Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 7/12/20
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.)
Strike It Lucky, Race 5
FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/1
Nine races in and still looking for his first win is favorite Street Image (5/2). He couldn’t hold the lead in the stretch last time out, but bettors will like his runner-up finish. Street Behavior for EPO trainer Peter Miller will take some action, dropping from Cal-bred Maiden Special Weight to a lower level. Street Behavior has nothing to show in two starts and is looking for better off a four-month layoff.
We’re looking at two of the longer shots in this 5 1/2-furlong sprint for Maidens running for a $20K tag. There is more to a race than speed figures or recent results that may show pretty well like Street Image. A horse's health or current form is part of the puzzle, along with projecting improvement while digging deeper into races and level of competition. We can’t control the drug use or EPO that is used in the game to gain an advantage.
Now we try to figure out Maidens that have not won and others running for the first time like Strike It Lucky (6/1), the top pick at numberFire. The horse has months of consistent and solid morning works with some hidden factors for trainer Jeff Bonde and should be ready to fire in its debut.
Also on debut is Finally Got a Red (8/1), who can relax behind the front runners and try to take over down the lane.
Super Patriot, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5
Race 6 is the minor Osunitas Stakes at one mile on the turf for fillies and mares. We immediately notice EPO trainer Richard Baltas, learning handicapping lessons from Top Race Reports. Baltas is running the five-year-old mare Super Patriot (8/5) a preferred one-mile distance. She breaks from the rail and has posted six straight triple-digit speed figures.
Super Patriot won off a layoff in early June as the favorite, showing that extra EPO boost down the lane yet with balanced fraction times. Not easy to root for EPO horses, but when there is money on the line, we have to play the game and support runners with the best shot. numberFire agrees with top pick Super Patriot.
Add Super Patriot to the Late Pick 5, which starts here. You could single if you like, or add Desert Oasis (8/1), who fits well and is stringing races together and showing improved health. Desert Oasis will likely go to the front and try to maintain. She has the top speed rating, according to Daily Horse Picks.
Ziarah (4/1) is an Irish-bred who has won five straight races this year and hit a best 101 speed figure. Three of those wins were at Golden Gate up north, but in the opening two days at Del Mar, runners coming in from Golden Gate are 0-for-9 on the turf.
Bench Judge and Shadrack, Race 10
FanDuel Racing Odds: 15/1 and 6/1
Race 10 concludes the day at beautiful Del Mar “Where the Turf Meets the Surf.” This will be a one-mile Allowance race for Cal-breds on the turf with 12 runners after Incredible Luck was scratched.
There is no clear favorite, leaving the door open for some runners at a price. That includes Bench Judge (15/1), who breaks from the far outside and makes just his third career start at age four and has some solid and consistent works in following his deep closing run to finish fourth in a sprint late May. Stretching out, there could be improvement coming for Bench Judge, and Umberto Rispoli rides. Rispoli has five wins the first two days of the Del Mar meet to lead all jockeys.
Shadrack (6/1) comes in from Golden Gate looking to snap the losing skid of those GG invaders on the turf. He finished second off a layoff last month against a big Allowance field and posted a 101 speed figure in his return.
The top pick at numberFire is Jetovator (5/1) followed by Sea of Liberty (7/2). Jetovator finished fourth last month in a short sprint and now stretches out after posting a career-best 102 speed figure. However, Jetovator has just one win in 13 starts.
Fly the Sky (15/1) is another longshot who is well placed and runs here after two races in May in which he missed the money. He had a pair of runner-up finishes at Del Mar last year after racing at Santa Anita.
Golden Doughnut (15/1) finished third three weeks ago at Santa Anita while posting a 102 speed figure in his first race in nearly three years.
