Fonner Park Horse Racing Picks for Tuesday 5/26/20
With most of the sports world on pause, it's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.
Starting at 5 p.m. EST today, we have nine races at Fonner Park. Using our projections as a guide, here's a look at some of the best bets.
As always, keep an eye out for scratches and changes.
(I will be referencing Equibase's Speed Figure, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions)
Taylor's Beauty, Race 1
FD Racing Odds: 6/1
Race 1 is a tough one to get a handle on, as there are many horses with good form coming in. Taylor's Beauty has been hot lately, with four top-three finishes in her last five races -- all at Fonner Park, in 2020. The mare has posted Speed Figures of 59-plus in three of her last four after failing to do so in six of her previous nine. She has placed top-three in 8 of her 11 career races at Fonner, including two wins. The form and appealing odds make this a good pick.
Our model projects betting favorite Dixie Delta (5/2) to place first in this race. She's had back-to-back efforts with Figures over 60, including a win here in late April. Distinct Approval (9/2) and Jafmil's Inferno (8/1) also have recent form that makes them worth considering.
Knight Disruptor, Race 2
FD Racing Odds: 7/2
Our model likes Knight Disruptor to place first in Race 2, and it's easy to see why. The gelding has won two of his four races in 2020, with both victories coming at Fonner. In his last two efforts, he's posted Speed Figures of 89 and 94. None of the other horses in this race have had two races in their career with Figures at 89 or above. Overall, the five-year-old has won 5 of his last 10 races.
Retrofit (2/1) is the betting favorite and cannot be ignored. The gelding has won three of his four races in 2020, all of them coming here at Fonner. In mid-April, he posted a career-best Figure of 91. Man Camp (4/1) has placed top-three in six of his last seven and is certainly worth considering.
Warrior's Lullaby, Race 3
FD Racing Odds: 5/2
Both betting markers and numberFire's algorithm like Warrior's Lullaby to place first, and given his recent form, it's hard to argue with the pick. The gelding has won three consecutive races, posting an average Speed Figure of 92 in those outings -- that's after not posting a figure near 90 in nine straight.
Astonishing Tweet (3/1) has won two in a row coming in and could easily make it three. Bandwidth (6/1) hasn't won a race since January, but his form is impossible to ignore.
Three Footer, Race 6
FD Racing Odds: 4/1
numberFire projects Three Footer to finish as the runner-up, but I like his odds of taking this one home. The colt is coming off a first-place finish two weeks ago, and his overall form has been trending up. He's won two of his last four outings.
Songster (3/1) and Where's Rufus (5/2) are the betting favorites and have the form to back it up. I like Songster's value better. Smokin B (6/1) is also worth considering in trifectas and superfectas, though it's worth noting that he hasn't placed first in more than a year.
Smarty Party Papa, Race 9
FD Racing Odds: 5/2
Smarty Party Papa is both the betting favorite and our model's pick, and it makes too much sense to go with another horse. The gelding hasn't had a first-place effort since February, but he has posted consecutive Speed Figures of 89 and 90 here. He's the only one in this race to even come close to that feat. Looks like a prime candidate to take advantage of weaker competition.
Holiday Joke (12/1) has very appealing odds and recent form that makes him worth serious consideration. He's coming off a win and has posted Figures of 82 and 79 in two of his last three. Picadilly Roadster (8/1) and Dukati (4/1) are both likely to place well in the final race of the night.
