DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, October 17, 2021

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.

1:08 LRL 2nd MISS MORENO (#1, 5-1) ran an improved race in her second start for Gonzalez and she apparently likes dirt a lot more than turf. She has had a couple of decent interim works and anything close to her last race easily wins this. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:32 KEE 2nd SHELLBY's (#1, 12-1) debut third in a Belterra turf sprint showed a horse with enough raw ability to win at this $30K maiden-claiming class. First Lasix now and her main track works, several of them notably fast for this class level, hint she could be a better dirt horse. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:40 LRL 3rd MY DREAM GIRL (#1, 9-2) is trending in the right direction on turf and she ran okay in a couple of her races on dirt. She drops to a new low and will be tough to beat if she retains her current form while making the surface switch. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:57 WO 3rd SOUPER RUSH (#9, 6-1), by the hot Ontario sire Souper Speedy, is a full-brother to the useful closing sprinter Queen's Speed. His last two works were both quick, including a half from the gate in :48.20 where he beat company. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:27 WO 4th MAXIMUS MOMENTUS (#7, 8-1) crushed $10K NW2 stock with a solid 79 Beyer last time on the Tapeta. He could double up off the claim in this $15K NW3 contest, regardless of which surface it's contested over. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:43 BEL 5th BUCKORTWO (#9, 12-1) is one of six in this field exiting the sixth race from Sept. 19, which was taken by a first time starter at the end. BUCKORTWO rated wide off the pace in the early stages of that race, and he was racing on gamely late while unable to make an impact; has some pedigree and think he can do better with that experience behind him. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:08 KEE 5th There's enough speed here that stalker / closer ALEX'S STRIKE (#9, 8-1) could get the pace setup he needs. Unproven beyond 6f but the lone 7f try perhaps not a true billing, and he did win his lone prior KEE start. Barn hitting 27% on the year continues to keep him out of the claiming ranks after dropping the claim for $10K three back. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:40 KEE 6th Can't say I pick many horses on top who are 50-1 on the morning line, but LEAGUE OF SHADOWS (#11, 50-1) deserves more respect than that, and even if not 50 will be a long price in this turf sprint allowance. The 90 Beyer he earned in his most recent grass race -- one of only three career turf tries -- easily could win this, and that was a legit stakes field at CBY. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:49 BEL 7th JUST RIGHT (#9, 8-1) took a couple of tough beats earlier this year, most notably in that seven-furlong effort three back when dropped to this level and just getting nailed on the wire by I Love Jaxson; back to the right level second off the claim as Saez takes over and likely to get overlooked a bit in the wagering. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:18 LRL 8th ABSENTEE (#1, 8-1) almost won the Grade 3 Fall HIghweight at Aqueduct last year and figures to move forward in his second start back following a runner-up finish behind next-out winner My Boy Tate, a multiple NY-bred stakes winner with over $887K in earnings. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:21 BEL 8th SECURE CONNECTION's (#4, 8-1) last two wins have come at Kentucky Downs, where it could be argued that the long stretch and added distance works to her advantage; think there's a chance that she's just better sprinting on turf, which hasn't always been the focus with her, and thought she ran deceptively well two back in a race that did not set up that well for her. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:37 WO 8th WALIYAK (#1, 8-1) won two of her last three, including a G3 on soft ground in France, races which sandwiched a second in a G3 in England to Saffron Beach, who subsequently doubled up in the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. She figures to get the giving ground that she adores in this excellent edition of the G1 E.P. Taylor. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:44 KEE 8th BULLSEYE BEAUTY (#10, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:52 BEL 9th INGRESS (#5, 12-1) was the lone first time starter in that field back in July at Saratoga, where she raced on to the end and settled for 4th at a big price; didn't improve when back on turf last time but she was always wide and that was at a time when being inside was a big advantage on the inner turf. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:00 LRL 9th BROADWAY MELODY (#1, 4-1) drops to a new low after setting a fast pace going longer in a MSW race Oct. 7. Not sure how she will handle coming back this quickly, but she should be okay with the move back to a sprint and the horse she has to beat, SIDNEY SUE, is a 19-time maiden. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:16 KEE 9th SPLIT DECISION (#12, 15-1) cost $20K at auction, debuts for $20K. Like the lower-profile sire, Daredevil. This is the first foal to race from dam whose lone win from nine starts came in her second race, a 9f dirt contest. But then pedigree analysis shouldn't really mean that much in a $20K maiden claimer - the horses are entered here because they seem limited. Split Decision's trainer wins regularly with first-timers and if she's not fit off that enormous TTC work pattern she might never be fit. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:44 WO 10th WHITE FLAG (#4, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:16 WO 11th PENETANGUISHENE (#11, 12-1)6 is eligible to get back on track while shortening up and dropping a notch following a trainer change. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets