DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, January 12, 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 HEART BOY (#2, 7-2) liable to trip out perfectly under Vasquez when saving ground on the stalk from the get-go; he, like all but one of his rivals, he gets first-time Lasix as a newly turned 3yo (a very common sight as the year unfolds, btw); sitting on a career first. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race
12:40 GP 2nd Last couple of seasons weren't all that productive for OUR COUNTRY (#2, 10-1), and the lone attempt off the Hennig claim was a clunker, but he's eligible for a mild surprise here after taking 8 weeks of regrouping and returning to his preferred surface; comes favorably drawn when shedding the blinkers following a trio of local drills; back class can help carry the day. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race
1:47 AQU 3rd MR. PETE (#4, 8-1) got wired by Lohengrin Two going shorter two back; went to Penn National last time and finished gamely to just fall short; ran well in all three starts over this track early last year and might have some pace in front of him here. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
1:58 TUP 2nd WILLOWMYGIRL (#4, 4-1) goes third off the layoff, lures the top jock, drops in class, draws fine, gets some pace to chase, and figures a good price. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
2:38 GP 6th PALLOTTA SISTERS (#6, 6-1) flew a long way for nothing when failing to make any sort of any impact in the Jimmy Durante when saddled with the tricky one-hole, but that was a legit G3 with a full field, and things can play out differently here; might well have to be hustled to reach early contention, but that seems doable, even with all the other speed in here; nod in what is clearly one of the deepest races of the day. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race
2:45 AQU 5th MIDNIGHT ROSIE (#6, 4-1) caught a sloppy track and stayed on the outside all the way after getting away last, then weakened late in a race that was dominated up close; drops for the second start and rates the benefit of the doubt for the debut. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
3:38 TUP 5th LINCHTOWN (#2, 6-1) is just better of late. If you toss that first turf attempt three back then he looks even better. He gets good race flow and should sit off the speeds and trip out well. As good as his most recent was, notice that he broke 9th of 12 that day but still ran well. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race
3:45 AQU 7th CARAGATE (#4, 4-1) earned a new top figure when winning convincingly over this distance at Saratoga in July, and she matched that 79 Beyer when clearing her second-level condition last time with Lasix back on; shows up every time and might fall into a trip here with some speed signed on. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race
4:06 GP 9th Exiting a 5-panel turf race, BOY O' BOY (#8, 4-1) can load-n-go from his outside post when showing more speed than usual in this Thursday nightcap; gray guy has shown late interest in all 3 priors, so putting himself into the right spot before moving along could send everybody home a winner. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race
4:34 TUP 7th CATABILITY (#3, 6-1) missed a Beyer top by one point in his last race and that was only his second start for his new barn. What if this guy just likes it here? The leading rider stays put and that will help this guy with his early positioning. He draws fine and goes for a barn that shows a flat bet profit on the dirt, in sprints, and with their claimers. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race