DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, Aug. 20, 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.

1:10 SAR 1st SPIRIT FORWARD (#1, 5-1) was outrun early, before racing on greenly in the lane to pass some horses in her lone start as a 2yo; made her return from the layoff on turf without success; back to dirt to make her second start of the year, this time while cutting in half and adding blinkers and Lasix; needs to get some early position out of the chute. - Mike Beer  | Get Past Performances for this race

1:44 SAR 2nd INTO DIAMONDS (#3, 9-2) ran well to win his career debut sprinting on turf as a 2yo; he has endured a long layoff and was a non-factor when back sprinting on grass here eleven days ago, though that was a much tougher race than this one; can easily improve as he drops to make his second start back from that long break. - Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race

2:05 CNL 4th MATTHEW'S TICKET (#4, 5-1) has demonstrated obvious improvement since switching to turf in April, earning his maiden victory with a 76 Beyer in June and running another two game efforts before and after that start; the Jersey-bred just missed in a statebred allowance at Monmouth last time out, but Capuano has found another competitive spot for him and might get more in his second start against winners. - Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race

3:43 WO 2nd DADDY'S SECRET (#12, 6-1) saved ground throughout when breaking her maiden at first asking on the Tapeta, over which she made all six of her starts. The daughter of 12% turf sprint sire Frac Daddy is a half-sister to two grass winners, including Secret Load, who won an OS allowance going seven-eighths here on the main course. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

5:26 WO 5th JUST MAGNIFICENT (#2, 6-1) fired big when landing a seven-furlong non-two sprint in her penultimate start and was hard-ridden for fourth most recently in a 7 1/2-furlong inner turf race at this non-three class. The stretch-out to 1 1/16 miles on the main turf might be to her benefit with superb grass rider Munger gaining the mount for a trainer with whom he's 2 for 6. - Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race

6:00 DMR 3rd MISSED FORTUNE (#9, 7-2), a 2-year-old making her second start, stretches to a mile on turf vs. Cal-bred maidens, two weeks after a respectable fourth-place sprint that was merely a prep. Sired by hot stallion Pavel and considered by his connections to be a two-turn horse, 'FORTUNE actually ran okay first out. He was shuffled back at the start of turf sprint, and went evenly thereafter while wanting a longer distance. - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race

6:30 DMR 4th DES DOIGTS (#7, 7-2) looks like the controlling speed in this $8k claiming sprint as he drops off a decent third for $10k. A three-time winner from seven starts on DMR dirt, 'DOIGTS is likely to set the pace; he should be long gone. - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race

6:36 CBY 4th Can history repeat for RYNOTOGRACE (#1, 9-2)? Current form isn't very good, right? Connections wanted the turf two and three back but this guy was washed off. Let's look at his last turf race which came here last summer. He lost by a half length at 9-1 and at this level. His form going into that race was poor. Sound familiar? He draws ideally today, gets in light, and figures a solid price. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

7:00 DMR 5th Front-runner/class dropper PROOF HE'S FAST (#2, 8-1) can win this Cal-bred maiden-12.5k sprint if he puts away the pace rival directly to his outside. 'FAST dueled into the stretch last time in a Cal-bred maiden-50, and now drops to the bottom as the likely pacesetter. Come and catch him. - Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race