DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026
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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.
12:30 CNL 1st MORGANITE ROSE (#5, 20-1) is an unknown in a field full of relatively middling knowns, which might just make her worth a roll in her debut for Werneth. Sire Bucchero wins with 17% of older firsters and has passed down reasonable turf sprinting ability, while the dam Simmerette has been a professional broodmare, producing four dirt winners and one synthetic winner. Her workouts have been solid and it's interesting to see Marin taking the mount. – Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race
1:34 CNL 3rd SHE'S THE MOAMENT (#5, 5-1) seems likely to do some running on first asking for Sillaman, who has not been afraid to send them out with intent in their debuts. Sire Yaupon strikes with 20% of juvenile firsters and the dam was a debut winner on dirt at Saratoga in 2021. The workouts at Laurel have been solid and she seems likely to be involved against these. – Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race
2:05 CNL 4th DREAM DANCER (#9, 6-1) will return from a lengthy break for D'Angelo and get right back on the turf, where he seemed to struggle against tougher at Gulfstream over the winter. The speed figures he earned against older rivals were solid and would make him competitive here. The upside, however, is that he might come back with more to offer with time to develop. – Patrick Moquin | Get Past Performances for this race
3:10 WO 1st BIG BOLD AND FIRST (#4, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get Past Performances for this race
3:43 WO 2nd LOTTA GEMS (#7, 4-1) broke inward and slowly before missing the board for the fourth straight time last out when moving out to a route on the Tapeta. She had a four-wide trip while showing nothing the only time she competed on the lawn in a two-turn inner turf tilt June 11 but deserves a turf mulligan in her first try at this $25K class. – Ron Gierkink | Get Past Performances for this race
4:04 SAR 6th SALT SPARTAN (#1, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get Past Performances for this race
4:39 SAR 7th NODIN (#8, 10-1) made a wide move and raced greenly in the stretch before finishing a solid second at a big price in his dirt debut here three weeks ago. Might be able to do even better if he can race more professionally, and he should be a price once again. – Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race
5:49 SAR 9th ORTUS (#8, 10-1) was racing cheaply when posting his win on turf last year, though he did overcome early trouble in that spot. He handled stepping up to this level just fine in his next two starts, including a solid effort over this course and distance when holding a lead down to the stripes, only to get nailed late, right before the layoff. He looked like he needed that first start back when making a run to contention to midstretch before coming completely unglued. He has speed, and this race does not appear to be as tough as that last one. – Mike Beer | Get Past Performances for this race
7:34 DMR 6th The speed of this $12.5k claiming field, THE BIG CHEESEOLA (#1, 5-1) is the pick to wire the field after a runner-up finish last out for $10k claiming. He dueled through strong splits, got the best of his pace rival, then got worn down. The horse 'CHEESEOLA dueled with and put away (Des Doigts) returned last week to wire an $8k claiming sprint. – Brad Free | Get Past Performances for this race
7:30 RP 1st CURLIN'S UNION (#2, 10-1) drops in for a tag for the first time, and trainer Danny Pish excels with horses moving from maiden special weight company into a maiden claimer (24%, $2.16 ROI). This gelding is a stone closer in need of help from the pacesetters, but there is some speed to his outside and that should help him improve upon his first and only try on the turf to date, when caught against a speed-friendly race flow here last year. – Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race
9:22 RP 5th GOLD MAKIN GIRL (#4, 8-1) has been in search of that elusive second career win for some time, and her overall record is lacking, but she ran a good race in defeat in her latest appearance under these conditions, and her lone win did come over this course. She may have found the right group, especially if she gets a clean trip and honest fractions up front. – Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race
11:04 RP 9th RISK IT (#5, 10-1) put up a solid figure in his first start off the layoff two back and regressed in his latest, a classic "bounce" pattern that should set him up nicely for a big move forward in his third try back for trainer Steve Asmussen. He'll be looking to come from off the pace, but there's speed to his inside and out and he could be well set up to run them all down in the lane. – Kenny Peck | Get Past Performances for this race
11:42 RP 10th WOW THAT'S HOT (#9, 20-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Kenny Peck). | Get Past Performances for this race
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