DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, October 19, 2023

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.

12:35 BAQ 1st DREAMING OF MO (#1, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

12:56 LRL 2nd BY ITS ABSENCE (#5, 6-1) usually breaks a bit awkwardly as evidenced by his start for $20,000 earlier in the month. Broke inward from the rail, rushed up to prompt from the rail, was outpaced into the pocket, then finished evenly without threatening. Halves in claiming price, and might attempt more patient tactics. -Dan Illman | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:00 KEE 1st RAYMOND (#4, 8-1) looks like value in this conditioned claiming sprint, especially for lesser-known connections. Claimed for this $20K tag and never dipped below that price, and his lone KEE start suggests this surface works for him. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:04 KEE 3rd Was with stakes and allowance horses, not claimers, but saw trainer L Schultz turn around a few horses earlier this year that were new to her barn, and STORMY EMPIRE (#4, 20-1) only joined the stable after the Sept. 3 race in Chicago. Blinkers off, one slow work - like it - they're taking their time, figuring this 7yo out. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:36 KEE 4th HEARTBREAKER (#8, 6-1) won sprinting at the KEE '23 spring meet for a similar claiming price, albeit in a conditioned rather than an open claimer, and on the class drop second after a mid-term layoff, expect him to go straight to the front and take a clear lead into the short stretch - and no one among this group might be up to catching him. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:31 LRL 7th WISH ME HOME (#10, 6-1) scored in first off the Russell claim in a race where they ran 1-2 all the way around. Set the pace outside, tried to shake clear through a quick third quarter of 23.54, and held firm to the wire. Tried similar tactics in the restricted Find Stakes (third quarter of 23.75), and was only beaten three-quarters by millionaire Field Pass (sixth-finisher returned to run second in the Ben's Cat with an 86 Beyer. -Dan Illman | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:40 KEE 6th Don't think MAILMAN MONEY (#2, 8-1) is a turf horse, and wonder if connections that claimed him for $50K three back really think that themselves, the two grass races since that claim perhaps merely a holding pattern up to a suitable dirt spot - namely, this one. Was second in this same kind of race three starts ago and would be great value at anything close to the morning line. -Marcus Hersh | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:22 BAQ 8th PERSONAL PURSUIT (#7, 6-1) made her turf debut over course and distance in last year's Matron, where she did not get a great trip and ran a lot better than it looks; finally returned to sprinting on turf last time and dusted allowance rivals at Woodbine with a 90 Beyer; this is tougher but she might have found her calling as a turf sprinter and she was handily-placed last time. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:40 WO 1st REMEMBERING RHODA (#2, 6-1) captured both of her races going five-eighths on the inner turf, including her maiden victory under Crawford. The closer has speed to chase in this NW3 dash and could be along in time at a price. -Ron Gierkink | Bet this race with DRF Bets

7:08 WO 6th BUTTERED TOAST (#3, 10-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Ron Gierkink). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

9:03 RP 3rd TAP N PLAY (#9, 8-1) meets winners for the first time, but owns the field's best last-race Beyer Speed Figure. -Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets