HORSE RACING

Tampa Bay Downs Horse Racing Picks for Friday 5/22/20

With most of the sports world on pause, it's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.

Starting at 12:35 p.m. EST, we have nine races at Tampa Bay Downs. Using our projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.

As always, keep an eye out for scratches and changes.

Itsagimme's Girl, Race 2

FD Racing Odds: 4/1

Itsagimme's Girl (4/1) is a sweet value in the day's second race. Both our projections and DailyHorsePicks.com have the mare winning from the outside starting spot -- yet she's only the third-favorite behind Mast Cove (3/1) and Mambo Dancer (7/2).

DHP's pace and speed ratings rank Itsagimme's Girl atop this field, and they give her a 35% chance to win, along with 89% odds of getting in the top three. Fancy Fox (24%) was the only other horse with win odds better than 18%, and she's been scratched.

According to Timeform, Itsagimme's Girl won here over a mile back on March 21st, and this race is slated for only six furlongs. We have her getting another win today.

Tiz Approved, Race 4

FD Racing Odds: 2/1

Tiz Approved (2/1) looks like a worth favorite in Race 4. Our models, DHP and Timeform all have the gelding winning this one.

He has crossed in first in each of his last two races, both of which came at Tampa Bay Downs. Those went six and seven furlongs, with today's outing going seven.

DHP gives Tiz Approved a pace rating nearly double that of any other horse's in the field, and he is tops in their speed rating, as well.

The 2/1 odds aren't sexy, but all signs point to Tiz Approved running away with this one. If you want an underdog, it's worth giving a look to Global Dinner (8/1), who DHP has second in both pace and speed ratings.

Rachiely's Dream and Adonai Bless, Race 8

FD Racing Odds: 4/1 and 9/2

There's value to be had in Race 8 in the form of Rachiely's Dream (4/1) and Adonai Bless (9/2), the second- and third-favorites behind Her Name Is Star (7/2).

Rachiely's Dream has run six times in 2020, per Equibase, notching a first and a second. Over the filly's career, she's raced nine times and come in the top three in four of them. Adonai Bless has been busy in 2020, racing nine times already, and the results haven't been pretty with a lone top-three outing (second place).

DHP gives Rachiely's Dream a 15% chance to win and a 45% chance to get in the top three, but she rates out atop this field by both DHP's pace and speed ratings. Adonai Bless comes in second in speed rating and has a 22% chance to win (61% odds of a top-three), according to DHP. And don't sleep on Red Kitten (5/1), DHP's pick to win, though we don't have Red Kitten in the top three.

All in all, this looks like a volatile race, so passing on Her Name Is Star in favor of Rachiely's Dream and/or Adonai Bless makes a lot of sense.