DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, October 16, 2022

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.

12:40 LRL 1st It might have taken MISS FUSSY PANTS (#5, 5-1) a few starts to figure out the game, and she looked pretty good downing a field of quarter maidens going two turns at Timonium. Hustled out of the gate to push 8-1 shot Never Free (finished last), she cleared off two furlongs out and kept on going. Barn went 5 for 21 (24%, $4.80 ROI) between Sept. 24 and Oct. 13. This is a tougher spot from a pace and class standpoint. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

1:00 KEE 1st LUCKY PHOENIX (#4, 10-1) showed nothing in her debut, making the solid third of eight last time when stretched from a sprint to a one-turn mile a vast forward step. Now that she's on the right track, she goes out to two turns, which might be what she wants. $35K purchase price in for a $30K tag. Trainer - jockey combo has won five races this year at Keeneland. -Marcus Hersh Get PPs for this race

2:12 BAQ 4th THE GREAT ONE's (#1, 8-1) lone attempt sprinting on dirt came in his career debut as a 2yo in California, where he raced on gamely in the stretch after trouble at the start left him last; also ran well in a subsequent turf start while showing speed going longer; has a layoff to overcome but don't mind him coming to to the grass in the first start for Pletcher. -Mike Beer Get PPs for this race

2:19 LRL 4th ONE TWO KID (#2, 10-1) won going dirt to turf over the summer, and gave a good try in his most recent grass outing on Aug. 13. Held up behind a moderate pace while wide and in between horses, he split rivals with a three-wide bid on the second turn and grinded his way into second in the final sixteenth. Perhaps switching back to the turf will help wake him up after a couple of sub-par dirt outings. -Dan Illman Get PPs for this race

2:44 BAQ 5th STOW ON THE WOLD (#10, 15-1) showed brief speed before giving way over a sloppy track in his Saratoga debut; switches barns for his second start while moving over to turf, a surface that he is bred for, and he is a new gelding for this. -Mike Beer Get PPs for this race

3:08 KEE 5th BADGEBALL (#8, 20-1) holds some appeal at a price as he makes his grass debut. Bumped and out of the game early last out facing winners for the first time following a two-month break, and never really looked comfortable racing along the inside, though he did make a little middle move at the three-furlong marker. -Marcus Hersh Get PPs for this race

3:47 LRL 7th JELLY NOUGAT (#8, 6-1) easily exceeded the Beyer par for this level when winning a starter allowance at Churchill in only his third start. Ran into Elite Power in his next race, and that one returned to win a second-level allowance at Saratoga with a 97 Beyer before grabbing the Grade 2 Vosburgh with a 101. -Dan Illman Get PPs for this race

3:50 BAQ 7th BALI'S SHADE (#3, 6-1) just failed to hold a good horse in his early debut as a 2yo, then returned from a layoff to break his maiden while fighting off pace pressure at the end of last year; next two starts came vs. stakes rivals and he has not run on dirt since; drops for his return with speed. -Mike Beer Get PPs for this race

4:12 KEE 7th Maybe STAR DEVINE (#1, 8-1) isn't quite good enough to win, even if things break right for her, but I think she could be. She beat Change of Control and Elle Z at KEE in the spring and has the general built-in "didn't like Kentucky Downs" excuse for her last start. Don't know what went amiss two back at Saratoga, but her form otherwise shows promise. There out to be a very strong pace here that could leave SD farther off the lead than she's recently been, and I think that could be a good thing. -Marcus Hersh Get PPs for this race

4:36 WO 7th HONEY WON'T (#3, 10-1) earned back-to-back 81 Beyers when first and third in the summer before a deceptively good third two weeks ago, during which he put away three challengers on the lead before weakening late on the grass. He's at his best as a stalker and should take some beating in this seven-furlong Tapeta tilt under a fresh new face on the scene, Campos, one of the leading riders in Mexico. -Ron Gierkink Get PPs for this race

4:44 KEE 8th RUN CLASSIC (#3, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh). Get PPs for this race

5:09 WO 8th FRIENDS FOR LIFE (#8, 8-1) closed for third after a slow start last time in the restricted Victorian Queen Stakes over about seven furlongs on the main turf. The daughter of Woodbine Oaks winner Ginger Brew is a half-sister to four route winners on the main track, and should welcome the stretchout to 1 1/16 miles in this stakes for Canadian-breds. Trainer Stu Simon has won this $250K event twice and is 5 for 21 at the meet when using Boulanger. -Ron Gierkink Get PPs for this race

6:15 WO 10th SAILOR'S PASSION (#4, 10-1) won two straight inner turf miles during the summer and is coming off a belated fourth in a sprint on the main course. The horse-for-course is made-to-order for this 1 1/16-mile inner turf tilt under regular rider Wilson. -Ron Gierkink Get PPs for this race

7:20 FNO 7th There could be a quick pace in this field, which would greatly aid the late run of PEPPERMAN (#8, 9-2) who starts from the outside in a field of eight. Trained by Bill McLean, Pepperman closed from sixth of 10 to win a $20,000 claimer for maidens at Del Mar in July and could get the same race scenario in this field. -Steve Andersen Get PPs for this race

7:50 FNO 8th MINOSO (#10, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Steve Andersen). Get PPs for this race

8:24 FNO 9th This is a fascinating running of the Bull Dog Stakes to close the Fresno fair meeting. BOLD ENDEAVOR (#10, 5-1) has drawn the outside in a field of 10, but the race scenario could work in his favor. Bold Endeavor is a closer who should have ample pace to follow. He was a good third in an allowance race at Del Mar last month behind Hail Freedom, who led throughout for his fourth win. Bold Endeavor is winless in 11 starts, but has won at the race distance of 1 1-8 miles. -Steve Andersen Get PPs for this race