Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Wednesday 8/12/20
It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.
Starting at 12:50 p.m. EST, we have nine 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).
Strike That, Race 2
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2
Race 2 drew just five runners at 7 furlongs. This Allowance race has two runners offered at the Optional Claiming tag of $62,500, including the favorite Tiz He the One (6/5), who was claimed after a race in early July by EPO trainer Mike Maker.
But Daily Horse Picks (DHP) prefers Releasethethunder (7/2) to upset the favorite with leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding after the horse won his last race against weaker claimers. DHP rates Tiz He the One with top speed and Releasethethunder with the pace advantage.
The top pick at numberFire is Strike That (5/2), who has posted three straight triple-digit speed figures this year with a win and two runner-up finishes. He’ll be running on the lead looking to hold up and finish well for cold EPO trainer Robertino Diodoro.
Tackle and Voliero, Race 7
FanDuel Racing Odds: 10/1 and 5/1
Race 7 is a Maiden Special Weight with 12 runners going 1-mile on the Inner Turf. No clear favorite but Sandro the Great (7/2) finished runner-up last race for leading trainer Christophe Clement and well clear of Scuttlebuzz (9/2).
The top pick of numberFire is Mundacious (8/1), followed by Voliero (5/1). Mundacious had a bullet-best of 45 morning work a week ago and is looking to improve on his third-place tiring finish the end of June behind runner-up Voliero, whose TimeformUS Speed Figures are superior to this field.
Microsecond (6/1) has hit the board in all three starts and improved his speed figure to 79 last race. Leading rider Jose Ortiz keeps the mount for leading trainer Todd Pletcher.
Tackle (10/1) makes his debut for trainer Bill Mott with consistent works and a sharp bullet-best of 65 on the work tab this month. Go-to jock Junior Alvarado will have him pushing from the gate.
Thoughtfully, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1
Race 9 is the $150K Adirondack Stakes (G2) with six 2-year-old fillies racing 6 ½ furlongs. DHP has Lilac Lace (6/1) on top, followed by Lucifers Lair (3/1) and Thoughtfully (2/1). Lilac Lace is also the top pick of numberFire.
Always looking for continued improvement from these juvenile fillies, and Lilac Lace broke her Maiden on debut a month ago at 19/1 odds with an 86 speed figure. DHP rates her top speed and class as she tries to win from off the pace with an added furlong.
Make Mischief (9/5) is the favorite. She won on debut in June and then finished a distant second as a longshot in the Grade 3 Schuylerville.
Thoughtfully also won on debut handily as the heavy favorite. Top Race Reports notes she’s by Tapit, out of a Seeking the Gold mare, a $950,000 purchase with beautiful, efficient action.
Lucifers Lair won on debut last month with a slower speed figure for the top combo jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. and trainer Todd Pletcher. Include underneath.
