Laurel Park Horse Racing Picks for Friday 6/19/20
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 12:40 p.m. EST, we have nine races at Laurel Park. Using our projections as a guide, here are 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)
Bobby's Goldengirl, Race 3 (1:45 PM)
FD Racing Odds: 12/1
With both Be Present (3/1; originally coupled with Tutti Benvenuti) and Rollick (12/1) getting scratched, that leaves Bobby's Goldengirl as the class of Race 3. Bobby's Goldengirl was originally numberFire's pick to finish third behind Rollick and Be Present.
Most of the horses in Race 3 have short track records, making it slightly harder to gauge their respective forms, but Bobby's Goldengirl has produced solid speed figures of 78 and 83 in her two career races, finishing third both times. Those marks compared favorably with Be Present and Rollick, and exceed what we've seen from Bernadette The Jet (7/2).
Jockey Julian Pimentel should give Bobby's Goldengirl a boost, too. Pimental has wins in 26% of his 61 races this year and recorded win rates of 20% and 21% the previous two campaigns.
Lasting Union, Race 6 (3:33 PM)
FD Racing Odds: 9/2
In a contest with several making their racing debuts or second appearances, Lasting Union is practically a veteran at just three races. She's finished fourth in all three attempts, but in this inexperienced field, she gets the nod from numberFire's model.
In her last two appearances in May, Lasting Union showed speed figures of 69 and 71, which blows away what we've seen from others with prior races under their belt like Lady Magnolia (5/1) and Seven Clubs (8/1).
Lasting Union also has Jevian Toledo as her rider, who's enjoying wins and top-three finishes at 20% and 45% rates, respectively.
Favorite Sing Along Suzy (7/2) figures to also be a contender, with the aforementioned Julian Pimentel guiding her.
Charge to Victory, Race 8 (4:38 PM)
FD Racing Odds: 10/1
This is looking like a wide-open Race 8 that's littered with horses who have hit triple-digit speed figures and regularly finish in the 90s. Favorite Runaway Lute (7/2) has posted big numbers before but hasn't raced in over a year, making me reluctant to side with him.
Instead, I'm intrigued by Charge to Victory, who looks like a fantastic value at his odds. Prior to a showing a "modest" 92 speed figure in February, he rattled of figures of 100, 108, and 106 over the prior three months. That 108 was a career-high and, not surprisingly, smashes most of this field's peak marks. Jockey Jorge Ruiz is finishing top-three in 44% of his races this year, as well.
Outside of Charge to Victory, Eastern Bay (5/1) and Hall Pass (8/1) are both coming off triple-digit speed figures in their most recent appearances. And if you're feeling really bold, Cerulean Springs (20/1) also has solid credentials despite flopping in his last outing. Eastern Bay and Cerulean Springs are numberFire's picks to finish second and third, respectively.
