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.

It sure was a relief when the country’s fastest 2-year-old romped last weekend at Santa Anita. It’s nice when you don’t have to sweat it out at odds of 2-5.

Of course, Big City Lights was expected to win the Fasig-Tipton Futurity. After all, his debut Beyer Speed Figure – a gawdy 93 – was the highest in more than a decade by a juvenile at 4 1/2 furlongs.

Belmont | Race 6 | Post Time 3:34 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

There are many ways to go in this highly competitive maiden-special-weight affair. Kreesa La Wrote (#11), Get the Candy (#4), and No Payne (#8) all figure to attract some support, and I don’t have particularly negative takes on any of them.

It didn’t rain in Louisville so our 3-year-old Pick didn’t get in, and the even-money one of our 2-year-old Pix at Santa Anita got shuffled back at the start but the other one, Eda, battled on bravely to miss by a nose but in the process got bumped at the sixteenth pole and put up at a very generous $6.20. This was the week that the BreezeFigs juvenile maidens broke through in number of runners and winners.

RACE 2: JUMPSTER (#9)

To be sure, Maxfield is a very, very good horse. And to be clear, “who did he beat” is a question often not worth asking. But, wow, has Maxfield made a career smashing inferior foes. Ghostlore, Gouverneur Morris, Ny Traffic, Sonneman, Sonneman again, Visitant – these are the second-place finishers in Maxfield’s six wins. Hardly a murderer’s row, and Maxfield likely is an odds-on favorite to win for the seventh time in eight starts Saturday at Churchill Downs in the weekend’s biggest race, the Stephen Foster at Churchill.

Belmont | Race 8 | Post Time 6:45 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

RACE 4: BLUE PAYNT (#3)

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

Pretty Birdie

June 18, 2nd race Churchill, MdSpWt99k

Beyer:78

5f 57.28, 1st by 3 3/4 lengths

gr. f. 2, Bird Song – Bird Sense, by Street Sense

Owner: Marylou Whitney Stables

Trainer: Norman Casse

Breeder: Marylou Whitney Stables

LOOKOUT POINT

Trainer: Peter Miller

Last race: June 18, race 1

Finish: 2^nd by 2 3/4

Beyer: 48

Solid debut by 2-year-old in maiden turf mile. Saved ground midpack, inched closer far turn, waited briefly, angled out, finished well. Will be tough in maiden route at Del Mar.