DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, Sept. 12, 2026

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.

12:50 MTH 1st CRAZY DIAMOND (#4, 5-1) is unproven on turf but he does have established speed and strong dirt Beyers, and trainer Lindsay Schultz does well with horses moving from dirt to turf as well as first-time turfers; leading rider Paco Lopez back aboard. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

1:22 GP 3rd THE SAZERAC (#5, 9-2) is by a 16% debut sire (all sire stats are for 2YO's only). His dam went 5-2-0-0 and earned 21K. All 4 sibs won with 2 having beat winners (105K and 87K (won 2YO debut). - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

1:35 LRL 4th PETINGAS TWIN (#7, 3-1) failed to improve when Farrior shipped him to Thistledown in July, making that two straight disappointing starts after a similar dud in the $175,000 De Francis Memorial Dash; the gelding was at the very top of his game before this rough stretch, having upset Barbadian Runner at Charles Town in May; returning to Laurel could be key in waking him up; something to like about the workout on Aug, 27. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

2:05 WO 3rd ANY OSCAR (#5, 8-1) came on belatedly for fourth behind the future Saratoga stakes winner Go for Launch at first asking going five-eighths on the inner turf. She went four-wide on the turn and wider in the lane while closing for third most recently in a 6 1/2-furlong main turf sprint and should welcome the move out to seven-eighths. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

2:13 CD 4th KING LEE (#9, 20-1) holds firm for $50K maidens on the barn change, and all three of his races earlier this year hint at a developing horse eventually capable of something better. I think the move to turf could bring that out - heavy grass influence in the immediate female family. They ran him 1 1/2 miles third time out so you'd have to think he has little trouble with the 9f here. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

2:28 GP 5th We liked CAPTAIN KARTER (#7, 12-1) in his debut simply because he was a 5YO making his first start. He actually ran OK for a while before calling it a day. That debut distance of 6 1/2 furlongs is no picnic so that effort was solid. Now connections waste no time finding this guy a turf route. There has to be a reason why connections spent so much time and energy to get this guy to the track. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

3:18 CD 6th Liked E TEE AYE's (#11, 12-1) works into her career debut, which was pretty good, all things considered, Might not have really cared for the slop, and just seemed to get a little tired when flattening out mildly the final furlong. Seemingly aimed at this mile ever since, and I think she'll appreciate the added ground - though there are many ways go go in this deep field. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

3:29 MTH 6th GLORIOUS LADY (#8, 6-1) drops for her first start since April and while she has won on the lead she seems to be at her best when she's able to stalk the leaders and make a run in the lane; capable of winning this if she's ready off the bench and she gets that type of favorable trip. - Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race

3:42 WO 6th BUNYAN (#12, 6-1) worked strongly from the gate on the Tapeta Aug. 26, after which he posted a slow breeze over the turf training course. The son of Hard Spun appears to have some ability and is bred for the grass. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

3:50 CD 7th REAL MACHO (#1, 8-1) as a KY-bred runs for the full $60K purse here, which makes the drop to $20K after a $32K claim two back easy to swallow. Not a bad effort July 18 at Ellis - and that date carries some meaning. He's kept on working right through, and one imagines the aim was this very spot. Consistently fast enough and doubt the rail draw does him in. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

4:22 CD 8th MAKUTU (#1, 15-1) second for this tag last summer facing nine in a DMR maiden, then won for $62.5K before going on the shelf and re-emerging on a different circuit for a new trainer. Sure they left him in the off-turf race May 26 just to get a race into the horse, but then when he ran so competitively, they figured why not just try him on dirt. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

6:10 LRC 5th A post toward the outside in this poor $12,500 claimer for maidens at five furlongs may give TREXIMO (#6, 7-2) a slight edge in this field of seven. Trained by Ryan Hanson, Treximo is winless in five starts, but was beaten only a nose when second in a $20,000 claimer for maidens at Santa Anita in June when he started from post 8 in a field of nine. He disputed the pace, and led briefly in the stretch. He was fourth and seventh in two starts in maiden claimers at Del Mar, racing near the front before fading. This is the shortest race of his career, which may be another plus. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race

6:17 WO 11th MAKER'S FLATTER (#2, 5-1) found his calling on the inner turf two back when crushing OS/$40K maidens with a 73 Beyer. He ran third while against a speed bias most recently in a non-two allowance taken off the turf and is meeting easier in this non-two OS/$40K inner turf route. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

7:16 LRC 7th SHADY STRIPES (#4, 6-1) was claimed for $12,500 at Del Mar on Aug. 22, the day she finished last of 12 in a nonwinners of two at six furlongs. Typically, that would be a discouraging point, but Shady Stripes was claimed by Peter Miller, who has won with four of the last eight horses he has claimed since early July. - Steve Andersen | Get Past Performances for this race