HORSE RACING

​Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Friday 8/13/21

There are eight races at Del Mar on Friday. Which horses are you betting on at FanDuel Racing?

Starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, we have eight races at Del Mar. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing.

As always, check 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.)

Velvet Ghost and Distorted Diva, Race 1

FanDuel Racing Odds: 15/1 and 7/2

Friday night racing at beautiful Del Mar begins with a Maiden Special Weight for 2-year-old state-breds going 1-mile on the turf. It's quite an ask for early young runners, but longshot Velvet Ghost (15/1) could surprise as numberFire’s projected winner in front of Mogolion Rim (7/1) and Distorted Diva (7/2).

Speed has not been holding up in turf routes this summer at Del Mar, and Distorted Diva will try to change that with leading jockey Juan Hernandez riding. He showed improved speed when switching over to turf and finished runner-up recently.

Mongolion Rim is a well-bred first time starter to include, and trainer Tim Yakteen is 3-for-6 with debut 2-year-olds in Del Mar turf routes, according to Horse Racing Radar.

Velvet Ghost makes his debut as a son of Shaman Ghost, a multiple Grade 1 winner with nearly $4 million in track earnings.

Hail Freedom and Tiger’s Arrow, Race 5

FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1 and 15/1

Race 5 is a Maiden Special Weight with at least 9 state-bred runners going 1-mile on the turf. The numberFire model projects Eagle in The Sky (5/2) to top Cool Your Jets (4/1), who is a 6-year-old maiden that’s been off since January.

But Hail Freedom (4/1) is ready to fire off a layoff, according to Top Race Reports who provides details into his racing and sire Box Score. Top turf jockey Umberto Rispoli rides for leading trainer Doug O’Neil.

Longshot Tigers’ Arrow (15/1) will fire a better effort from off the pace in his second start with excellent turf rider Jose Valdivia, Jr. riding and a nice payoff underneath. He was in the same race last month as runner-up Eagle in The Sky, who is on the also-eligible list for today’s race.

Good with People and Beer Can Man, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 7/2

Race 7 is an Allowance race for 3-year-olds sprinting 5 furlongs on the turf. Must like the name and numberFire’s top challenger Beer Can Man (7/2) with Juan Hernandez riding. Beer Can Man has proven stakes form and drops down off a long layoff with a solid work tab in place. He has 3 wins and 5 in-the-money finishes in his last five starts, according to FanDuel Racing odds.

The projected winner according to both numberFire and Guaranteed Tip Sheet’s data is Good With People (3/1) with top jockey Flavien Prat riding for the meets leading trainer, Peter Miller. Good With People is a 4-win multiple stakes horse whose up front running style suits the course profile.