DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, June 11, 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.

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2:23 BEL 3rd PRINCIPAL DANCER (#9, 8-1) has to improve to pick up his second career win here but he remains lightly-raced and is meeting a field that is mostly exposed at this point; disappointed in his first start vs. other winners last time but ran well in the mud two back when wide all the way and then came back to take a nice step forward while easily defeating maidens. -Mike Beer

2:55 BEL 4th CREED (#8, 3-1) showed some sharp mid-race acceleration in his career debut at TAM, which, unfortunately, led to him running up on heels, getting checked about the three-eighths pole, after which he had to await room. Strong run to wire and beaten only by horse who got major jump on him in what probably in the end was 7f practice for this route race. – Marcus Hersh

3:59 BEL 6th WINGS OF FURY (#6, 5-1) improve upon switching to turf and stretching out for Stidham at Fair Grounds and did so while showing improved speed on this surface; got the wrong ride last time when taking a strong hold to concede the early lead and should be turned loose early in her first start off the claim. -Mike Beer

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4:14 WO 2nd NO QUESTION (#6, 6-1) didn't show a whole lot over the winter on the dirt in the mid-Atlantic region, and is back on the surface on which she graduated. This jockey-trainer combo clicked last Sunday, and Wilson led the standings through opening weekend. -Ron Gierkink

5:36 BEL 9th ADVENTIST (#9, 9-2) has a closing style that leaves him at a disadvantage but he has come back around with longer distances over the last six months, winning a Grade 3 impressively over a pair of solid horses and then running well in three straight races in NY, including his Bernardini win last time with a late burst of speed; seems likely to be overlooked a bit here for the wrong reasons. -Mike Beer

6:08 BEL 10th MOPOLKA (#2, 6-1) debuted sprinting on dirt earlier this year and raced very greenly in that spot while appearing to need the race; switches to grass on the drop and has some pedigree being by excellent turf sire Uncle Mo and out of a dam who won three times on turf in her career with a 91 Beyer top on this surface. -Mike Beer

6:10 CBY 2nd COOL EDGE (#8, 9-2) drops in class but for this barn that is a no big deal. The blinkers go ON and we like that more than anything as team Diodoro is 31% with first time blinkers. Outside post and Arrieta up are two more positives. Recent work was sharp. -Scott Ehlers

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6:15 WO 6th CAPTAIN HANDSOME (#5, 3-1) and SOUPER HOT (#4, 10-1) finished second and fourth, respectively, in a key five-furlong dash at this level Dec. 6, from which the winner exited to double up in an N1X (78 Beyer). The former has been working fast, and the latter retains leading rider Wilson. -Ron Gierkink

6:40 CBY 3rd DIVA DE KELA (#8, 8-1) just ran a Beyer top and now goes third off the layoff. The inside two are very quick and that might set the table for this stalker. In her most recent, this filly beat 11 foes at Will Rogers where the racing was much better due to Covid. -Scott Ehlers

7:15 WO 8th REAL CHOPPER (#6, 10-1) ran up the track in her $25K debut in November. She's worked quickly for this much easier $7.5K claimer, and has probably found her proper place in the scheme of things. The blinkers come off and the 10-pound bug Alderson has the mount. -Ron Gierkink

7:17 EvD 2nd SILENT TRICK (#7, 6-1) meets older rivals, but she's fared well against such foes in the past and has recency on some of these with the March start at Fair Grounds. As for turf, her lone race on the grass came at two turns and she's done her best work to date at the one turn configuration of this race. -Mary Rampellini

8:40 CBY 7th AWESOME EMMIT (#5, 12-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).

8:40 CBY 7th TIN BADGE (#10, 15-1) ran well enough four back in first start for this trainer to win a race like this. Returned on short rest in his following start, tried to get a mile after that, was back from a long break last time, meaning there’s obscured, contending form. Against the shorter prices in the CBY feature. – Marcus Hersh

9:59 EvD 8th TENSAS THOUGHT (#1, 12-1) leaves the Louisiana-bred ranks behind, but the winner of the race she exits has had Grade 2 success at Saratoga and the runner-up, stakes success at Oaklawn. Further, the move back to turf is interesting here as the last time this one ran on the grass she was a winner over the local course and equaled her best Beyer Speed Figure. That number, a 77, is the best career number in the field Thursday. -Mary Rampellini

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