DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, September 9, 2021

12:53 KD 2nd MISS MAMBA (#3, 8-1) gets a pass for the off-turf showing last out, first off the claim, and strongly suspect she’ll run more like she did in her career debut and second start than in the poor third outing. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

2:56 GP 5th GOODBYE GABY (#5, 9-2) just missed at this level two back and then faded when favored after chasing a wicked pace for $20K in her first start after the claim by Passley. Nice work Aug. 26, blinkers go on, and she could be the one they have to run down if she gets the jump on Acting Lucky. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race

3:01 KD 4th SIR ROBERTO (#6, 8-1) didn’t have an easy trip from post 1 when he won his career debut last year over the local course. Looks like a lot of hiccups since, with only two subsequent race, but now he gets to race for the second time without a break for the first time in his career, and class drops into an N2L claimer while returning to the site of his top performance. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

3:27 GP 6th NO GETTING OVER ME (#2, 8-1) was trying turf for the first time and coming off a lengthy layoff when he forced the issue before tiring to finish a close fifth at this level July 31. Easy to imagine him moving forward with the experience behind him and it is encouraging to see the leading rider keep the faith. -Randy Goulding | Get PPs for this race

3:43 LRL 7th U S CONSTITUTION (#4, 8-1) made the front when dropped in for $30,000 at Monmouth, then always found more in the stretch to pull off a 10 to 1 upset. Don’t think that was the strongest field in the world, but he’s sharp right now and can get close to the pace once more. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

4:15 LRL 8th Stakes-placed ERAWAN (#3, 8-1) might be racing himself back into shape as he now makes the fourth start following a 160-day layoff and he goes turf to dirt route for barn that is 5 for the last 9 (56%, $6 ROI) with that move. Lack of early speed worked against him in both sprint tries this form cycle as he’s been outrun along the rail before finishing with mild interest. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

4:31 GP 8th DADDY’S JOY (#4, 7-2) is a DRF Best Bet (Randy Goulding). | Get PPs for this race

4:41 KD 7th Will guess this race unfolds at a demanding early and middle pace. Like MUCHA MEZQUINA (#4, 8-1) some in a vacuum and if my pace interpretation is accurate she rates an even stronger edge. Draw a line through the recent dirt start and her current form is plenty strong. She won a two-turn allowance last summer and always is coming late in the shorter turf sprints - should love this configuration. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

4:48 LRL 9th WHITEKNUCKLEFLYER (#9, 8-1) gave an even performance in career debut on dirt when fourth behind sharp Petition Prayer, a next-out entry-level allowance winner on turf at Colonial with a 65 Beyer. Half-sister to juvenile stakes-placed dirt sprinter Fly Girl (a winner on turf) is out of a dam that won twice on the sod. Bullet gate work leading up to this. -Dan Illman | Get PPs for this race

5:15 KD 8th Of course you have to be concerned with THE CONNECTOR (#7, 6-1) coming back on such short rest and on a ship from NJ, and one wonders why owner-trainer (Hoffman hauls his own horses, too - or used to) didn’t just await this spot. But if the horse can handle the schedule he can definitely win this. The 6.5f seems perfect for his ability. He showed he can kind of stay a route beating lesser at CNL but sprinting is his forte and 5 or 5.5f races just are too sharp for his turn of foot. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

8:10 CBY 5th NORTHCUT (#6, 6-1) is the value. This guy just ran a Beyer top at 10-1. Although he won gate to wire this race has more pace so expect an off the pace try which is fine. Some horses just respond well to certain riders and we think that is the case today with Hernandez up. This guy is only a 5YO so perhaps he isn’t done improving (turf breeding is quite good if that helps). -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race

8:40 CBY 6th DON’T BOX ME IN (#5, 5-1) is by a 13% debut sire. His dam went 5-0-0-0. Both sibs beat winners including a debut 2YO winner. Works are well spaced all for a barn that is 23% with debut types. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this races

10:10 CBY 9th K C’S FIRST B M W (#9, 8-1) is by a 6% debut sire. His dam went 6-1-1-0 and earned 31K. Of 4 sibs to race, 3 won and 2 beat winners. Works are perfect even if at Prairie Meadows. Homebred finds a nice spot. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race