DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Tuesday, July 4, 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.

2:09 BEL 3rd Looks like SAFE CONDUCT (#3, 4-1) just didn't have a very good winter / spring in Florida. For whatever its worth, he wore front bandages for his first start at Gulfstream, then ran very poorly April 2 and didn't work again until he returned to New York. Same thing happened in 2022! Poor race at GP, layoff, bounce right back to form at Belmont, where he wired an allowance race two Mays ago. Has other performances to validate that one and looks loose on the lead here. - Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

3:09 BEL 5th Only real opinion here is an anti involving Mistical Curlin. Trainer 1-8 with horses 4-1 or less coming off a win, 1-23 not accounting for price. The slop romp came out of nowhere, and no surprise if the horse regresses even below his previous form. CLASSIC MARK (#4, 4-1) took a moderate step back last time after two solid if unspectacular runs to start this form cycle. Did show a touch of early promise last year before the long layoff. Given some time since the $30K claim May 20 - that coupled with entry under starter conditions suggests trainer Rice & co. think the horse could be all right. Once had enough speed to stick with the second flight here. - Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

4:47 BEL 8th This race has fall-apart potential with all the pace factors signed on, and if it's open something running late, I'M BUZZY (#5, 12-1) holds some appeal at a price. Seems like the June 18 turf mile for about twice this tag was more than anything a stepping-stone to this spot, a race instead of workouts. Was claimed for this price two back, and the winning performance Feb. 25, even something close to it, would likely suffice here. Just a 4yo and has plausible excuses for the lesser recent showings. - Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

5:15 PLN 2nd DUPLICATION (#4, 5-2) starts for his lowest class level in this $16,000 claimer for non-winners of two at 1 1-16 miles and seems poised to end a two-race losing streak from off the pace. Duplication ran in that manner when he won a maiden race at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields in April. He was an unlucky fourth on May 26 and faced a tougher field when seventh of eight on June 10. Duplication was not aggressively ridden when beaten in the stretch of the latter race. - Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race

6:15 PLN 4th In an active season, LORD WIMBORNE (#2, 6-1) has won twice in eight starts in conditional $4,000 claimers around two turns and now must do so in an open $4,000 claimer. The 7-year-old gelding should have a pace to follow to aid his closing style. He won a conditional $4,000 claimer from well off the pace on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields on May 7, but was only fifth of six when ambitiously tried in a $12,500 claimer on turf on May 26. - Steve Andersen | Get PPs for this race

6:30 LRC 6th PERFECT D (#5, 9-2) has held superb form from March 2022 into this winter, all of which was established on this track, both the short and long course. After that busy run he got some time off, returns here off the freshening with an encouraging price bump. His speed can have him forwardly placed from the start. - Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race

8:00 LRC 9th ELM DRIVE (#1, 7-2) showed loads of promise as a 2yo and early as a 3yo including being 3rd in this race last year. Her form tailed off but after a vacation she's come back seemingly better than ever. Her speed can have her in it from the start and a bunch of big works since her good turf stakes win at SA May 20 says she's doing well. - Michael Hammersly | Get PPs for this race