DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, May 21, 2023

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 WO 1st MIGHTY SEA (#4, 9-2) is tagged for the first time following a layoff of over a year and has worked okay for trainer Kevin Attard, who had a 31% strike rate with six-month-plus comebackers in synthetic routes over the past five years ($2.47 ROI). -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:48 GP 3rd FORTUNA BELLE (#3, 6-1) comes up tagged for first time while making second start of current form cycle. Worked sharp half over the synthetic for this. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:01 BEL 3rd PAXSATIONAL (#11, 15-1) caught a sloppy track on debut and looked very green in that race while getting out-paced, especially after he started getting hit with the kickback in the early stages; caught another very wet track when he turned up for his second start just three weeks later, where he showed improved speed and tired; starts back on the surface he is bred for, as a some of turf winner Browse, who is herself a sister to Shug's Grade 1 turf performer Imagining; Lasix on. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:09 MTH 4th EMPIRE RIDE (#7, 6-1) was off the board in his first start against winners but he had his fair share of trouble there, and the sloppy track provides a convenient excuse; may be able to knock off SAILOR'S RETURN if he can run back to that decent maiden score two back. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:18 GP 4th SWOONATRA (#3, 8-1) appears to be speed of speed in here returning to preferred surface and dropping to cheapest level since graduation day. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:32 BEL 4th EMBOITE (#6, 5-1) was brought along through racing early on and was game when finally breaking through last summer at Saratoga; came back to run a deceptively good race after a terrible ride in his next start, then went forward from there despite not winning again; adds Lasix second off the layoff after doing some chasing and weakening late last month. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:35 MTH 5th UNCAPTURED DEPUTY (#4, 6-1) is out of an unraced dam but she has produced two winners from as many starters, and he sports some works that indicate he will come out running for trainer Greg Sacco; meets a seemingly average field for this debut. -Kenny Peck | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:03 BEL 5th BLACK BELT (#2, 8-1) won his first three off the claim for Walder while improving to consecutive Beyer tops of 76-91-97, which led the new connections to try him in a couple of stakes over the winter; things didn't work out in the tougher races; back in the right kind of spot and should be prominent early. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:05 LAD 1st ROYAL BONUS (#1, 15-1) ran a Beyer top at the end of last year so we think this 4YO is still improving. She probably needed her return try versus better at Oaklawn two back. She was floated five wide in her most recent but still improving a tad. Now she goes third off the layoff and returns to a track where she has done most of her winning. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:33 LAD 2nd SUZY DOLL'S READY (#5, 8-1) is by a 1 for 4 debut turf sire. Her dam went 6-0-0-0 on the green and this is her first grass foal. Her turf Tomlinson of 327 is solid though. This filly is a hard trier with local works that might love the grass. Oh, tactical speed helps the trip. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:00 SA 1st A better-than-looked third-place comeback by SPICYBUG (#6, 7-2) sets her up for a maiden win second start back. Her comeback was only a prep. She popped the gate, was rated three-wide off the pace, stayed wide through the turn, and finished evenly. Solid effort, first start in seven months. She can win this main-oval turf sprint with an expected forward move. -Brad Free | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:12 BEL 9th SHE'S A NINE (#1,8-1) took money on debut when catching a sloppy track and he wound up chasing the pace while wide after a bump at the start; wound up tiring out in the late stages but actually did some running that day; deserves a chance to rebound, perhaps at a better price. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:22 GG 4th CARMEL BY THE SEA (#5, 8-1) scored an 11-1 upset in her first start at a mile on turf against maidens at Golden Gate Fields on April 22 and faces winners for the first time in this intriguing five-runner optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on the synthetic track. Carmel by the Sea worked well earlier this month at Golden Gate Fields and figures to get a stalking trip. Carmel by the Sea is certainly part of a hot stable. Trainer Peter Eurton won with 9 of 25 runners from April 7 through May 14. -Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:53 LAD 7th SHARP CHARLIE (#6, 8-1) has speed and is 1 for 1 on this dirt. He cuts back 1 1/2 furlongs and that might dull his early zip but with that said we still think he can clear off. There just isn't much pace in this race. Wire please. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:21 LAD 8th MONTASTICAL (#9, 12-1) is by a 14% debut turf sire. Her dam never tried the green and this is her first grass foal. She is bred to love the green with her 340 turf Tomlinson. She exits a key race where 5 of 11 returned to win with figs of 89, 72, 80, 74, and 80 (another returned to finish 2nd with a 68 Beyer). Local works are perfect and you get Asmussen in your corner at a possible good price (12-1 on the morning line). -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets