Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 11/1/20
It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.
Starting at 3:30 p.m. EST, we have 9 races at Del Mar. 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.)
Big Hoof Dynamite, Race 3
FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5
It’s Day 2 of the 15-day fall meet at Del Mar, and we hit a pair of winners on these pages yesterday, including a 6/1 winner and $14.80 win payout. Another numberFire winner was a Race 3 favorite, which is the case again for this Claiming race for seven runners at one mile.
Big Hoof Dynamite (8/5) won here in August at this distance with a late rally and 96 speed figure. He finished third and fourth in recent races against better runners and looks likely to win and take the beating as the top pick of numberFire. Big Hoof Dynamite is one of the two fastest runners in the race along with Blame It On Kitty (5/2), who has some appeal for a new barn and finished a close second at this level, track and distance in July. Blame It On Kitty followed with an in-the-money finish and 103 speed figure in August but missed the money in his last two starts.
Daily Horse Picks (DHP) likes those two to hit the board and gives a slight edge to winner to aptly-named Race Home (6/1).
Fratelli and Tizhotndusty, Race 7
FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 6/1
Race 7 is an Allowance race and optional claiming for state breds, and it is going 6 1/2 furlongs. DHP and numberFire project Fratelli (5/2) to win and Tizhotndusty (6/1) to finish in-the-money. Fratelli is in solid form and hit the board in each of his last three races. That includes three weeks ago when he finished a close third running up front in a speed duel in his fastest race with a 109 speed figure. A recent strong morning work suggests he’s ready to fire again.
Tizhotndusty has been training very well for a month and won here there weeks ago with a 105 speed figure and fast fractions. Policy (5/1) has run well on this track and will try to fire his best off a long layoff since February. I Will Not (7/2) has a better chance after winning off a long layoff just three weeks ago with a 99 speed figure on the turf. I Will Not won on dirt at Del Mar last November.
Rookie Mistake and Margot’s Boy, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 12/1 and 3/1
Race 8 is the minor $75,000 Let It Ride Stakes restricted to 3-year-olds at one mile on the turf. This is a wide open race, and DHP projects longshot Rookie Mistake (12/1) to win for trainer Doug O’Neill. He won a sprint here in early September with a 97 speed figure and then posted a 107 speed figure when finishing third in a shorter sprint and troubled trip. He looks capable of stretching out and finishing in-the-money in his fifth straight start since late summer.
Margot’s Boy (3/1) just missed against a stronger field when pressing the pace and finishing second in the Grade II Del Mar Derby in early September. He posted a 113 speed figure in that race, and a repeat would likely have taking his picture in the winner's circle. Longshot Lure Him In (12/1) is the top pick by numberFire’s data, and he has a decent chance on his speed figures -- having posted a 105 speed figure last race in September when finishing second in a minor stakes race at Gulfstream.
Heywood’s Beach (7/2) misfired badly in the Del Mar Derby but could make an off-the-pace move with plenty of pace in the race from Margot’s Boy, Jammers Justice (15/1) and Dominant Soul (8/1). Lane Way (4/1) improved when switching to the turf this summer with a pair of runner-up finishes and also a win here in late August to break his maiden. His 107 speed figure last race at this distance makes him an improving contender.
