DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, May 27, 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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2 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 3rd race – GATE CREW (#10, 8-1) was steadied behind the eventual winner on the first turn in his turf debut last time, then encountered more traffic trouble on the far turn before finding room and rallying nicely for the place, albeit way too late to threaten the loose-on-the-lead Minnesota Lucky; clean trip can make a big difference for him today, and he has room to improve off that first try on the green. – Kenny Peck
2:30 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 4th race – WHEELBARRELBROTHRS (#10, 12-1) is widest of the 10 entered in the body of the race, but he could also be the quickest of them all out of the gate. He prompted the pace going 1 1/8 miles last time, and he faded late, but if he can shake loose and dictate the tempo this time around he's a threat to pop at a price. – Kenny Peck
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4 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 7th race – HOPE AGAIN (#7, 6-1) got a nice little freshening following his most recent start, which came at 11 furlongs, perhaps farther than ideal, given the gelding's last try at this one-mile trip. Couple of snappy looking works for return, and he's entered for $20K more than the $12.5K claim price these connections paid. – Marcus Hersh
4 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 7th race – HOPE AGAIN (#7, 6-1) has been in good form all meet long and even longer than that, as he has been running well since last summer, and his Beyers have slowly but surely risen over his last couple of races; back at a mile today and this could well be his best distance. – Kenny Peck
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5:00 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 9th race – COMPLETED (#9, 4-1) is kin to five starters, all of them winners, including multiple Grade 1 winning sprinter Separationofpowers and grass stakes winner Empire of War, who captured the Awad Stakes as a 2-year-old; works suggest this filly is ready for her debut, and trainer Jonathan Thomas has enjoyed a very strong meet. – Kenny Peck
5 p.m. Eastern Tampa Bay Downs 9th race – COMMAND POINT (#5, 20-1) very much bred for a turf route and the dirt-sprint debut most likely was nothing more than a stepping-stone to this spot. – Marcus Hersh