DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, July 18, 2024

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.

1:10 SAR 1st BERNIETAKESCHARGE (#2, 10-1) broke her maiden by open lengths going a mile over this track as a 2yo; has mostly been kept in the stakes ranks in her dirt starts since, and won the only time she was entered in her available condition; contends if she can stretch out. -Mike Beer

3:27 SAR 5th STINGY (#1, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).

4:02 SAR 6th GOOD CONDUCT (#7, 8-1) is bred for turf on both sides of her pedigree but has been breezing steadily on the main track leading up to the debut; DeVaux is off to a good start at the meet and has excellent numbers with horses like this from a limited sample - 2yo, first time starter, turf, sprint: 4 for her last 8, $6.39 ROI. -Mike Beer

5:23 WO 2nd GRAINGER COUNTY (#9, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).

5:45 SAR 9th WRIGLEYVILLE (#7, 15-1) was likely prepping in the sprint debut considering her pedigree, and she ran well in that spot anyway while doing some chasing and holding her ground to the wire; easily made the lead and never gave that MSW field a chance last time while finding strongly in the lane; well-bred filly has forward to go and might be a very fair price in this field. -Mike Beer

7:58 WO 7th SHARP FLAME (#4, 5-1) landed on the edges in both of her turf starts at the meet on different courses against much tougher, ending up fourth most recently behind Woodbine Oaks contender Hurricane Clair. She merits top billing in this 7 1/2-furlong inner turf tilt with Munger back riding for Flint, a productive combo. -Ron Gierkink

8:27 WO 8th HOME FOR A REST (#10, 10-1) dueled for the early lead before fading to fifth when descending to $25K NW2 company in her second appearance off the sidelines. She's continuing her slide down the value ladder and could track the other speed before making a winning bid with the leading bug Vives back aboard. -Ron Gierkink