Thistledown Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 6/4/20
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 12:50 p.m. EST, we have nine races at Thistledown. Using our projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.
As always, keep an eye out for scratches and changes.
Three Illusions and Shehasit Too, Race 1
FD Racing Odds: 4/1 and 8/1
Three Illusions (4/1) is our pick to take the day's opening race, which is scheduled for 5.5 furlongs. The mare got second three races ago, though her recent form overall has been pretty shoddy (6-6-2-6 in 2020). But only one horse in this field -- Shehasit Too (8/1), who we will get to in a second -- has noteworthy recent form, and Three Illusions could get a boost from working with a new trainer. Fernando Salazar Becerra, a vet of Thistledown, will be at the controls.
As for Shehasit Too, we have the mare getting second. She's one of the exceptions with recent form, going 4-3-2-7-2 across her last five. This will be her first race since November 11th, and she's coming off an excellent workout on Monday, per Equibase.
Ridge Defense, Race 2
FD Racing Odds: 9/2
Our models like Ridge Defense, the third-favorite at 9/2, to win in Race 2. The gelding has sparkling recent form, going 2-4-1-3 over his last four.
This race -- which is six furlongs -- is a step down in distance for him as he's gone at least one mile in each of his past five outings. This will be his debut under a new trainer and his first race since last August.
It's worth mentioning Charlee's Magic (8/1), who we have getting second. He'll be ridden by Erik Barbaran, who had a 16% win rate and 46% top-three rate at Thistledown over 327 races in 2019.
Rigged Up, Race 9
FD Racing Odds: 3/1
A fourth-place finish last time out (back in November) snapped a four-race top-three streak for Rigged Up, who had gone 3-2-2-3 in the four races prior.
The colt looks like horse to beat in this nine-horse field, and Rigged Up will have Jose A. Bracho on top. Bracho had a superb 63% top-three rate at Thistledown in 2019, including a 24% win rate.
Rigged Up has been in the top three in four of his five career races, and we have him winning as the favorite in the day's finale.
