DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, March 21, 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.

1:20 AQU 1st THE DELAWARE BOYZ (#3, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer).

3:10 GP 5th EYES ON TARGET (#2, 8-1) comes off game win last time battling back to victory after getting shuffled to last on the turn, the race ultimately producing pair of next out winners including also ran Katanka who beat this same kind with 88 Beyer in next outing. Should be able to sit just off what figures to be a pretty honest pace scenario. -Mike Welsch

3:27 AQU 5th PERLIANO (#3, 6-1) broke his maiden over a wet, sealed track but he did not appear to care for that wet surface last time when showing only brief speed before being wrapped up early; prior form makes him a nice fit here and he might rate the benefit of the doubt for a hot trainer. -Mike Beer

3:40 GP 6th DAVID'S ROSE (#5, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Welsch).

4:00 AQU 6th SIN NOMBRE (#3, 8-1) was improving steadily leading up to that maiden win last time, where he ran even better than it looks to overcome a bad stumble at the start to gain a share of the victory with favored Good Reunion; Handal 6 for his last 22 (27%) with last-out maiden winners ($4.59 ROI). -Mike Beer

4:21 TUP 3rd A BIT MUCH (#1, 12-1) has speed and draws inside all while going second off the layoff. Where is the other speed? There is some drawn outside but not that much so a pace advantage can be had with a decent break. -Scott Ehlers

4:50 OP 7th READY FOR TROUBLE (#9, 9-2) and HITTIN MY STRIDE exit a key race, with the winner coming back to account for the Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn and the runner-up, the Purple Martin at Oaklawn. -Mary Rampellini

5:02 AQU 8th JEMOGRAPHY (#6, 5-1) took a tough beat when contesting the pace and just getting nailed in the slop three starts back; ran another good one when dropped back down last time, but was once again aggressively ridden and wound up getting closed down late; going good now and is capable of sitting off horses if required. -Mike Beer

5:22 OP 8th ONE WAY OR ANOTHER (#9, 5-1) has more natural speed than most of these in what could give her a tactical advantage. -Mary Rampellini

6:43 TUP 8th TOP OF MY GAME (#11, 6-1) is feeling good. He cuts back to an elongated sprint where he has won before. This colt draws the attack post for the distance and goes second out for new barn. We like that this colt has a recent work. This barn is 22% going route to sprint and 24% with horses that won their last race. -Scott Ehlers