DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, September 20, 2020
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.
1:14 GP 3rd HELEN HAYES (#4, 15-1) is just tons better on the grass something she has been denied in five of her last seven starts. She has a couple of local works and goes for a barn that is 29% turf to dirt (flat bet profit on the green). A great trip stalking the speeds? -Scott Ehlers
1:39 MTH 3rd ROMAN CITY (#8, 5-1) is an established turf sprinter making her third start off the layoff, and coming off a deceptively good try at Delaware, where she closed ground late after racing behind moderate fractions; faster splits are likely today and she can run them all down late with a clean trip from the outside. -Kenny Peck
1:43 WO 2nd SUITEDCONNECTED (#7, 6-1) crushed $10K NW2 stock in his first try for Chircop 13 days ago on the Tapeta. His last turf start a year ago wasn’t bad, and he could double up in this two-turn inner turf tilt with Hernandez back aboard. -Ron Gierkink
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2:29 MTH 5th PRICING EXERCISE (#7, 8-1) had some traffic trouble in that last try and he was closing deceptively well through the lane, an effort that was better than the running line suggests, as he was also close to the early pace; turf Beyers are steady and fit well enough to make him a threat here, and he should be a square price. -Kenny Peck
4:27 GP 9th IKEISGREAT (#1, 9-2) is cross entered on Friday for a 25K/n1X but declared out for this. This is easier so we think the right call was made. Lots and lots of speed to set up trip. Lone local grass start came versus stakes foes and this colt only lost by 2 1/4 lengths. Those CD and Keeneland turf sprints two and three back are always tough and this colt beat over half the field home in both. His most recent at Indiana Grand was fine but also not turf. A Palm Meadows work is noted. -Scott Ehlers
4:29 WO 7th AMERICAN MONARCH (#5, 5-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).
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4:59 GP 10th KEEP AMERICA GREAT (#5, 4-1) is an Evangeline shipper that goes for Carl Deville and lures Zayas. Versatile style helps but more so we have been picking this combo since they got here so why stop now. What if this filly is just better on the dirt? If able to relax early, then this filly trips out best. Here comes a good price. -Scott Ehlers
5:35 WO 9th LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE (#6, 5-2) went coast-to-coast in a dominating debut score going seven-eighths on the main turf Aug. 22, from which Mum’s the Word exited to land a one-mile maiden special. The close relative to G3 winner Shirl’s Speight has since worked quickly on the turf training course and could be any kind. -Ron Gierkink
5:59 MTH 13th MADAME ROUGE (#10, 9-2) is stuck on the AE list but she has to be considered a big threat if she gets to run here, as this turf sprint is light on speed and she showed plenty of it in her latest, albeit on the main track at Delaware; she had a world of trouble at the start of her debut but she could well clear this group despite the outside post today, which would be a big edge, and trainer Amador Sanchez excels with turf sprinters. -Kenny Peck
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