DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, April 15, 2020
With most other North American sports being shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, we hope the sport of horse racing can entertain you during these trying times. 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.
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1:30 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 3rd race – SPEEDING STARLET (#4, 9-2) was hurt by a wide post and a wide trip in her latest, a sprint, but she should get a better set up today as she stretches back out to a route, which may be her best game; tactical speed should mean she's well spotted off the pacesetters from the start. – Kenny Peck
3:30 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 7th race – FOG WARNING (#4, 7-2) has improved in two starts since moving to the barn of Arnoud Dobber, and the seven furlongs of this race looks right for him. He was second best at this $16,000 claiming nonwinners-of-two level last time out when he was outfinished by favorite Sir Higgins, who has since come back to be second in a $16,000 nonwinners of three. The third-place finisher in Fog Warning’s last race, Will Runaway, returned to win an $8,000 nonwinners of two. – Jim Dunleavy
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3:30 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 7th race – JACK B WINKLE (#9, 9-2) had little chance to get position in his local debut and first start for high-percentage trainer Darien Rodriguez last time out, drawing the widest slot in an 11-horse field in a sprint that was loaded with pace; better race flow and drop into a claimer for nonwinners of two from an optional claimer will move him up here. – Kenny Peck
4 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 8th race – SMARTY CAT (#10, 12-1) makes his second start off an intermediate layoff, and that is an exceptional angle for trainer Ned Allard, who has won with a couple of recent runners under these circumstances, but he also scored with this angle in years past. This filly is widest here, but she does appear to be the main speed in this field, and she can steal this if able to shake loose in the opening stages. – Kenny Peck
5:45 p.m. Eastern Will Rogers Downs 8th race – TAVNER (#7, 5-1) was second over some of these last out and would seem to have reason to move forward here, in his second start since November. – Mary Rampellini
6:45 p.m. Eastern Will Rogers Downs 10th race – GOLDEN LULLABYE (#3, 4-1) was favored against steeper last out and owns competitive Beyer Speed Figures. – Mary Rampellini
6:48 p.m. Eastern Fonner Park 5th race – CLASSY AND FAST (#1, 5-1) has speed, will be making her third start following a six-month layoff, and drops into this conditioned $5,000 claimer out of a decent effort for $10,000. – Jim Dunleavy
7:15 p.m. Eastern Fonner Park 6th race – CHICKES DONE (#9, 6-1) has more speed than she showed when third nine days ago after breaking awkwardly. She raced very wide on the far turn of that race but was moving well late. The winner, Global Exchange, is in very sharp form. – Jim Dunleavy
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7:42 p.m. Eastern Fonner Park 7th race – I’M A RIVER (#3, 6-1) toward the end of his 2019 campaign, after being claimed by these connections, faced a bunch of horses far, far better than these. First-time Fonner, but look at the works. Oh, and here’s quite the stat: Trainer Kelli Martinez, last two years horses back from 80- to 200-day layoff returning in allowance company – 5 for 5, $10.12 ROI. – Marcus Hersh
8:36 p.m. Eastern Fonner Park 9th race – THETRASHMANSCOMING (#3, 10-1) looks like the only one who, all things being equal, can beat favored Mr. Tickle in the Dowd Mile. His 2019 peak high is enough to at least come close to winning this, and if he’s not physically compromised, he should be able to do more this year at age 4. The real dud two back at Oaklawn Park is concerning, but the late interest last time is encouraging, and he need not fall so far behind in the early stages. – Marcus Hersh