HORSE RACING

​Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 8/21/21

Jay Ginsbach  —  @FairwayJay Aug 21st, 2021

Starting at 1:05 p.m. EST, we have 11 races at Saratoga. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing.

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.)

Striking Speed, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/1

Race 8 is a Claiming race at 7 furlongs, and the numberFire's model projects Golani Brigade (7/2) for EPO trainer Chad Brown to hit the wire first ahead Brown’s other runner, favorite Identity Politics (9/5).

Golani Brigade is winless in three starts this year, but this field is fairly weak, with Identity Politics just 2-for-16 and winless since 2019.

Striking Speed (8/1) offers value for EPO trainer Rob Atras and is projected to hit the board. He makes his second start off a long layoff. He won here last year and is now faster and improved.

Technical Analysis, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/5

Race 9 is the $200K Grade 2 Lake Placid for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. numberFire projects European favorite Technical Analysis (6/5) to win in front of Spanish Loveaffair (3/1) and Runaway Rumour (7/2).

Horse Racing Radar notes Technical analysis has won 3-of-5 starts and posted the top last-race speed figure.

Runaway Rumour finished behind the top pick last race but has three wins in four races. Ego Trip (6/1) is an English horse that may run best on softer turf.

Malathaat, Race 10

FanDuel Racing Odds: 1/1

Race 10 is the $600K Grade 1 Alabama Stakes for three-year-olds fillies at 1 1/4 miles on the main track.

The race has a prohibitive favorite -- Malathaat (1/1) -- and numberFire likes her to prevail as she's won 5-of-6. She’s the daughter of the great Curlin, and she won the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, defeating Will’s Secret (15/1) and Clairiere (6/1), who has leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding and has been very consistent.

Maracuja (7/2) won her first stakes race last month with a career-best 107 speed figure to upset Malathaat and Clairiere. But Malathaat was off a three-month layoff and still continues to run faster as she matures.

Army Wife (6/1) has won three of her last four and will likely be trying to make up ground late.