Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 11/14/20
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.)
Secret Touch, Race 6
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1
Race 5 is an Allowance Race at 1 mile, and numberFire's projections like favorites Kiss Today Goodbye (5/2), Secret Touch (3/1) and Canadian Pride (3/1) to decide this race. So does Guaranteed Tip Sheet, who makes Secret Touch a best bet. However, Daily Horse Picks projects Bob Baffert-trained longshot Dark Prince (12/1) to steal this race with the meet's leading jockey Abel Cedillo riding. He’s shown nothing in two starts this year and last won in 2018, but his bullet work and best-of-28 at the distance nine days ago is intriguing.
Horse for the course Secret Touch was claimed last time out by trainer Robert Hess Jr. following a runner-up finish in a highly rated route race. Secret Touch is versatile and in peak form. Horse Racing Radar notes Secret Touch has won 4-of-7 at Del Mar.
Today Goodbye missed by just a length in his last dirt start, which was a $100K stakes race. He tried the turf without success his last two starts against graded stakes runners.
Preaching Trainer and Mr. Lovejoy, Race 7
FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1 and 8/1
Race 7 is an Allowance race, and nine runners are lined up to sprint 5 furlongs on the turf. The top pick going by numberFire’s algorithm is Thanks Mr. Eidson (7/2) followed by Preaching Trainer (4/1) with top turf rider Umberto Rispoli in the irons.
There is lots of speed in this race, and Mr. Edison should be up front. He finished runner-up in his last two starts at this level. Lightly raced four-year-old Preaching Trainer won his only start on the Del Mar turf, rallying from the back of the pack in July with a 92 speed figure. He’s posted three faster speed figures this year. Trainer Carla Gaines has just six starts at the meet, but her horses have finished in the money four times, including two wins.
Guaranteed Tip Sheet likes Mr. Lovejoy (8/1), who comes in with four straight wins at Prairie Meadows. Horse Racing Radar notes those races were all on the dirt, but this speedster has won on turf before and will be among those sprinting fast up front. Psycho Dar (5/1) is on a roll seeking his third straight win.
Private Mission and Queengol, Race 8
FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5 and 4/1
Race 8 is the $100K Desi Arnaz Stakes for two-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. Plum Sexy and Varda are now scratched, leaving the field at six runners. Trainer Bob Baffert has two of them with favorite Private Mission (9/5) and Heels Up (8/1). Guaranteed Tip Sheet likes Private Mission to win and notes she won her debut as the even-money favorite. Daily Horse Picks also projects Private Mission to win but rates the speed of Astute the best. And numberFire projects Queengol (4/1) and longshot Miss Costa Rica (10/1) to hit the board and decide the winner.
Queengol won her debut and has come back with a solid work tab since finishing runner-up as the favorite in a stakes race last month. Astute (3/1) won her debut on turf and now switches to dirt. Mike Smith rides for respected trainer Richard Mandella.
