DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026

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.

12:45 CD 1st STRIFE (#5, 20-1) has made 16 starts, a grand total of one of them on dirt, the IND N1X allowance on May 25. She didn't run badly at all within the framework of this field, and she much prefers this sprint trip to that route race. Finally back down to the level where she belongs, and I don't see, other than the kind of horses the sire typically produces, why she couldn't prove very competitive in a dirt race like this. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

2:45 CD 5th CHARGING FORCE (#12, 9-2) had the best work among all the video I could find for the many first-time starters. Believe he'll be fit enough if he's good enough - and believe he's good enough. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

3:48 CD 7th Thought I saw some decent stuff in the lone work video (Aug. 15) up for first-timer SUNFYRE (#9, 20-1). He also has a workout pattern that looks a lot like the one I used to see frequently with live first-time starters from trainer Carl Nafzger, for whom this trainer was a long, long time assistant. Not huge confidence here, however. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

4:50 CD 9th SISTER WIFE (#5, 6-1) was not bad in her debut and when meant to improve second out instead took a huge step back and barely ran at all. That was last fall's form cycle, and the Belterra comeback - albeit at Belterra - was not bad at all, and could have her set up for a career peak while exiting the MSW ranks for the first time. Barn already with two winners at the meet. - Marcus Hersh | Get Past Performances for this race

5:05 CBY 1st PUBLIUS (#1, 3-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers).

6:10 CBY 3rd MENDELSSOHNS COMET (#1, 15-1) beat the boys to break her maiden and did so on the grass going two turns. Then she beat first time winners in her next start. She hopped at the start in her return while facing stakes foes. We were a bit surprised her last race wasn't better even when finishing 3rd at 13-1. She is bred to love a turf route with Tommies of 330/377. Now she puts three races together and draws ideally. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

6:29 CBY 4th PALACE ALEX (#4, 6-1) tried two turns on the turf for the first time previously and actually ran OK. He was right there with a furlong to go only to tire late. Now he cuts back to a dirt sprint with plenty of late energy on tap. Team Wong are 24% turf to dirt and 27% route to sprint. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

6:57 CBY 5th CUNIMBUS (#4, 5-1) got matching 71 Beyers the last two times that he tried the grass and both came at Evangeline. These are easier. His last race was poor and to that we say....great. It helps the price and since when is this guy good going seven panels on the dirt? Hernandez gets a leg up and is 25% for this barn. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

7:40 CBY 6th MIDNIGHT JOY (#2, 5-1) gets good race flow as we count at least 3 or 4 in here with speed. She draws inside where she can save all the early ground. All of her wins have come on this sod. She ran a Beyer top only three back and did so with a solid pace. Was five furlongs a tad short last out? She still ran second at almost 10-1. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race

7:53 CBY 7th SOUR PATCH (#6, 10-1) is by a 8% debut turf sire. Her dam went 19-3-5-1 on the grass and banked 135 large. One of two sibs is a multiple grass winner of 233K (the other hit the board on the green). Second time routing can only help. - Scott Ehlers | Get Past Performances for this race