DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, August 31, 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.
2:20 SAR 3rd ROAD TO REMEMBER (#7, 8-1) has run nothing but good races since switching to turf and just came up with another solid effort last time when stretched out to seven and just getting caught late after cutting a fast pace; handles this shorter distance and often gets overlooked. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
2:34 KD 3rd Looks like they might have been taking an edge running R CALLI KIM (#6, 10-1) for just $32K last out when she returned from a year-plus layoff. The mare won sharply and now is entered for more than twice the price. She overcame a rough first turn last time, traveled strongly and hit the line very well, galloping out like a horse who was looking for more ground - which she gets here. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race
3:41 KD 5th HOGSLAYERS R I P (#4, 12-1) surely got plenty out of his July 13 long-layoff comeback, where he set a breakneck pace in a nine-furlong Ellis grass race. The horse does better off the pace and I would wager that entire start was intended to set him up for this rich maiden opportunity. His second career start is better than anything anyone else in this race has produced, and there's ample pace to put him into a stalking trip. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race
4:00 SAR 6th BILLY'S GOT ISSUES (#7, 8-1) chased wide and gained some late ground in a pace-dominated race in his first turf start; stretched out a furlong to win his next start with a determined late run, then was left with too much to do behind a front-running winner when routing last time; cuts back. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
4:48 KD 7th OCEAN ATLANTIQUE (#7, 6-1) was simply poor in the Manhattan, but a wet course last out might be an excuse, and three back he ran well enough in the Turf Classic to capture this lesser race. Gotten in two works since that Aug. 12 start. Should be a square price. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race
5:44 SAR 9th KUNSHAN BRIDGE (#4, 6-1) was on a steep distance cutback off the claim last time and wound up getting totally out-paced in that spot; finally got going late and rallied for a no-threat third; doesn't drop in class making his second start for Rice and should be much more forward this time. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
6:28 KD 10th RAGUEL (#12, 12-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marcus Hersh). | Get PPs for this race
8:35 RP 2nd FRED'STWIRLINCANDY (#2, 6-1) draws a much improved post over his last start and he is one who can be closer to the pace than a number of his chief rivals. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race
11:51 RP 9th VINO BIANCO (#1, 5-1) has natural speed and the asset should serve him well at this distance - and from the rail post. This one also exits a key race, with the third-place finisher coming back to win a maiden allowance at LaD with a Beyer of 40 and the fifth-place finisher, Third Street, a maiden allowance at LS, with a Beyer of 62. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race