Tue, 02/07/2023 - 13:16

Brad Free's Santa Anita horses to watch from week of Feb.10-12, 2023

BOOK SMART
Trainer
: Mark Glatt
Last race: Feb. 5, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 84
Comebacker from Emerald Downs ran well in local debut. Pressed pace, hung tough late, second-best in starter allowance sprint. California-bred gelding should be tough versus similar rivals.

Tue, 02/07/2023 - 12:13

DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Barbara D. Livingston
Gulfstream is one of many tracks featured in the DRF Playbook for Wednesday.

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.

Mon, 02/06/2023 - 16:03

Road to 2023 Kentucky Derby: Holy Bull Stakes analysis

Barbara D. Livingston
Rocket Can and Junior Alvarado win the Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream.

$250,000 Holy Bull Stakes, Feb. 4, 2023 (20 qualifying points for first, 8 for second, 6 for third, 4 for fourth, 2 for fifth)
Winner:
Rocket Can, by Into Mischief
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Owner: Frank Fletcher Racing Operations
Distance / time: 1 1/16 miles / 1:44.97
Win margin: 3/4
Beyer: 82 

Sat, 02/04/2023 - 16:02

TimeformUS horses in focus for Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023

RACE 1: TRYINMYHEARTOUT (#3) 

Fri, 02/03/2023 - 10:00

Santa Anita: Picks and analysis for mandatory-payout pick six on Feb. 5, 2023

Benoit Photo
Dicey Mo Chara wins the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

RACE 4: LOYAL TO A FAULT (#1) tried stakes foes last time out and found those waters too deep. SMOOVE AS SILK (#2) comes off a string of decent turf miles. She adds blinkers and moves to sprinting. SMILING AMY (#4) was a good third in a race like this here Oct. 10. (3)

Thu, 02/02/2023 - 13:46

Weekend GamePlan: Picks for Megahertz, Robert B. Lewis, Forward Gal

Emily Shields
Friday's seven-race card at Santa Anita includes four turf races. First post is 1 p.m.. Pacific.

On a solid Saturday of American racing, I wanted to get involved in Tampa turf stakes, but favorites in the Endeavour (Market Segmentation) and the Tampa Bay (Chez Pierre) look too tough and won’t offer value. Ice Orchid in the Bayakoa at Oaklawn narrowly missed the cut here; I fear she’ll be considerably lower than her 4-1 morning line. Earls Rock is a stealth contender in the Thunder Road at Santa Anita.

But on to the actual plays.

Megahertz

Wed, 02/01/2023 - 16:55

TimeformUS Aqueduct Horses in Focus for Thursday, February 2, 2023

RACE 1: PREDICTED (#5)

Wed, 02/01/2023 - 13:50

Breakout Beyers: Bandita steals off to easy, fast, impressive maiden win

Barbara Livingston
Bandita’s win had a slow-early, fast-late race shape, a rarity for Gulfstream and early 3-year-olds.

Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.

Bandita

Tue, 01/31/2023 - 12:22

DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photos
First post for Gulfstream racing is scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET on Thursday.

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.