Thu, 02/06/2025 - 06:47

DRF's Horse Racing Playbook for Thursday, February 6, 2025

Barbara D. Livingston
First post for Aqueduct racing is scheduled for 1:10 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.

12:20 GP 1st STARSHIP MELODY (#7, 6-1) ran evenly in her debut even though that was a tough spot being on the grass and going two turns. One sibling is 9-3-0-2 on the green for 256K and the other is 3-0-1-1 for 24K. This filly should improve 2nd time everything and lures Saez. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:10 AQU 1st UNION SUIT (#5, 7-2) was a talented 2yo despite lacking figure power, then endured a long layoff before returning last summer and quickly being tried on turf; bumped into a hot horse when last seen at Keeneland and was claimed out of that race by Rice; starts back in a race where she can be competitive. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

1:39 AQU 2nd SWEET BROWN SUGAR (#1, 4-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Mike Beer). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:00 GP 6th TOP MAVERICK (#4, 4-1) has run well going this distance before and can fire fresh. That was a Beyer top when he broke his maiden on this dirt. The time off is the X factor. Works are well spaced and this guy could show some zip in this spot. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:08 AQU 5th TABEGUACHE (#1, 7-2) fairly bombed in the Queen's County when last seen, though the sloppy track might be a viable excuse for that effort; he has bounced back from poor performances in the pace and do like him cutting back in distance for this, as his effort two back going the one-turn mile might be the best of his career. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

3:55 TUP 4th ORTH (#9, 10-1) missed a Beyer top by three points in his most recent and that was his first start for team Diodoro. We like the jock switch to Mojica even if Hughes just did a wonderful job on the front end with this 6YO. Connections find another good spot and this full field helps all exotics. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:00 GP 8th ALINAO FOREVER (#7, 15-1) is a DRF Best Bet (Scott Ehlers). | Bet this race with DRF Bets

4:08 AQU 7th VERY SATISFACTORY (#8, 7-2) caught a sloppy track in the dirt debut at this level two back and tried a game, wide run around the turn of that race before checking in third; failed as the favorite again last time despite a good trip, but that was going longer and he once again stayed gamely in the late stages; cuts back. -Mike Beer | Bet this race with DRF Bets

5:51 TUP 8th CRYSTAL COAST (#7, 12-1) shipped in from Gulfstream and ran a solid third while only a length back and did so at 25-1. He should be better second time here. Connections waste little time finding this mare a race and of course it is on the grass. Those open claimers at GP are just better than these. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets

6:19 TUP 9th PURRFECT MOON (#10, 12-1) adds a full furlong and that is the key. She is 4-2-0-0 going this tricky elongated sprint distance. Her most recent was solid as were those tries two and three back. Race flow is only average though. We like that Mojica stays put and this race holds no world beaters. -Scott Ehlers | Bet this race with DRF Bets