DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, April 20, 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.
1:20 AQU 1st GIRL OF TOSCONOVA (#1, 12-1) has not come close to her best race in the first two starts so far this year, though she was wide last time on a day when the inside might have been preferred; can factor strongly in a spot like this with her good race, though she is in a position now of having to prove that she can still run one of those; one more chance at a fair price. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:04 KEE 3rd OCEAN CITY (#3, 6-1) set the pace, faded in the strongest MSW race of the Fair Grounds season, then lost all chance with a stumbling start switched to a turf route in his second race. Would like to see what he can do cruising along on the lead over a fast-playing grass course. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:40 GP 5th Going on assumption this one stays on grass. If so BRAVO ZULU (#4, 6-1) may not look back dropping in company and off a couple of solid main track drills prepping for this. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:40 KEE 6th BLUE KENTUCKY (#1, 6-1) hasn't started since Feb. 17 but was racing steadily to that point and shows a timed workout March 28, meaning he got no more than a little freshening that ought not have cost him much fitness. Twice he's run well over the KEE surface, 6 1/2 furlongs suits him, and at anything close to his best he's a solid fit for the level. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:43 GP 7th PARCHITA (#8, 6-1) shuffled back early along the rail to lose best chance in what may have been much needed outing off a four month freshening. Finished just 4 back of Talkin Tipsy who has now won two in a row with Beyers of 73 and 78 on grass. Returns to preferred surface today. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:12 KEE 7th ROYAL PATRONAGE (#11, 9-2) was a real horse at 2 and early at 3 when based in England. His chase-and-fade Belmont Derby was followed by a better 6th (wasn't beaten far for second) in the SAR Derby, where he had a rough start and pulled much too hard in the early stages. His Colonial race was a disaster, the colt clearly needing a break, which he now has gotten, trainer H G Motion getting RP into a good breeze pattern at Fair Hill and finding a nice allowance comeback spot. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:14 GP 8th SCOTTISH SYMPHONY (#3, 6-1) held own in lone turf outing against a solid bunch that including runner-up Metaphysical, second and fourth in two subsequent stakes outings. Worked on even terms with SW mate Lights Of Broadway over the PM sod on 3/24 prepping for this. -Mike Welsch | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:44 KEE 8th The line in this race looks way, way off to me, and in particular I can't see CREATIVE MINISTER (#7, 15-1) being anywhere close to as high as 15-1 -- alas. Was at KEE last spring that he began a rapid ascent that crested with his Preakness third, but the Belmont was a bridge to far, and he wasn't quite the same - excepting the Bourbon Trail, which also wasn't his best -- the rest of 2022. Caught slop in an OP comeback start he might well have needed, and while he won in the KEE slop, all wet tracks are not created equal. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:06 AQU 8th GENTLEMAN BURGLAR (#3, 5-1) was hard-used to make the lead when debuting at this level last month, and wound up contesting a quick pace for the level before fading in the stretch, though he did not totally give in through the late stages despite being involved on that pace; dangerous if he can improve a bit as he makes his second start. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets