DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, January 5, 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.

1:40 GP 4th UNDOUBTEDLY (#7, 6-1) was bet down to 2-1 before spinning her wheels in the slop after a tardy start in her Nov. 12 debut at Churchill. The half-sister Fearless, a multiple G3 winner here, and stakes winner Just Whistle is sent out by Mott, who had a 20% strike rate with maiden second-timers adding Lasix over the past five years ($2.11 ROI). -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race

2:15 GP 5th RED TIARA (#8, 5-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Get PPs for this race

2:16 AQU 4th SARATOGA STRONG (#5, 6-1) debuted sprinting for twice this price last month and was very green in the early part of that race while getting outrun and climbing badly; leveled into a bit of a run around the turn before failing to make a late impact; appeared to really need that run and he has the pedigree to appreciate this longer distance for an excellent trainer, who makes wholesale changes for the second start. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

3:14 GP 7th BLUE TIMES (#1, 10-1) came up empty after failing to grab her preferred position on the lead when returning from a break in a one-mile N1X a month ago. She could shake loose up front and never look back in this 1 1/2-mile N1X/optional claimer under the barn's go-to rider Vasquez. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race

3:16 AQU 6th MASON MANIA (#2, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Get PPs for this race

3:23 TUP 5th GRAZE STONE (#7, 8-1) is by a 11% debut sire. His dam went 16-2-5-3 and earned 124K. Of 7 sibs to race, 6 won and all 6 beat winners. Three sibs earned more than 100K (one 2YO debut winner). Works are well spaced. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

3:45 AQU 7th EASY TO BLESS (#2, 6-1) got good as a 3yo in 2021 to just miss winning six straight races while steadily rising in class; carried that good form into the first half of last year and won a couple of races with 90 Beyers, which led her connections to try a pair if graded races before the layoff; was briefly steadied behind horses last time before flattening out late in a useful return run. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race

4:14 GP 9th THE PENINSULA (#10, 15-1) is cheapening up off a wide eighth-place finish and could make some noise as a longshot in his second start off the bench. Meah sent out two live runners from as many starters during the first week of the meet. -Ron Gierkink | Get PPs for this race

4:22 TUP 7th FIRECRACKER STAND (#6, 6-1) will try and be the speed of the speed just like he did only two back. We like that new barn keeps regular rider. Tough luck barn has only won once in seventeen starts but have hit the board nine times. This gelding draws outside main pace foes. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

4:52 TUP 8th LINEMANS CHECK (#4, 5-1) just ran OK off the claim but that was sprinting whereas this is routing. He is best going a flat mile (14-5-4-1). First call rider gets a leg up and is 30% for team Evans. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race