DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, March 19, 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.

1:30 GP 2nd The Gulfstream morning line lists DILLON ROCKS (#5, 3-1) as the third choice in this unusually short field of mid-priced maiden-claiming turf routers, but it seems more likely he’ll be a tick or two shorter when making his first start since being claimed by Jane Cibelli (and that’s okay, since you can leverage him as a key link in all the early multi-race wagers). Sure, he’s 0-for-14 lifetime, but most of his races have come in more difficult maiden-special company, and besides, the two other listed favorites are a combined 0 for 21. Cibelli tends to do her best work with grass types, and not only does this colt stand to benefit from his needed Feb. 28 start, but he also could dominate from the outset in a lineup noticeably void of speed. -Marty McGee

2:00 GP 3rd Forgive the last-out mess when FRANCO’S TEAM (#6, 7-2) was going to try going long, and suddenly he’s a major contender when favorably drawn in this short field of midlevel mdn.-claiming 3yo turf sprinters. Came alive in the December off-turf race, then confirmed he’s ready and willing when a solid third 3 weeks later; latest an abberation to overlook. -Marty McGee

2:30 OP 1st LIPPY (#5, 7-2) moves back to the main track for her first start since January and she’s registered both of her career wins on the main track. -Mary Rampellini

3:03 GP 5th A new barn and new blinkers for PALACE KID (#4, 3-1), who jams right back for the quarter after finishing an okay 3rd at 2-1 at this same level pre-Fawkes; handy type liable to scoot right to the fore at once. -Marty McGee

3:26 OP 3rd HOPTOWN HONEY (#4, 5-1) has hooked some quality winners in each of her starts at the meet. The race she exits went quite quick. -Mary Rampellini

3:34 GP 6th Veteran trainer David Braddy is a central figure in this open claiming sprint for 3yo fillies. Not only does he have a major contender in DOMINEER (#6, 9-2), a game twoback winner over the local course, but he also had NAPA RULES (#4, 3-1) claimed from him when sweeping the exacta in a Super Bowl Sunday race; clearly would like to see the former turn the tables on the latter, which seems eminently doable. -Marty McGee

4:23 OP 5th COLLUDE (#6, 5-2) was a good third against similar last out and could be sitting on a peak effort in her third start since July. -Mary Rampellini

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4:36 GP 8th YOUSHOULDBESOLUCKY (#6, 4-1) took a brief timeout after the Jan. 12 clunker for a higher tag, and now he figures to contend when back in for this N2L-$16k condition, especially with a sufficient amount of early goers signed on to set the table; mid-pack stalking trip from Paco is on order. -Marty McGee

4:52 OP 6th TOP BRASS (#10, 10-1) was a flat seventh Feb. 8 in his OP debut, but only needs to get back to his August and October SoCal performance level to contend. Trainer J Sadler during this OP meet is a strong 2-4-3 in 10 claiming races, and two of the place horses were 8-1 and 13-1. Favorable trip seems possible. – Marcus Hersh

5:38 GP 10th Rail post and a subtle class drop puts MYSTICAL MOON (#1, 7-2) in the thick of the finale as this Malibu Moon gelding makes the third start of his form cycle; eligible to produce himself in the upper stretch after a ground-saving stalking trip. -Marty McGee

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5:51 OP 8th STREET TO INDY (#8, 15-1) shortens up some to a mile and the last time he raced at the distance he was a big winner, earning a career high Beyer Figure of 93. The score came over the local strip, and note the runner-up and third-place finisher were to start as top contenders one race earlier on the Thursday card at Oaklawn. -Mary Rampellini

8:12 TP 5th HEAVEN ESCAPE (#8, 5-1) went from a closing route horse to a front-running sprinter coming back from a layoff in her most recent start. How? Possible that she really just loved the synthetic in her first try over it. Positive class rise with interim works. –Marcus Hersh

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