Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 8/29/20
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 11 races at Del Mar Racetrack. Using numberFire’s 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.)
Goodtingscominpink, Race 3
FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1
Race 3 is a starter Allowance race for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the Turf. Seven runners entered, and numberFire projects Goodtingscominpink (4/1) to win. So does Top Race Reports, who says she will race up closer to the front this time before taking over at the top of the lane. Goodtingscominpink missed by a nose last race, but a jockey switch to Abel Cedillo is positive. Top Race Reports notes that Cedillo has won 20 of his 23 races when he's on the lead or within two lengths at the half-mile pole.
Freedom Lass (3/1) on the rail is ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who is tied with Flavien Prat with 36 wins at the Del Mar summer meet. Prat rides Hello Bubbles (5/2), who is the favorite yet has failed to finish in-the-money in the last nine starts. Go figure. Ask the oddsmaker about that morning line. Daily Horse Picks does project Hello Bubbles to win as top class in the race, but DHP notes the speed favors Goodtingscominpink and Zucchera (7/2).
Shes’a Perfectlady and Lilypop, Race 5
FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/1 and 5/1
Race 5 is a Maiden Special Weight for fillies and mares sprinting 5 furlongs on the Turf. The top pick of numberFire’s model is Transporter (6/1) followed by favorite Fierce for Sul (5/2), who is ridden by leading jockey Umberto Rispoli for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.
But this is a very strong group of runners, according to Top Race Reports, which sides with better value on Shes’a Perfectlady (8/1) and Lilypop (5/1), the latter of whom is working fantastic for her debut and EPO trainer Richard Baltas. A good rider choice with Abel Cedillo up, and this trainer/jockey combo won for us with a debut winner Friday in Race 7.
Shes’a Perfectlady has consistently quick drills on her work tab, including a bullet-best of 52 runners recently. Trainer Carla Gains doesn’t have a lot of runners and is just 1-for-22 at the Del Mar summer meet, but this one is looks live to hit the board and potentially steal it at favorable odds.
Flagstaff, Race 10
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2
Race 10 is the Grade 2 $150K Pat O’Brien Stakes with 8 runners racing 7 furlongs. The winner earns a fees-paid entry to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup on November 7.
DHP projects C Z Rocket (4/1) to win with leading jockey Flavien Prat riding for EPO trainer Peter Miller. DHP also likes Law Abidin Citizen (5/1) to finish in front of favorite Flagstaff (5/2). However, numberFire’s algorithm projects Flagstaff to outduel Law Abidin Citizen -- with implied odds on Flagstaff suggesting a 29% chance to win, according to FanDuel Racing.
Law Abidin Citizen will likely be pressing the pace with Flagstaff, who has competed well against some very strong runners. Flagstaff is fit and ready off a pair of races with a 112 speed figure.
C Z Rocket has won three in a row against lesser foes but has hit triple-digit speed figures in all three races.
