DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, July 2, 2020
With most other North American sports being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, we hope the sport of horse racing can entertain you during these trying times. 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.
1:15 BEL 1st LA KARA MIA (#2, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).
1:50 BEL 2nd HONORABLE HERO (#6, 8-1) sprinted off the layoff vs. a good field, now stretches out to a better distance while dropping in class for his second start back; held solid form through the second half of last year for these connections and his tactical speed can have him in a good spot here in a race without much pace. -Mike Beer
3:14 ELP 4th RUNABILITY (#5, 10-1) might or might not have abilty - we sure don't know after a career debut where he started poorly and after being sharply steered to the rail really never had a chance to do any running until the eighth pole after being steadied at least twice. At the expected price, I'll guess there's a little there, there. - Marcus Hersh
3:45 WO 1st OXESOME (#1, 3-1) checked in second ahead of Vinyasa when returning to action in a lesser seven-furlong sprint. She broke her maiden around two turns, and has the second-time Lasix angle going for her in this $15K NW2 route. -Ron Gierkink
3:59 BEL 6th EDGE OF FIRE (#4, 9-2) made an impressive debut to easily overpower maidens sprinting and he has face a pair of tough fields since down at Gulfstream; Curlin colt ships up with the pedigree go on and he has the tactical speed to get any kind of trip. -Mike Beer
3:59 BEL 6th MISTER WINSTON (#3, 7-2) got back to work not too long after winning debut, where he had to overcome traffic during the early and middle stages before swinging very wide for a solid winning outside bid, followed by encouraging gallop out. Bred much more for this route than that sprint, and while I like Creed, he got a great setup on a wet track last time and is likely to be overbet here. - Marcus Hersh
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4:32 BEL 7th NICODEMUS (#6, 6-1) returned from the layoff on turf and showed surprising early speed in that spot, while was likely just a prep for a return to dirt; has landed in a strong field for the level but he is stakes-quality at his best and this distance suits him, perhaps more than some of the others. -Mike Beer
5:40 ELP 9th COUNTRY TIME (# 2, 6-1) could easily go to post higher than the listed odds and brings a strong top-and-bottom turf pedigree along with an encouraging work pattern into career debut. - Marcus Hersh
6:15 WO 6th SALIERI (#2, 8-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink).
6:40 CBY 3rd LONDON LEGACY (#6, 9-2) goes third off the layoff and drops in class. This gelding should trip out best as there is a lot of speed in this race. What if 5 1/2 furlongs is this gelding's favorite distance. Horse for course has hit the exacta in 11 of 13 local starts. We even like this outside post. -Scott Ehlers
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6:45 WO 7th RAPID BEAT (#4, 6-1) was a front-running third in two turf sprints last year, including a five-furlong dash on the inner course. The son of Souper Speedy has been working fast at Penn National, and could take some catching in his first start since the fall. -Ron Gierkink
7:10 CBY 4th LETS PARDI MARTI (#2, 12-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).
7:15 WO 8th JERSEY DIAMOND (#2, 10-1) is by the under-rated 14% first-out sire Jersey Town, and the Ky-bred is a full-brother to two winners, including one who scored at first asking. The gray/roan has worked quickly for a trainer who can have one ready. -Ron Gierkink
7:40 CBY 5th BOBBY BOOTS (#5, 12-1) is by a 8% debut sire. His dam went 2-0-0-0. All 6 sibs beat winners including a 2YO debut winner. All 6 sibs earned at least 100K. Works are well spaced. -Scott Ehlers