn’t seem to be an above-average group for the class level. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
4:01 LAD 3rd DOUBLE TRAP (#6, 8-1) was getting better at the beginning on the year. He returned at Lone Star but broke 8th of 10. He was trying a tough seven panels in said spot and was sent off at 7-1. He needed that race, right? Trainer stats are good across the board. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
4:08 BEL 7th PIONEERING SPIRIT (#10, 6-1) has run some solid races on dirt without winning for his prior trainer, and even showed that he was still capable when finishing up well in his first start back from a long layoff in March; finally got back to the grass last time and he dominated that weaker bunch with a strong run from off the pace; this is his surface and like that he is protected this time after ging unclaimed out of that win, but he drew a tough post for this distance on the inner. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
4:16 WO 7th IRONSTONE (#7, 10-1) was among the leading 3yos on the grounds last year while competing mainly on the Tapeta. The superb worker is bred for the grass on the sire’s side and could make some noise at a square price in his second start off the shelf. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race
4:22 MTH 9th I CAN RUN (#3, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get PPs for this race
4:50 MTH 10th BROOKLYN GUY (#6, 15-1) gets blinkers and Lasix for this, and while he needs to take a big step forward in terms of Beyers if he’s to threaten today that could be a possibility, if that sharp work at Delaware Park is any indication; hoping the equipment change means he shows more speed, as this is not a race with a clear-cut pace scenario, and the frontrunners could have the edge. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race
4:50 GG 2nd From an outside post, MIGHTY RULER (#6, 4-1) figures to be prominent in a modest field of maiden $12,500 claimers at 5 1-2 furlongs. Mighty Ruler was a well-beaten fourth on May 27 behind the promising first-time starter Sir Grayson in a $25,000 claimer for maidens. In his debut on May 6, Mighty Ruler disputed the pace before fading through the stretch. He deserves another chance and has Beyer Speed Figures that leave him as the leading prospects of runners with race experience. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race
5:12 BEL 9th STRATEGYFORYOU (#6, 20-1) caught a sloppy track on debut while entered for turf and didn’t run poorly in that spot while appearing to gain valuable experience after failing to break sharply from the gate; di get to run on turf last time and steadily faded behind a class-dropping, front-running winner; has plenty of dirt in his pedigree and can have another chance at a price. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
5:20 WO 9th MO TOURIST (#9, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race
5:37 CBY 8th BURNING LEAVES (#4, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race
5:41 SA 4thSharp-working first-time starter COLETTE’S JOY (#3, 5-1) gets the call to upset ENCLOSURE and HALOSNHEAVEN in this sprint for maiden fillies. COLETTE’S JOY showed speed from the gate in recent works (viewed on XBTV.com), she gets a seven-pound apprentice allowance, and her trainer can fire with firsters at a price. Mark Glatt is 3-for-11 with debut runners since December; lowest payoff $16.60. Tab for an upset. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race
5:53 LAD 7th LONE STAR MAX (#5, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race
6:21 LAD 8th EVERYLITTLESINGH (#5, 15-1) is by a 15% debut turf sire. Her dam went 7-0-1-1 on the green for 5K. Lone sib has yet to try the grass. This filly ran better in her only start around two turns (two back). She might like the green at a good price. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
7:14 SA 7th SAMBURU (#5, 6-1) ran well his first two U.S. turf routes last fall and winter in Kentucky and Florida, missing by two lengths or less against tougher than these N2X rivals. SAMBURU was a first-time gelding only prepping in a turf-sprint comeback last month, now adds blinkers and stretches to his preferred two-turn trip. Tab for a minor upset. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race
7:59 GG 8th SAINT IVES (#1, 5-1) has won his last two starts on the synthetic track and can extend the streak in this competitive allowance race at six furlongs. Saint Ives ran well in his last start, finishing third in an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf on May 13, and figures to race just behind the leaders in this field of seven. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race