DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Sunday, September 3, 2023
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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 GP 1st RYE'S MY GUY (#7, 9-2) has worked well for his debut for a trainer who has super debut-win numbers, particularly with maiden claimers. His 2 sibs are winners including This Run's for You (12-2-1-3, $80K, 1 SP). -Michael Hammersly
1:35 MTH 3rd ZONA DE AMIGOS (#4, 10-1) was off the board in his first start on the green but that wasn't a bad effort, especially considering the fact that he ran into traffic trouble on a couple of occasions in the race; improvement expected, assuming a clean trip. -Kenny Peck
1:43 GP 3rd DIGITAL TRADE (#2, 12-1) stalked and loomed in her debut in a race like this here Aug. 5 before flattening out to end up 7th,looking very much like a horse who needed the race. Well, she's had her race and has worked lights-out since. Two of her 5 sibs are winners including Leblon (23-3-3-4, $224K). -Michael Hammersly
2:02 KD 2ndDon't much care for any of the older maidens here who have raced, so will take a shot with the M Maker-trained first-timer BEAUTIFUL MANDATE. Barn won meet opener with a firster, and while the pedigree here is meh for grass, there are several suggestive works in the pattern and I'd guess she comes out running. -Marcus Hersh
2:04 MTH 4th STRONG BREEZE (#3, 8-1) could prove to be the primary speed in this sprint; he will have to contend with MOTION TO STRIKE in the opening stages but he's inside that rival, and if he can shake that rival without too much stress he could prove tough to catch. The latter takes the blinkers off and could be looking to revert to stalking tactics; first start for trainer Robert Falcone Jr., who wins at 29% with new faces. -Kenny Peck
2:05 CBY 1st HAUNTED HAZE (#4, 9-2) is by a 11% debut sire. His dam went 4-1-0-0 and earned 15K. Both sibs beat winners to the tune of 36K and 136K (both sibs are by Paynter). Works are well spaced including a recent bullet all for the leading barn. -Scott Ehlers
2:08 KD 3rd GAV'S DREAM GIRL (#1, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).
2:19 SAR 4th HAMMERIN AAMER (#6, 8-1) is not at his best over a wet track, so he has a built-in excuse for half of his starts dating back to last December; form over fast dirt in that span is actually solid, and he was badly compromised by a rated pace in that last one when coming wide and finishing gamely for third off the layoff; fits here, just needs a trip. -Mike Beer
2:42 GP 5th DREAMY (#4, 9-2) has been working smartly for a trainer who has super debut-win numbers. She looks as though she's ready to fire first time out. NEXT ON STAGE is the proven commodity with 2 good starts in races like this here to start her career. -Michael Hammersly
3:06 KD 4th ALWAYS ABOVE (#5, 20-1) races for the first time as a gelding and perhaps that will help get him back toward his 2022 form. If that's the horse who shows up, he's the most likely winner at a very generous price, and AA ran well over the KD course, a big plus. -Marcus Hersh
3:31 MTH 7th NEWTON'S STAR (#11, 6-1) was off the board in her first start vs. winners but that was against better than what she meets today, and she did make a middle move there before flattening out late; big threat if she can run back to the maiden-breaking Beyer. -Kenny Peck
3:41 KD 5th TALONNADE (#7, 8-1) 100% ran like a horse who needed his debut race Aug. 12 and who will benefit from added distance in his second start. Slow into stride and ran in spots, picking his way closer to contention, coming into homestretch with a lot to do, finished very wide with plenty of run, changed back to wrong lead with a half-furlong to race, still crossed the wire with good energy. Can't say about the gallop out because there essentially is none on video. Figures to improve at fair price. -Marcus Hersh
3:44 WO 6th EYES ON THE KING (#5, 8-1) attended a quick pace before fading late to third behind two of his current rivals and stablemates in the Aug. 6 Hamilton Stakes on the inner course. With the rail in lane 3, he could make all the running in this one-mile main turf route. -Ron Gierkink
3:47 CBY 4th DEAR BEAU (#2, 5-1) loves this sod. She just won on a non firm sod and missed a Beyer top by only four points. This filly got a taste of winning in her 15th start and simply liked it as she has either tied or improved her Beyer since. She draws fine and picks up the leading rider. -Scott Ehlers
4:17 WO 7th THE NEW MAYBE (#2, 8-1) is bred to go long, top and bottom, and has been showing the signs in sprints that he wants to stretch out. Tiller's numbers going sprint/route aren't great, but this one has the tools to pad those stats. -Ron Gierkink
4:28 MTH 9th ALEXA'S DREAM (#8, 6-1) gets back on the grass, and she has better figures on this surface than she does on dirt, but she ran well in defeat on the main track in her most recent; looking to make the last run and she is capable given a clean trip and a contested pace, as her best Beyers put her in the middle of this. -Kenny Peck
4:36 SAR 8th MISCREANT (#8, 8-1) has run better than it looks in some of her turf starts while beginning 0-4 on this surface; viewing the dirt sprint in the return from the layoff last time as a prep, as she has been rained off a couple of times since then; threat back on turf and might be a fair price. -Mike Beer
5:05 LAD 1st RECLAIMED (#12, 8-1) draws best and catches a race without much pace so she won't be that far off the early pace. Her most recent was better and it came on the grass something she is not bred for with her 147 turf Tomlinson. We like that Lozada returns and that he is 30% for this barn. Full field helps all prices. -Scott Ehlers
5:44 SAR 10th ROSY TOMORROWS (#7, 6-1) outran her odds on debut when showing some speed before finishing a good fourth; landed in two tougher MSW races in Kentucky after that, while trying different tactics; back to turf finally taking class relief for Maker. -Mike Beer
6:01 LAD 3rd GRAY PEARL (#3, 8-1) is by a 4% debut turf sire. Her dam went 7-0-0-2 on the green for 14K. Of five sibs to try the grass, three won and another hit the board. Her return try was better and perhaps now is a good time to try the grass. -Scott Ehlers
7:00 KD 11th ANGLOPHILE (#6, 8-1) was third behind second-place B Lynch-trained stablemate Highway Robber in the Ellis Park prep for this, but while Highway Robber got a clean outside run, Anglophile tried for an inside passage and got hung up in traffic before finishing as fast as the winner or runner-up rallying along the rail. That was 9f, two back he won over 10f, and his pedigree looks as suitable as any in this race to getting a 1 5/16-mile trip that will be closer to 1 3/8 accounting for the run-up. -Marcus Hersh