Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Friday 8/21/20

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).

Drippin Sauce and Tizhotndusty, Race 2

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 8/1

Race 2 is a Claiming race ($35k) for 3-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs. It's a pretty competitively-priced group, but the favorite Drippin Sauce (5/2) looks good in here. He's dropping down after posting a 94 speed figure and runner-up finish a month ago, losing the lead in the stretch to the favorite and winner. A solid morning work since, and Drippin Sauce also won at Del Mar last summer and at Pleasanton this June. Overbet but included.

The top pick of numberFire ahead of the favorite is Promise Nothing (7/2), who closed for third as a longshot behind Drippin Sauce last race. His rider has changed to top jock Flavien Prat.

Natural History (4-1) is a first time gelding who improved to a career-best 88 speed figure in June at Churchill Downs and was claimed by trainer Robert Hess, Jr. Leading jockey Umberto Rispoli picks up the ride.

Let’s dig deeper for value and follow the lead of Top Race Reports. Tizhotndusty (8/1) finished eighth a month ago “Where the Turf Meets the Surf.” But that was on turf, and he was still within three lengths of the winner with an 84 speed figure and has come back with strong works since. In his two dirt starts, he’s finished third and won his maiden debut.

Big Fish and Scooby, Race 5

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/2 and 3/1

Race 5 is a Maiden Special Weight for baby 2-year-old Cal-breds learning their way, and 10 runners try this 1-mile distance. The two top jockeys Flavien Prat and Umberto Rispoli ride the favorites Scooby (3/1) and Big Fish (7/2). Popular exacta box.

Scooby stretches out and breaks from the rail with Flavien Prat. Scooby is the top pick of numberFire, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer ran Scooby in a stakes race to start her career earlier this month, and she finished third, making up good ground in the stretch.

Big Fish has hit the board in both her summer starts with low 80’s speed figures. She is bred to run all day and finished two lengths in front of Ingest (6/1) last race. Ingest tried the turf two weeks later and flashed speed up front before fading but still in front of Big Talker (12/1), who also switches back to dirt.

An interesting addition underneath is Proud Musket (15/1), removing blinkers and pushing from the front end in a race that lacks fast early pace.

Into Chocolate and Sneaking Out, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/1 and 8/5

Race 9 is the $100K Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) for nine fillies and mares sprinting 6 ½ furlongs. The top pick at numberFire is the favorite Sneaking Out (8/5) followed by Into Chocolate (8/1) and Amuse (5/1). The favorite has won 10 of the last 19 runnings of this race.

Guaranteed Tip Sheet also has Sneaking Out on top, noting that she has finished first or second in 8-of-10 on a fast track with four wins. Sneaking Out is a Cal-bred who has hit triple-digit speed figures in four of her last seven starts, including a career-best 107 when winning the Great Lady (G2) last month at Los Alamitos ahead of the great mare and favorite Bellafina. Sneaking out is a deserving favorite with her best races better than the others in this field and in good form.

Into Chocolate returns to the West Coast second off a layoff after winning last month at Belmont with a 93 speed figure. There's value on her for underrated savvy trainer Cliff Sise, who spots his horses well and finished third here a year ago in a Graded Stakes race.

Artistic Diva (8/1) is a speed horse flipping from turf to dirt, but she finished fourth in the Great Lady (G2), running on the lead through blistering fractions and a fast running track. Her odds were slightly lower than Sneaking Out and now offers value.

Amuse (5/1) finished third in the Great Lady (G2) and top tandem Drayden Van Dyke and Richard Mandella try again. Jockey Mike Smith rides Gingham (6/1) for trainer Bob Baffert, working super off his last race in June with a career-best 97 speed figure in winning a minor stakes. She has finished first or second in two stakes races this year and is improving.