DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, April 25, 2024

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.

1:00 KEE 1st CONFLICTED (#3, 12-1) had a pair of totally forgettable runs starting his career in New York, but suspect there's a considerably better racehorse in there. Gotten in two KEE works for McPeek barn, which, dating to the spring 2022 meeting, is 19-6-3-3 with dirt-route maiden-claimers at Keeneland. -Marcus Hersh

1:10 GP 1st EXECUTIVE SEARCH (#3, 10-1) puts three races together so that alone is a plus. This gelding hopped at the start in his return try two back so forget that start. He ran better last out. Race flow is fine and it wasn't that long ago that this guy was getting Beyers in the 70's. -Scott Ehlers

1:42 GP 2nd SUMMER IN TOGA (#5, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).

2:20 AQU 3rd MOONLIT WEEKEND (#1, 5-1) wasn't all that competitive in the MSW ranks to start, though she did land in some tough spots along the way including that super-fast race in the mud three back; took needed class relief last time and won that race convincingly while running over a clear leader late; has to move forward again but there is no one to be afraid of in this spot. -Mike Beer

2:50 AQU 4th HIGHER QUALITY (#3, 8-1) was a photo away from winning three straight on this circuit last year then earned an 81 Beyer winning over this distance at Pimlico in September; form has held up since then while mostly facing tougher than this and he gets class relief for his return from a short layoff. -Mike Beer

3:08 KEE 5th Sure that connections would have been fine with TRULY QUALITY (#10, 6-1) winning either of those two Santa Anita starts in February and March, but both were over a one-mile trip clearly short of his best, and now he has the condition preserved coming to the boutique meet for a robust purse at a 1 1/2-mile trip that should better suit him. Cleared maiden ranks at Belmont over 1 1/4 miles like a horse who'd be fine with more ground, though the step back he took last fall in his lone start over the KEE course last fall is worth noting, and post 10 with a short run to the first of three turns is no bargain. -Marcus Hersh

3:14 GP 5th ICELANDER (#11, 8-1) is by a 14% debut sire. His dam went 8-4-3-1 and banked 156K. Of 4 sibs to race, 3 won including a multiple winner of 473K from Hong Kong. The Sisterson barn is 44% with 1st time starters and 2 for 2 with debut maiden claimers. We like this outside post for a debut. -Scott Ehlers

3:40 KEE 6th MAXIMUM CAPACITY (#6, 6-1) very much been in and out, but good trainer protects him in starter-allowance company for the second race in a row after he got eligible for this condition with his turf win Jan. 20 at SA. Suspect he can be just as good on dirt as grass, if not better, and he looks like the controlling speed here at, potentially, a fair price. -Marcus Hersh

4:52 AQU 8th LU'S REDEMPTION (#13, 15-1) needs some help to get into this field but would give her a long look in this spot based on the turf deby when last seen; looked green in that spot after getting bumped at the start and was not aggressively ridden; waited until fully straightened away in the stretch before being asked to make a run and she finished up well in that spot with no chance to catch. -Mike Beer

5:26 TUP 3rd BIGFOOT CITY (#6, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).