Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 8/16/20
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.)
Our Lady of Loreto, Race 3
FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1
Race 3 is a Claiming race for fillies and mares, and it's sprinting 6 furlongs. Favorite Lady C (9/5) won back in January and has hit the board in three straight races since the pandemic. That includes a runner-up finish late last month against similar claimers when unable to chase down the frontrunner.
Daily Horse Picks likes Rude Awakening (7/2) on top followed by Pick Up the Fone (5/2). DHP rates Lady C best in class and speed, but the pace projector favors Rude Awakening, who missed badly in June off a layoff after winning in March. Pick Up the Fone is the top pick of numberFire and had a better speed rating (89) in a runner-up finish last month following a frontrunning win in March against lesser claimers.
Our Lady of Loreto (4/1) did not show quite as strong a speed figure in winning late last month, but EPO trainer Rudy Rodriguez did see improvement from this filly. She can challenge at a better price and hitting the board is projected as the second choice of numberFire. .
He’s No Lemon, Race 5
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2
Race 5 is an Allowance race at 1 3/8 miles on the Inner Turf. Favorite Nakamura (9/5) was working sharp for his 2020 debut when he finished third in the Elkhorn (G2), getting brushed twice in the stretch making a move. Both Daily Horse Picks and numberFire rate the Graham Motion-trained Nakamura on top followed by Pillar Mountain (5/2) and He’s No Lemon (5/2), also trained by Motion.
He’s No Lemon finished eighth in the Elkhorn Stakes behind Nakamura but had lower odds and also posted a 113 speed figure in June when finishing a strong closing third in the Louisville Stakes (G3). He’s No Lemon won at the Spa a year ago with Javier Castellano, who returns to ride him for the first time since.
Pillar Mountain is racing second off a layoff and is still trying to find a closing kick from off the pace. He’ll take money but not ours with leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding for EPO trainer Todd Pletcher.
Queen’s Embrace, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 10/1
Race 9 is the $500K Saratoga Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 3/8 miles. The top pick at numberFire is the favorite Enola Gay (2/1), ridden by leading jockey Jose Ortiz. She’s 2-for-3 and won last month by a nose off a long layoff. That was her graded stakes debut, and she now stretches out further and faces the top-four finishers exiting the Lake Placid (G2) here last month.
Speaktomeofsummer (3/1) closed to catch Stunning Sky (7/2) and win by a neck last race, and numberFire calls for the same finish here. Queen’s Embrace (10/1) came from off the pace to finish third just in front of longshot Key Biscayne (15/1). Stunning Bay can move forward, but Queen’s Embrace has five wins in her last seven starts and offers value with Tyler Gaffalione riding. Queen's Embrace is a better price and has the late closing speed to run down the pace in this race.
