DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, October 5, 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.

12:56 LRL 2nd FLASH IS BACK (#7, 5-1) was outsprinted behind a quick pace in first start following 285-day layoff, remained covered up until midstretch, then ran on nicely for second behind favored Tall Order, a horse that returned finish third in a state-sired allowance at Pimlico with a 71 Beyer. Lone win in 2021 came in second start after 288 days on the bench, and it's nice to see the two workouts since the last race. Late-kicker could use some pace and race luck from the back. -Dan Illman | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:27 LRL 3rd SIPPIN' TIME (#10, 10-1) didn't do anything in two turf starts at Colonial, but perhaps getting to the dirt and dropping to this reduced class level will spur on some improvement. A half-brother won going a mile on dirt with a 76 Beyer, and the dam is a half-sister to stakes-placed dirt sprinter Coach Fridge (86 dirt Beyer). The second dam was stakes-placed routing on both dirt and turf (63 dirt Beyer). Barn went 4 for the last 16 (25%, $2.44 ROI) with juvenile maidens moving from turf to dirt. -Dan Illman | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:40 BAQ 3rd ANNA LUCIA (#8, 8-1) caught soft ground and a rated pace when finishing gamely in her turf debut at Delaware; bred for this (dam was a stakes winner on turf, as was her first foal - both trained by Clement) and is less exposed than the other logical contenders in this race. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

2:44 BAQ 5th CAERUS (#5, 10-1) earned a 78 Beyer winning on a wet track here back in January and held his form thereafter while racing at around this level; went out of town to make his first two starts back from the layoff in a two-week span in August, including an improved effort routing last time; good for here shipping back in as a new gelding. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:00 LRL 6th NAVY ADMIRAL (#3, 10-1) is out of a half-sister to Grade 1-winning turf miler Coffee Clique, multiple Grade 3-winning turf router Admission Office, Grade 2-placed turf router Royal Fury and stakes-placed turf sprinter Schoolofhardrocks (won debut, 93 turf Beyer). Barn sent out older debut winners Jack's Legend (11-1 odds) and Future Is Now (5-2 odds) in Colonial turf sprints in August. -Dan Illman | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:50 BAQ 7th MAJESTIC JOHNSON (#9, 6-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:22 BAQ 8th PURE PAULINE (#2, 6-1) was the lone firster in that field when chasing wide and only weakening late behind Vahva on debut last September; improved when stretched out in her second start, and she was in the mix for a long way before just missing second in a Grade 2 when last seen; Pletcher 7 for his last 14 with 3yo non-maidens first back from a 180+ day layoff routing on dirt ($3.96 ROI). -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:40 WO 3rd LOIS (#3, 4-1) was in fine Tapeta form under current pilot Kimura before a subpar showing at this level Sept. 10. The daughter of Silver Max is bred for the grass and could rebound in this experiment on the expansive main course. -Ron Gierkink | Bet this race with DRF Bets

7:40 WO 7th HALFINTHEWRAPPER (#1, 9-2) outran the other speed before fading late to second behind the hard-knocking Ima Beast in a shorter sprint at this $25K price Sept. 7, from which Jill exited to beat N1X/$32K foes with a 74 Beyer. In a field without another regular front-runner, she could make all the running under good speed rider Contreras. -Ron Gierkink | Bet this race with DRF Bets

10:55 RP 7th KOLKATA (#3, 9-2), who has seen steeper, adds a set of blinkers in what is a high percentage equipment move for Willis. This one also could be sitting on a peak race in her third start since last September. -Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets

11:51 RP 9th ANGEL KISS (#11, 5-1) has turned in competitive races in each of her starts at this level and is a logical choice back. On a pedigree point, she's from a multiple Grade 3-placed winner who ran out $159K. -Mary Rampellini | Bet this race with DRF Bets