DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, January 20, 2022
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.
12:59 GP 2nd A bunch of speed signed on in this synth sprint for N3L types might well melt down in favor of a closer such as QIAN B C (#6, 8-1), who adds blinks in his first try for new trainer Drexler; NY-bred with a smidg of class sure seems to fit well for this $16k tag and the 'beaten' condition; well-timed move from Bridgmo is on order. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:10 LRL 5th Want to give LEGS LIKE SHACK (#4, 8-1) another chance cutting back in distance, dropping to the bottom and adding Lasix. Faced a solid group for the quarter in dirt debut as the winner returned to place in a $25,000 claimer with a 57 Beyer. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:18 AQU 4th TOUGH WORKOUT (#8, 4-1) dropped to the lowest level yet last month and came through with the best dirt effort of his career while settling for third after contesting a fast pace all the way; nicely drawn outside of the other speed in this matchup as he tries again. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:05 GP 6th First Lasix and new blinks and the two-turn stretchout could find STRAIGHT TIME (#6, 12-1) a danger out front following those 2 disappointing sprints; faces some unknown quantities here in the uncoupled Chad duo, among others, but feel fairly confident he'll have every chance to show what he can do given the additional ground. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:11 LRL 7th The best race from MUGSY MALONE (#6, 12-1) came with Lasix two starts back and perhaps the excuse for his disappointing local debut is that he didn't race with the anti-bleeding medication. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:20 AQU 6th Thought ORB IN THE TOWER (#6, 10-1) ran better than it looks on debut before missing a lot of time, and he came back to break his maiden first time on the stretch out and first time for a tag when moved to turf; earned a career-best 75 Beyer when making it two in a row back in dirt for this tag; dropping back down and turf to dirt again in a race without a ton of pace. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:37 GP 7th DIAL TO WIN (#3, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Marty McGee). | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:41 LRL 8th MY WAY OR ELSE (#5, 8-1) might offer a little bit of value as she's hit the board in her last six starts and goes out for low-profile barn. Lack of early speed is a concern in a race without much pace, but she ran pretty well at Penn National last month. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
3:50 AQU 7th TIMED OUT (#7, 10-1) isn't fast enough to win this based on her six dirt starts to date, though she was technically a juvenile in every one of those races so improvement might still be ahead of her at this point; loomed then weakened late in her lone prior run over this distance last January, but she bounced right back with an improved effort before going to the sidelines. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:20 AQU 8th CROSTATA B C (#7, 12-1) makes his debut with Lasix on for Englehart, who is more than capable with horses like this - past five years, first-time starter, dirt, sprint: 11 for 75, 15%, $1.96 ROI, 4 for 28 at AQU in that sample (14%, $2.78 ROI); winning dam has dropped three other foals to this point, all of them multiple winners, and they all ran well on debut. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:39 LRL 10th TRIGZ TOO (#6, 10-1) has excuses for both double-digit defeats. Broke poorly in career debut, was steadied along the rail on the turn and couldn't make up needed ground against a field that included Mailman's a Flyer (next-out runner-up for the $40,000 waiver with a 64 Beyer). Got away better last time, battled outside through fast fractions and paid the price. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:42 GP 9th Calling it a day by forgetting alll about the 12/3 turf debacle in NY from MATTY'S EXPRESS (#4, 8-1) and looking for him to come alive again with KJB moving him over to the synth while dropping him a couple notches down the claiming ladder; some of his better summer efforts would seem to do here. -Marty McGee | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
6:55 YR (Harness) 1st PONDER THE ODDS (#2, 2/1) returns to Yonkers tonight. She's had quite a bit of success here in the past and was facing NW15000L5's when last seen locally. – Greg Reinhart | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
10:00 WBS (Harness) 10th LUCKY LEONARD (#8, 4/1) was airborne late in the mile two starts back and he got hammered at the windows last week off that effort. He was used hard early, which took its toll. His price should be better tonight; stalking trip coming this time? – Garnet Barnsdale | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets