HORSE RACING

​Keeneland Horse Racing Picks for Wednesday 10/21/20

There are eight races on Wednesday at Keeneland. 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 1:05 p.m. EST, we have eight races at Keeneland. Using numberFire’s projections 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.)

Intrepid Heart and Jungle Warfare, Race 5

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 8/1

Race 5 is a Claiming race that drew 8 runners going 1 1/16 miles. The top pick of numberFire, Daily Horse Picks (DHP) and Guaranteed Tip Sheet (GTS) is the favorite Intrepid Heart (5/2). Horse Racing Radar (HRR) notes Intrepid Heart is a son of Tapit for EPO trainer Todd Pletcher and won both his starts this summer. That includes his last with a career-best 109 speed figure when running from off the space and a longer distance.

The field is loaded with EPO trainers, including Robertino Diodoro, who saddles both Jungle Warfare (8/1) and Lone Rock (6/1). Jungle Warfare is off a pair of tough races and results but won a pair of races against better runners this spring and needs to respect the placing.

Trainer Richard Baltas enters Two Thirty Five (8/1) with back class and a former California stakes runner. Trainer Mike Maker has the other top contender by the odds in Mi Tres Por Ciento (4/1), who is a hard runner from Chile and won three straight races and then his U.S. debut this spring. He’s been competitive until his recent race here two weeks ago when he did not finish after losing his rider at the start.

Carpe Vinum and Golden Curl, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 4/1

Race 6 is an Allowance race for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the Turf. Daily Horse Picks projects Naughty Joker (5/1) to win ahead of the favorite Pass the Plate (2/1), who needs plenty of pace to run into and is not a solid favorite but still the top pick of numberFire.

Carpe Vinum (5/2) is a major contender for EPO trainer Phil D’Amato, and HRR notes she posted a 109 speed figure when finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks two months ago with three runners ahead of her winning since. She shortens up in distance, and HRR leading handicappers project a return to top form.

Get Rewarded (12/1) has been very good since returning from a layoff and has a runner-up finish. A good risk/reward at this price, and trainer Brian Lynch has both Get Rewarded and Golden Curl (4/1), who will be forwardly place and has improved in her last two races including a win last race. That was Golden Curl’s second start on turf. Sired by Curlin, Golden Curl posted a career best speed figure of 92 with late speed going a mile.

Union Maiden and Never Forget, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/1 and 3/1

Race 7 is an Allowance race for fillies and mares going 7 furlongs. Never Forget (3/1) breaks from the outside No. 8 post and her trainer Vicki Oliver scratched her from last week’s Grade II Lexus Raven Run in favor of this spot. Never Forget finished third in a Grade II race in early September and has two exceptional workouts including a bullet-best of 117 runners at 4 furlongs.

DHP projects Chad Brown-trained Union Maiden (6/1) to win with three solid workouts in place following a third place finish at this distance from off the pace six weeks ago. GTS and HRR project O Seraphina (9/2) to win followed by Union Maiden and Never Forget. O Seraphina has not raced since breaking her maiden in February.

Storie Blue (6/1) should not be discounted as the numberFire algorithm projects her to win with continued improvement off her two recent third place finishes off a long layoff while posting a career-best 97 speed figure.