HORSE RACING

Ellis Park Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 7/2/20

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 today, we have nine races at Ellis Park. Using our projections as a guide, here's a look at some of the best bets.

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

(I will be referencing Equibase's speed figure, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions.)

Gangly, Race 2 (1:18 p.m. EST)

FD Racing Odds: 9/2

Our model picks Gangly (9/2) in Race 2. Per Timeform, this race is a bump down in both distance and competition for the colt. His previous tough competition partly explains why he has just one top-three finish in five 2020 tries despite speed figures of at least 72 in each of his last four races, according to Equibase. His 2020-best speed figure of 85 is better than anything posted by favorite It's My Bag Baby (2/1), who has a career-best speed figure of 83. Gangly will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano, who had a 15% win rate in 2019.

Easy Shot, Race 6 (3:10 p.m. EST)

FD Racing Odds: 7/2

There's a lot to like about Easy Shot (7/2) in Race 6. The colt is in great form and is getting faster with each race. His speed figures in his three 2020 events have been 93, 97 and 101, with the 101 tying a career-best mark. The results have followed as Easy Shot has three top-two finishes across his past four outings, including one win. The one exception in there was a seventh-place finish in the race in which he recorded a 101 speed figure. Easy Shot also gets a boost at jockey as James Graham registered a 17% win rate and 47% top-three rate here last season.

While Cashanova (5/2) is the favorite and has a pair of wins over his past five races, he doesn't have the speed figures Easy Shot does. Cashanova checks in with a career-best speed figure of 90, so if Easy Shot is on form, he looks like the horse to beat.

Jordan's Kitten, Race 8 (4:10 p.m. EST)

FD Racing Odds: 15/1

Want to bet on a long shot? Check out Jordan's Kitten (15/1). Our model has him taking second in Race 8, though this will be his first outing of the season, so there's some risk here.

Jordan's Kitten put up a career-best speed figure of 96 in his penultimate race of 2019, and that's better than the career-best 95 clip from Lady Oxbow (3/1), the favorite. Jordan's Kitten hasn't been nearly as consistent as Lady Oxbow, which is probably a big reason why we project Lady Oxbow to win. But betting on Jordan's Kitten to place or show is appealing at these odds, and he gets Corey J. Lanerie -- owner of a 22% win rate and 53% top-three rate a year ago -- at the controls.