HORSE RACING

​Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 11/8/20

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 nine 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 racing information.

(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.)

Colt Fiction, Race 1

FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1

The day begins at the seaside track with a 6 1/2 furlong starter Allowance claiming race. Perhaps the most likely winner on Sunday’s card is favorite Colt Fiction (3/1). He returns to the Del Mar surface where he scored a sharp maiden win two races back and then ran a pace-pressing sprint and finished second trying the turf at Santa Anita.

Guaranteed Tip Sheet has a best bet on Colt Fiction finding the winner's circle and chasing down pace-setter Gate Speed (5/2), who has failed to hold mid-stretch leads in his last three stars at shorter distances. The numberFire algorithm has Gate Speed and Colt Fiction finishing first and second, respectively, in a toss up. The FanDuel Racing implied odds suggest a 29% (Gate Speed) and 25% (Colt Fiction) chance of winning. Hollywood’s Best (5/1) has improved in each of his starts and finished second, three lengths behind winner Colt Fiction at Del Mar in late August.

Just Grazed Me, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1

Race 7 is the minor $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for state bred fillies and mares at 7 furlongs. The best horse in the field and top pick, according to Daily Horse Picks, is Just Grazed Me (2/1). She won her comeback last month on turf and is a seven-time winner in 14 starts with multiple triple-digit speed figures. Just Grazed Me is back on dirt with top jockey Umberto Rispoli riding for EPO trainer Phil D’ Amato. Miss Megan (12/1), a stablemate, makes her second start off a layoff after posting a 90 speed figure a month ago when finishing fourth.

Warrens Showtime (5/2) is the top pick of numberFire, and she has the highest last race speed figure and could improve in her second start off the bench. She shortens up and drops into a Cal-bred restricted race and will likely be running late from off the pace. Mo See Cal (3/1) is ridden by leading jockey Flavien Prat for EPO trainer Peter Miller. She's 3-for-3 finishing in the money at Del Mar.

Microrithms, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2

Race 8 is an Allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs, and it drew nine runners. numberFire projects Independence Hall (7/2) to win and edge favorite Microrithms (5/2) for trainer Bob Baffert. Microrithms is a smaller horse but has shown a big heart with five wins in eight starts, including a pair going wire-to-wire this summer at Del Mar.

Independence Hall is a comeback Grade III winner making his first start since March, which was the Grade 1 Florida Derby in which he finished fifth. He makes his California debut, but this race could serve more of a conditioning to get ready for next month’s Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita.

P R Radio Star (8/1) won a pair of highly rated sprints here in the summer and posted a strong 113 speed figure. He flopped in a Grade II race at this track in August and now looks to fire again off the freshening.