DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, October 18, 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.

1:00 KEE 1st JUBILANT JOANIE (#7, 6-1) won the speed duel but paid the price fading to fourth in a closer-dominated $16K maiden-claimer Sept. 27 at CD, her first start for a tag, first on dirt. Was a troubled third off the pace in her career debut over Tapeta and thus may have some tactical versatility, but doubt that's employed here since she can get to the front going from 6f to 7f. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

2:04 KEE 3rd Was merely an off-turf race over a sloppy IND track, but ROSARIO'S PRAYER (#5, 20-1) did win his most recent start by almost 15 lengths. The speed figure came back modest, but will give that performance some extra weight given it was his first route start and first time for a tag. Looks from the work pattern like he's been kept fresh since the last race while posting steady works readying for this class rise. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

2:36 KEE 4th Liked MUSTANG LADY (#2, 8-1) last out at KD and was rewarded with an 18-length defeat. I'll fall for her again as she goes back to dirt and races for her first claiming tag, a high $80K. Seems like if she just ran back to her pair of KEE dirt-route tries she'd be in the thick of things, but the price isn't going to reflect that. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

4:12 KEE 7th AROUND THE SUN (#2, 20-1) won her career debut about a year ago beating 10 going a route of ground over the KEE course. Back just two weeks later, and that didn't go well, and she sure doesn't seem like the sort of horse to thrive over the GP lawn, where she made her third start. Showed little in April but because she hasn't started since, we might suppose the filly was compromised in that race. -Marcus Hersh | Get PPs for this race

9:59 RP 5th IT'LL DO (#5, 8-1) shortens up a tad in distance and his natural speed should serve him well on the turnback. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

10:55 RP 7th FATHER RED (#11, 15-1) is back on the main track and he's registered all of his wins to date on dirt. As for the turnback in distance, he's run well at one turn in the past. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race

11:51 RP 9th PALUXY (#8, 9-2) made a rare appearance on turf last out and ran a big race when a close-up second to SUNLIT SONG in the Remington Green. He must again face that turf specialist, but like that there appears to be a nice amount of speed in this spot to fuel his late run. -Mary Rampellini | Get PPs for this race