DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, August 31, 2022
1:45 CNL 1st Debuting INTO DISCO (#1, 8-1) is the second foal to race (the first, Uncle Ken, won his career debut last summer at CNL) out of Disco Barbie, who was a very good racehorse who wanted just about this 7f trip. No holes in the work pattern since July 4, and trainer D Capuano has two winners during 2022 from three first-time starters in maiden-special-weight races, and over the last five years is a strong 18-6-5-1 in such spots. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:13 CNL 2nd KULTHUM (#2, 9-2) has more speed than she showed in her most recent turf race and could sit second just behind SUNNYMEDE DREAM if that mare winds up on the lead from post 1, which might happen by default. The turf race three back at MNR was very productive - the 1st, 4th, an 5th place finishers returned to win their next start at the same class level or higher. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:13 SAR 3rd WICKED SECRET (#1, 10-1) a newcomer by Mendelssohn (18% so far with his juvenile first-time starters, 3 for 11 with turf sprinters); this colt is a half-brother to Henning, whose two career wins both came on turf, including his debut; Stewart is underrated with 2yo first-time starters - 13 for 102 over the past five years, 13%, $2.93 ROI, though he debuts very few sprinting on turf (0-3 in that sample). -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
2:49 SAR 4th SECRET TIME (#6, 6-1) ran well in her first Saratoga start last summer over course and distance while no match for High Opinion, who was in excellent form at the time, then got the wrong ride in her next start before getting a layoff; came with a good finish to win two back off the break, though she had a setup that day; tried a short sprint last time and lacked the speed to factor in that kind of race, though she was finishing gamely late. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:29 SAR 7th SHIRAZ (#1, 8-1) exits a poor performance last month, though he hopped up at the start of that race and then raced wide throughout behind a front-running winner; finally takes some class relief; most recent win came last summer over this course and distance, and he has won each of his last two starts vs. claiming competition. -Mike Beer | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
4:33 CNL 7th BATTLE OF MEMPHIS (#8, 8-1) finished with some interest for fourth of nine last out in a CNL N3L claiming turf sprint one level above this. He's not every getting close to that California peak level, but the short MNR turf route two back says the one-mile trip might suit him at this point, and I like his chances of doing enough to beat these $10K claimers. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
5:01 CNL 8th BARDOLINO (#1, 6-1) raced for twice this $10,000 claiming price his last two starts, but hard to call the crop in tag strictly negative when the horse regular was in for $5K not that long ago. Move back to turf in April turned his career around, and he simply didn't stay the mile last time. Formidable cutting back to a sprint. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
8:10 CBY 5th MACEDONIAN RULER (#1, 8-1) has improved his turf Beyer in his last three turf starts. His return try at Prairie Meadows was a simple prep for this as this gelding has always been much better on the grass. We like that this guy has worked at least twice since his most recent. He draws fine and gets good race flow. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets
9:10 CBY 7th GOLDEN TRIBUTE (#4, 5-1) was stuck in the 13 hole in his return try and then went wide so no surprise he spit the bit. He tries the dirt for the first time and this barn is 20% turf to dirt. We love that bullet work on the 24th and this gelding faces very little in here. -Scott Ehlers | Get PPs for this race | Bet this race with DRF Bets