Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Friday 8/7/20
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.)
Kept True and Fair Regis, Race 5
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 4/1
Race 5 is an Allowance Optional Claimer for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs. This race is the start of the Empire 6, and there is no clear favorite. Daily Horse Picks (DHP) has Honor Way (5/1) on top, and she’s running for the optional claiming tag of $62,500. Bridlewood Cat (7/2) is the top choice of numberFire while Guaranteed Tip Sheet (GTS) has Kept True (3/1) on top.
Bridlewood Cat is the consensus choice to hit the board, but DHP gives the speed and pace edge to Kept True. Those two raced in the minor Correction Stakes in March, and Kept True lost the lead in the stretch to finish third with very fast fractions. Bridlewood Cat stumbled at the start and couldn’t recover to finish fourth. The TimeForm Pace Projector is predicting a situation favoring runners on or near the lead, which points toward Kept True.
Fair Regis (4/1) moves from one EPO arrested trainer to EPO trainer Rob Altras. She just missed last race with good action and flying at the finish. Leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes over and a win is within reach.
Exacta and Trifecta bettors can add improving Jennemily (6/1), who is also running for a claiming tag and is working under a new trainer in Steve Asmussen.
Jen’s Battle and Giacosa, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/1 and 7/2
Race 8 is an Allowance races for state-bred fillies and mares going 1 mile on the Inner Turf. The favorite on the rail is Silky Blue (9/5), but we’ll try to beat. Daily Horse Picks likes Jen’s Battle (8/1) and rates her with the top speed followed by pace projector Freddymo Factor (10/1).
We’ll play a price with Jen’s Battle, who is also a Best Bet at Guaranteed Tip Sheet. She won in June and missed the money last start but still hit an 84 sped figure.
Giacosa (7/2) has improved in all three of her starts since June, including a maiden win. She was fourth last time out but should make up ground into a faster pace. She’s fit and can do well if the turf is softer. A win is in sight. Include her in Exacta and Trifecta bets.
Jackie’s Warrior and Rideofalifetime, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2 and 4/1
Race 9 is the $150K Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) for 11 two-year-olds, and it's sprinting 6 furlongs. Trainer Steve Asmussen has two favorites in Cazadero (5/2), who should be included in exotic bets, and Jackie’s Warrior (7/2). But numberFire liked Roderick (6/1), but he’s since been scratched -- with big longshot Market Alert (20/1) and Jackie’s Warrior taking up the slack. Asmussen has won this race four times, and he’s saddled 17 juvenile winners in 2020.
Jackie’s Warrior won on debut in June at Churchill Downs, and a jockey change to strong stretch rider Joel Rosario is only a plus. But Therideofalifetime (4/1) closed hard and made up ground to finish second in that race, and Rideofalifetime came back with an 8-length win last month at 6 furlongs and improved his speed rating to 94. He can rate with leading jockey Jose Ortiz in the saddle again.
Market Alert and Momos (6/1) each won on debut with Momos blowing away the favorite and weaker field on the front end three weeks ago for the leading trainer the past month, Christophe Clement. There's plenty of room to improve, like many 2-year-olds, and Momos should be included in exotic wagering.
