Wed, 04/26/2023 - 14:17

Breakout Beyers: Virasana delivers at a big price

By Marcus Hersh
Coady Photography
It took eight tries, but Retained won a Horseshoe Indianapolis maiden race, earning a 90 Beyer.

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

Virasana

Wed, 04/26/2023 - 14:15

2023 Kentucky Derby Clocker Report: Derma Sotogake clearly outworks Continuar

By Mike Welsch
Continuar (right) and Derma Sotogake work at CD April 26 2023
Barbara Livingston
Continuar (right) began the workout well ahead of Derma Sotogake, but was far behind at the finish.

Churchill Downs
Wednesday, April 26
Weather: Clear
Temperature: 46
Track: Fast

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A serious drill by the two Japanese contenders in this year’s Kentucky Derby, Derma Sotogake and Continuar, and a test run with the addition of blinkers for Sun Thunder highlighted Wednesday’s Derby-Oaks training session at Churchill Downs.

Tue, 04/25/2023 - 13:35

DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Wednesday, April 26, 2023

By DRF Staff
Keeneland/Coady Photography
Keeneland begins the final three days of the spring meeting on 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.

Tue, 04/25/2023 - 09:21

Brad Free's Santa Anita horses to watch from April 21-23, 2023

By Brad Free

FRANKLIN ONE STAR
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Last race: April 21, 1st
Finish: 4th by 5 1/4
Beyer: 71
Pace-presser stumbled at start of claiming turf sprint, jumped at dirt crossing, rank and hard-held, blocked into and through turn, and actually finished fairly well in better-than-looked performance.

Sat, 04/22/2023 - 11:01

Sunday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Fancy Feline’s last race better than appears

By David Aragona

Aqueduct | Race 6 | Post Time 4:00 p.m. (ET)

TimeformUS PPs are now available on DRF.com. Go to PPs

Fri, 04/21/2023 - 16:08

Saturday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: No Regard finally gets to go long on turf

By David Aragona

Aqueduct | Race 6 | Post Time 4:00 p.m. (ET)

TimeformUS PPs are now available on DRF.com. Go to PPs

Fri, 04/21/2023 - 14:02

Fair Odds for the Oaklawn Handicap: Looking beyond the favorites

By David Aragona

In this series, DRF handicapper/linemaker David Aragona provides his opinion of what constitutes fair win value for each runner in a weekend stakes race.

Thu, 04/20/2023 - 17:35

Friday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Switch to turf should benefit Father of Lies

By David Aragona

Aqueduct | Race 9 | Post Time 5:38 p.m. (ET)  

TimeformUS PPs are now available on DRF.com. Go to PPs

Thu, 04/20/2023 - 13:25

Weekend GamePlan: Picks for Oaklawn Handicap, Elkhorn

By Marcus Hersh
Lauren King
Proxy will add Lasix and get a strong pace to run at in the Oaklawn Handicap.

Not one, but two older male dirt-route graded stakes races on April 22. Put them together and we’d really have something. Rainy forecasts in some jurisdictions, including Keeneland, cloud the picture. What’s clear: As always, we’re looking for value in two Saturday stakes.

Oaklawn Handicap

If the Oaklawn Handicap were a morning workout, I’d side with Charge It, a horse who has breezed like a beast since early in his 3-year-old season and continues looking very strong in online workout video.

Less strong: His actual performance in races.

Wed, 04/19/2023 - 16:34

Thursday TimeformUS Highlight Horse: Battuta d’Oro should appreciate switch to turf

By David Aragona

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 4:34 p.m. (ET)

TimeformUS PPs are now available on DRF.com. Go to PPs

Subscribe to Handicapping