DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, April 8, 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.

1:30 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Downs 3rd race BAREBACK FUN (#1, 4-1) didn't break well in that first start versus winners and that cost her, as that was not a race that was loaded with speed to start with and the fractions were subsequently slow. She should get a much improved race flow in this sprint, and that figures to move her up as long as she gets away cleanly from the rail, which is an admitted concern. – Kenny Peck

2 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Downs 4th race FINEST JEWEL (#9, 6-1) might be the deceptive main speed under jockey Gary Wales, who figures to have this filly in the game from the start with the addition of blinkers. There's not a great deal of speed in this field and she was close to a decent tempo in that last one, her first start against winners. – Kenny Peck

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2:30 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Downs 5th race KATIE FALOONA (#10, 5-1) ran a strong race for the show in her latest, as she was well off the early pace and then closed well despite encountering traffic off the turn and again in midstretch, an effort all the more impressive given the fact that she was against the race flow. She was disqualified and placed fifth for coming over sharply and impeding a rival on the backstretch, but with a fast, contested pace upfront and a clean trip she should be able to make the last run here, likely at a square price. – Kenny Peck

3 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Downs 6th race BETTER YET (#8, 8-1) was behind a couple of these same runners in their last meeting, but that was a race where the top two finishers, ITSAGIMME'S GIRL and SHES DYNOMITE, were the only two speeds in the race and controlled the tempo from the start. BETTER YET ran quite well to close for the show in that race, and with a much different race flow likely on tap today she can turn the tables, likely at a nice price. – Kenny Peck

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3 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Downs 6th race BARREL OF DESTINY (#4, 7-2) takes a major drop to what should be a suitable level and will get a nice pace setup to close into behind It’sagimmes Girl and Shes Dynomite, who figure to keep each other honest on the front end just as they did in their last starts. – Jim Dunleavy

4 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Downs 8th race CLEAR AS SKY (#3, 7-2) threw in a dull effort last out at 2-1, but Mike Stidham has worked him twice since, including a half-mile bullet, and he fits well here off a representative effort. The Christophe Clement first-timer Gaelic Gold and the Shug McGaughey returnee Windfall Profit should ensure a fair price. – Jim Dunleavy

4 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Downs 8th race WINDFALL PROFIT (#7, 6-1) races on Lasix for the first time making her 3-year-old debut after a ho-hum three-start 2-year-old campaign ended in October. She never really settled or looked comfortable in her two grass races while traveling decently both times and the thought is there’s more there if she can turn her focus fully on racing. Maturity might help with that, work pattern encourages, and her trainer is 10-5-0-1 with his most recent sample of Tampa maiden special weight turf-route runners. – Marcus Hersh

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5:27 p.m. ET Fonner Park 2nd race THIRD DIMENSION (#4, 9-2) was overmatched while pressing the pace inside two improving rivals who ran one-two. The winner, Backchatter, improved his Beyer Speed Figures by double digits for the second straight race, and the runner-up, Drastic, returned to win a Fonner maiden race by six lengths. This looks like an easier spot. – Jim Dunleavy

6:15 p.m. ET Will Rogers Downs 9th race DAME PLATA (#3, 5-1) has fired fresh before and brings appealing work pattern into first start since Nov. 25. Won only Will Rogers start and five-furlong distance is right up her alley. – Marcus Hersh

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