Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 9/3/20
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 numberFire’s 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.)
Mischievous Dream, Race 3
FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1
Race 3 is minor stakes race for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the Inner Turf. Be sure to check the weather and program for scratches and changes as 29 horses were scratched yesterday with rain and a muddy track, and some races were taken off the turf. There's expected to be some scattered rain Thursday at Saratoga, and two of the seven runners are racing only if the race stays on the turf. This race has also been changed to 7 furlongs.
Daily Horse Picks projects Mischievous Dream (4/1) to win for trainer Christophe Clement followed by Simply Ravishing (9/2). Clement is one of the top trainers at the Saratoga summer meet with a 22% win rate. Mischievous Dream won a turf sprint on debut and then finished fourth in a minor stakes two weeks ago, sprinting again. There's been a jockey change to leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. as she stretches out looking to settle off the pace, and her 80 speed figure last race can improve again.
Clement also has the favorite entered with Plum Ali (8/5) off her maiden debut win the end of July coming from well of the pace, which matches well with patient, strong stretch rider Joel Rosario.
Invincible Gal (8/5) stretches out after winning on debut a month ago at 5 1/2 furlongs. There's a change of riders to leading jockey Jose Ortiz.
Spin a Yarn, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2
Race 6 is a $100K New York Stallion Series race restricted to 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. There's seven runners with favorite Officer Hutchy (9/5) the top pick, according to numberFire's data. Daily Horse Picks' projected winner is The Important One (6/1) followed by Officer Hutchy with Guaranteed Tip Sheet making Spin a Yarn (5/2) a best bet.
Spin a Yarn is 4-for-4, including three wins at Finger Lakes since July. She’ll face better runners in this one, but she’s been a dominant front-running winner in two recent races as a heavy favorite and posted a 94 speed figure.
Officer Hutchy has won two of her five starts this year, including two-and-a-half weeks ago when pressing the pace and posting a 99 speed figure. Her EPO trainer Rob Altras is feeding her right and brings her back quickly to race again for a bigger prize.
The Important One came from way off the pace to win two races back in June but finished poorly last time out, and her best speed figure is 82 in four starts.
Harlem Heights, Race 10
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1
The nightcap in Race 10 is a Maiden Special Weight for 10 fillies and mares racing one mile on the Inner Turf. Guaranteed Tip Sheet and numberFire both like the Shug McGaughey-trained Harlem Heights (5/1) to win.
Harlem Heights had a poor trip a month ago and was steadied in the stretch before finishing fourth. The race prior in July, she finished second with an 85 speed figure and was seven lengths in front of the horse in third place. Leading jockey Jose Ortiz rides Harlem Heights again.
Brother Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides the favorite Counterparty Risk (2/1) from the outside post for EPO trainer Chad Brown, who has 26 wins and trails Todd Pletcher by one victory with five days remaining in the meet. Counterparty Risk makes her career debut as a 3-year-old.
