Belmont Park Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 9/19/20
With most of the sports world on pause, it's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.
Starting at 1:00 p.m. EST, we have 10 races at Belmont Park. 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.)
Antoinette, Race 5
FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5
Race 5 is the $250K Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3-year-old fillies. This 1 1/2-mile race is on the Inner Turf, and the top pick -- according to Daily Horse Picks and numberFire -- is favorite Magic Attitude (1/1) followed by Antoinette (9/5).
There are just five fillies running in this race, and Magic Attitude makes her U.S. debut for EPO trainer Arnaud Delacour. She won in May but missed in her last two races in France.
Antoinette won her only Belmont inner turf race a year ago and also won a month ago wire-to-wire at nearly the same distance. She recorded her best ever speed figure of 108 in that race, and jockey John Velazquez rides again. She has had sharp workouts for trainer Bill Mott in the mornings since that win. Neige Blanche (5/1) recorded the best last-race speed figure (113) in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last month and is a rare cross-country ship for trainer Leonard Powell, according to Top Race Reports.
Top trainer Chad Brown has won this race five of eight years but has no fillies entered despite plenty in his barn.
Batyah, Race 7
FanDuel Racing Odds: 10/1
Race 7 is a Maiden Special Weight for 2-year-old fillies at 1 mile on the turf. The top pick by numberFire’s data is Island Treasure (6/1) followed by Amortization (7/2).
Island Treasure makes her debut for trainer Shug McGaughey and has a solid work tab in place. Amortization also debuts and has had consistent morning works for the aforementioned Brown.
We’ll take a better price on first-time runner Batyah (10/1) for trainer Graham Motion. She has a bullet in place on her work tab, and there has been wagering across the board on this first-time filly.
Lilly Simone (15/1) and Momentita (10/1) have been scratched.
Flashpackinbarbie, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/5
Race 8 is a 6-furlong sprint for state-bred fillies and mares. Both numberFire and Daily Horse Picks project Flashpackinbardie (7/5) to win as the favorite with Firenze Freedom (6/1) to finish in-the-money.
Flashpackinbardie is in good health and stringing together races since winning over this track in July. Her speed ratings have improved lately, and she also had a runner-up finish in a similar Allowance race in which she ran on the lead before losing to a top mare and race favorite Flashpackinbarbie is paired in an entry with her stablemate, Blitchton Lady (7/5).
