HORSE RACING

​Kentucky Downs Horse Racing Picks for Wednesday 9/9/20

Kentucky Downs has 10 races on the turf with full entry lists Wednesday, including the $300K Tapit Stakes. Which horses should you bet on at FanDuel Racing?

It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.

Starting at 1:15 p.m. EST, we have 10 races at Kentucky Downs. Using numberFire’s projections and Daily Horse Picks as a guide, here are some of the best bets.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, and monitor 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.)

Untraceable and Smile Bryan, Race 4

FanDuel Racing Odds: 15/1 and 4/1

The boutique 6-day meet at Kentucky Downs continues Wednesday with some of the best turf racing in the county. A full double-digit entry list make up all 10 races on America’s only European-style (all turf) racecourse with its unique design.

Race 4 is an Allowance race at 6.5 furlongs on the Turf. The top pick according to Daily Horse Picks (DHP) data is Well Connected (6/1) on the rail for EPO trainer Mike Maker. Guaranteed Tip Sheet also projects Well Connected to win as a best bet with top jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding.

Well Connected is a 3-year-old facing older horses for the first time. He finished second on August 1, sprinting 6 furlongs, and will be up front on the pace with longshot Untraceable (15/1), who posted a faster speed figure (98) in his last race when finishing third at 1 1/16 miles while carrying the lead for a full mile. Untraceable will be an overlooked longshot but can pay off in Exacta and Trifecta wagers or across the board bets. Heros Reward (12/1) will be pressing the pace behind the frontrunners.

Smile Bryan (4/1) is ridden by leading jockey Jose Ortiz for trainer Graham Motion. He’s in good form and health having won in June at a mile and then runner-up less than three weeks ago as a favorite.

The horse with top class and speed according to DHP is American Mandate (6/1) for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Red Storm Risen and Born Great, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/2 and 6/1

Race 7 is a Maiden Special Weight at 6.5 furlongs on the Turf. Born Great (6/1) is a son of Scat Daddy and a best bet of Guaranteed Tip Sheet. He came running strong late to finish third in his June debut in a shorter sprint. His 94 speed figure was solid, and he’ll enjoy the added distance with Tyler Gaffalione riding. Ricardo Santana, Jr. gets off Born Great to ride Lautrec (12/1) for his regular trainer Steve Asmussen. He’s a son of Bernardini, making his 2020 debut with one race under his belt.

Grandmas Favorite (4/1) with Jose Ortiz riding and Red Storm Risen (9/2) will take some money. Grandmas Favorite is still trying to break through in his sixth start and did not race in 2019. He finished second from off the pace in his 2020 debut three weeks ago but is still lacking enough speed. Red Storm Risen has more speed and carried it on the front end for a mile last race before finishing third at a longer distance on the all-weather track at Woodbine.

English Bee and Ramsey Solution, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 12/1

Race 9 is the featured $300K Tapit Stakes at 1 mile 70 yards on the Turf. FanDuel Racing shows this as a competitive race, and six horses have single-digit odds. The algorithm of DHP projects Hembree (9/2) to win for trainer Mike Maker ahead of Maker’s other colt Morocco (15/1) on the rail with Jose Ortiz riding. Mike Maker also has Empire of War (8/1) running in this race, and he’s won two in a row against less quality runners.

Hembree is a well-traveled 6-year-old who has not win a race in 19 months but posted triple-digit speed figures in 12 straight races since winning. DHP rates Hembree top class along with English Bee (5/1). English Bee has finished first or second in 8-of-16 starts and raced in graded stakes races in four of his five starts in 2020. He’s a closer who finished second in June but sixth last race while still posting a 113 speed figure. Ritzy A. P. (15/1) is scratched along wtih Hierarchy (8/1) and Hemp Hemp Hurray (30/1).

Guaranteed Tip Sheet is going with Big Score (4/1) to win as he tries for back-to-back wins in his third start in 2020. The 6-year-old hit his highest speed figure (114) in nearly three years in his Allowance score at Del Mar less than three weeks ago.

Ramsey Solution (12/1) is a lightly race 4-year-old making his stakes debut for trainer Wesley Ward. He won wire-to-wire in May and missed the money last race. But Ward gave his colt a workout days ago and his bullet work showed good speed from the gate making him ready to run stepping up in class.