Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 7/11/20
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 5:00 p.m. EST, we have 10 races at Del Mar Racetrack. Using our numberFire projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.
As always, check the program for scratches and changes,
(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions.)
Big Score , Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2
The minor Wickerr Stakes drew nine runners for this one-mile turf test. Breaking from the outside is Big Score (7/2), who won’t provide a big payoff but should run well here and close strongly in a race that should have a lively pace. The six-year-old has numerous in-the-money finishes against graded stakes company.
Big Score is the top choice at both numberFire and Guaranteed Tip Sheet.
A longshot to consider is Murad Khan (12/1), who will have a jockey change after Victor Espinoza tested positive for COVID-19 Friday.
Souter (12/1) is another longshot that finished third in his 2020 debut three weeks ago in the American Stakes (G3), posting a 106 speed figure. He fits well in here.
Voodoo Song (4/1) is looking to break through with a win for the first time since 2018 despite triple-digit speed figures in each of his last five races. Bolo (5/1) will likely join a crowded field along the lead.
Buyback , Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2
Race 9 is a Starter Allowance race at one-mile, and it drew eight fillies and mares. The favorite, Diva in Charge (5/2), will take money as she is 2-for-2 since stretching out to a route and improved to a career-best 95 speed figure in her recent race two weeks ago.
Rather Nosy (3/1) is a sprinter stretching to a route for the first time. The form is there, and Rather Nosy is the best bet of Guaranteed Tip Sheet and is also the top choice at Daily Horse Picks (DHP) and numberFire -- although DHP gives the speed and pace edge to Diva in Charge. Rather Nosy could close as the favorite, and we’ll include in horizontals and Late Pick 5.
Top jockey Drayden Van Dyke won the 2018 Del Mar meet title with a strong 26% win rate and a 26% Return on Investment. He finished second behind Flavien Prat in the 2019 summer meet. Van Dyke rides Buyback (6/1), who returns just one week after finishing runner-up at this one-mile distance at Santa Anita. Buyback has consistent high 80s speed figures in three recent races.
Nurse Goodbody and Sweet Devil, Race 10
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 8/1
Race 10 concludes the day at beautiful Del Mar “Where the Turf Meets the Surf.” It's a Maiden Special Weight with 12 fillies and mares racing one mile on the turf.
The favorite, Nurse Goodbody (3/1), finished second in May stretching out. Her effort was very good despite getting shuffled back on the far turn and having to angle out in the lane. She passed five horses in the stretch with a strong final quarter-mile time.
Sweet Devil (8/1) has some tactical speed in a race without as much pace. She breaks from the far outside and fits in here based on her turf route try at a longer distance in February. She finished third after taking the lead in the stretch and posted an 88 speed figure.
Vegas Palm (12/1) stretches out after a pair of runner-up finishes in sprints and is looking for a Maiden win in her ninth try but has hit the board five times. She is the top pick to pull the upset at numberFire.
Well-respected trainer John Shirreffs has a pair of runners in Resarcio (4/1) and Bristol Bayou (8/1). The former finished third in her last two races, just a nose behind Nurse Goodbody in May. Resarcio had a strong bullet work last week, and continued improvement is expected.
