DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, February 2, 2023
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.
12:10 GP 1st Looking for the slight class drop and inside post to be a couple of keys to potential victory for DOC BALLARD (#2, 7-2), who'd do best to accept some early rating this time from Luca; some of these opponents surely will come back to him as he keeps something in reserve. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
1:20 AQU 2nd SARATOGA STRONG (#6, 6-1) was very green in his sprint debut last month while appearing to really need that start; dropped to this level over this distance last time and wound up on the rail behind the front-running winner for the entire trip after failing to break sharply from the gate; can improve again moving outside. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:38 GP 6th Draw a squiggly red line through that subpar turf try by MARILYN (#2, 9-2) and she looks as good as any in this hybred maiden dash over the Tapeta; turning back while returning to her preferred surface is no bad idea, and the fact Irad takes over is a major consideration; Arindel homebred is overdue (although that rarely applies in this game); your call on whether these low-ish odds will be acceptable. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:07 GP 7th Pretty interesting manuever here by Sano in wheeling VAI BELLA (#8, 6-1) back in this Tapeta 1x dash after she just won going two turns on the grass with Irad up; outer post and retaining the 4-time Eclipse-winning jockey sure do help the cause; versatile sort will give them a bit of a head start before moving to menace. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:28 TUP 3rd WICKED BLUE (#6, 5-1) just won when first on this dirt and goes for the leading barn. This gelding gets good race flow if all stay in. HH gets a leg up but we don't see this barn use him all that often (11% locally). Recent work bodes well and notice that connections find a spot where this guy can't be claimed. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:26 AQU 8th FANCY AZTECA (#8, 5-1) was very green in that MSW debut last November when never involved at a big price; was much more clued in last time when showing up with speed on the drop and putting away a pace rival before running away from odds-on Cookie Crumbs in the stretch; cuts back off the claim and drew well on the outside. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:35 TUP 7th TOIL AND TROUBLE (#3, 8-1) goes third off the layoff and gets back to routing. He has hit the exacta in three of four starts going a flat mile. Lopez keeps the call and this guy drops a notch in class all while drawing fine. Beaten favorite angle for those that like that. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:07 TUP 8th RONALD R (#6, 5-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets