Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Friday 7/24/20
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 1:10 p.m. EST, we have 10 races at Saratoga. Using our numberFire projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.
As always, check the program for scratches and changes, and check the weather and track conditions.
(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.)
Peaceful and Henni Penny, Race 3
FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5 and 12/1
Race 3 is an Allowance race and drew 7 fillies and mares sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Favorites Peaceful (8/5) and Voting Agreement (2/1), by EPO trainer Chad Brown, will take most of the money, and Daily Horse Picks (DHP) has Voting Agreement winning.
Peaceful has a pair of solid works since running on the lead and then finishing runner-up last month his her 2020 debut. She held up better than pace presser Stop War (8/1), who faded further in that race. This is a slightly tougher assignment, but Guaranteed Tip Sheet makes Peaceful with top jockey Tyler Gaffalione a best bet.
Mo Me Mo My (8/1) has the highest class and speed rating at DHP and carries high weight along with Peaceful. The order of finish projected by numberFire is Voting Agreement followed by Peaceful and Mo Me Mo My.
Rather than a short-priced favorite, consider Sparkling Sky (3/1) with Jose Ortiz in the irons. Her speed figures are not as strong as top pair, and trainer DePaz is trying new tactics in her 2020 debut. Her breeding says sprinter, but her last three races to finish 2019 were all routes and she did face better. Could add to the bottom of Exacta or Trifecta wagering.
Henni Penny (12/1) is overlooked in here and worth a play at a big price. She strings three races together having broke her Maiden at Belmont in early June from well off the pace and hit the board last race behind Peaceful. She was wide and came home pretty strong on her wrong lead after getting bumped. Good alternative style in a race with plenty of early pace.
Malarkey, Race 4
FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2
Race 4 is a smaller Claiming race for fillies and mares going seven furlongs, and both numberfire and Guaranteed Tip Sheet like Malarkey (7/2) on top. The five-year-old mare makes her third start this month and was a non-factor runner-up two weeks ago at this level but posted an improved 81 speed figure. Much further back was Cold Hearted Pearl (6/1), who was shifted out way wide on the far turn and finished just in front of Cotton Candy Cutie (10/1).
The favorites are Stay Fond (5/2) and Blunt Force (3/1). Stay Fond was claimed by trainer Mike Miceli last race after she was outrun badly early but rallied to win a small claimer with a 70 speed figure. She's a vulnerable favorite. Blunt Force was a more impressive stalk-and-pounce winner at Churchill Downs in early June.
Elle M’a Souri and Ebony, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/1 and 4/1
Race 6 is a route with seven fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles on the Inner Turf. We have a pair of European runners in play at a price in here with Elle M’a Souri (6/1) from the rail and Ebony (4/1), who missed badly as the heavy favorite two weeks ago in her U.S. debut and adds more ground and blinkers. Elle M’a Souri broker her maiden two months ago as the favorite in a large field, and her speed figure (92) fits well.
The favorite Cap de Creus (1/1) is the top pick at numberFire. She breaks from the outside for EPO trainer Todd Pletcher with leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.
Jack and Noah and Fore Left, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 1/1 and 8/1
Race 9 is the $100K Quick Call Stakes (G3) for three-year-olds. It’s named after a NY Circuit favorite Quick Call, who lived to be 35 years old and raced 86 times with a win in the 1988 Forego Handicap (G2). Eight runners are entered to sprint 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.
The French-bred favorite Jack and Noah (1/1) has won 3-of-6 starts, including last months minor stakes at Belmont, going wire-to-wire to finish one length in front of pace presser Turned Aside (2/1) and another length clear of longshot closer Old Chestnut (6/1). numberFire projects another 1-2 finish by Jack and Noah and Turned Aside.
Those three also competed in a minor stakes race event last November at Aqueduct when Jack and Noah also won wire-to-wire and posted a career-best 101 speed figure. The other two missed the money.
Fore Left (8/1) won a minor stakes race at Santa Anita last fall with a 100 speed figure. He ran in last month's Belmont Stakes and raced second for three quarter miles before fading badly. He shortens back up in return.
Longshot Flap Jack (12/1) missed badly in a pair of Kentucky Derby preps this year but easily won a cheaper Allowance race last month with a 92 speed figure and much slower fractions than the other four have posted through half miles.
Sky of Hook (8/1) and Power Up Paynter (12/1) were scratched.
