HORSE RACING

​Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 8/2/20

It's a great time to dive into horse racing, and FanDuel Racing gives you the chance to do just that.

Starting at 5:00 p.m. EST, we have 11 races at Del Mar Racetrack. Using our numberFire projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes.

(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.)

Touchdown Brown and Positivity, Race 3

FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1 and 4/1

Race 3 is the $100K minor Graduation Stakes for Cal-bred two-year-olds sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs. Seven runners in here, and the favorite is Touchdown Brown (2/1), looking to score again after an ideal debut win in a shorter sprint in June. He lived up to his advance billing and is working well at Del Mar since with a striking bullet on his work tab a week ago.

Scooby (5/1) has top jock Flavien Prat aboard with a quick break from the gate in place looking for a strong finish. It's tough to gauge some of these unraced juveniles, but Jazz Hands (5/1) has a winning debut race -- by 11 lengths -- to his credit at Los Alamitos but faces a better bunch in this race. Still, numberFire has him on top ahead of Touchdown Brown.

Good With People (3/1) wired maidens three weeks ago. It was an impressive win and 94 speed figure, and Good With People is the only runner that has run over the Del Mar surface. He should be a top challenger with EPO trainer Peter Miller feeding him more than oats and hay.

Positivity (4/1) is training like a beast after winning his debut impressively in May with a 94 speed figure. There's a rider change here to top jock Drayden Van Dyke.

Ollie’s Candy, Race 10

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2

Race 10 is the headliner $250K Clement L. Hirsch (G1) with six fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles. The winner is awarded a fees-paid entry to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland.

Ollie’s Candy (5/2) has a rider change with leading jockey Flavien Prat in the saddle for trainer John Sandler. She was close to winning her last two Grade 1 races, including the Ogden Phipps when posting a 106 speed figure as the top-three finishers came across the line together. She's the second pick of numberFire behind favorite Hard Not To Love (2/1). It's the same projected order of finish at Daily Horse Picks, but Ollie's Candy rates best on the DHP pace projector. Ollie’s Candy last won in this race a year ago, and she can repeat with a patient ride.

Ce Ce (3/1) is legit despite her third-place finish last race as odds-on favorite. She won a pair of Grade 1 races prior, including a late finishing head bob in front of Ollie’s Candy in April’s Apple Blossom at Oaklawn.

Fighting Made (4/1) is not getting enough respect in here for trainer Bob Baffert. She has a pair of wins and a place in three Del Mar starts, including in May when going wire-to-wire to win by 3-plus lengths over both Hard Not To Love and Ce Ce. Fighting Made posted with highest last race speed number when hitting a speed figure of 117.

War Path, Race 11

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2

Race 11 concludes the delightful day at Del Mar, and unfortunately there are still no fans in the stands to enjoy the beautiful Thoroughbreds and seaside track. But we can bet the races, and this is a Maiden Special Weight at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Favorite War Path (5/2) will be tough in this field of nine for trainer Bob Baffert and leading rider Flavien Prat. There's little value as he’ll get bet even more with Divine Armor (3/1) now scratched. But add War Path to your Late Pick 5 knowing this colt is sitting on a Maiden win off his runner-up finish last month, when his late rally came up just short. He improved his speed rating to 97.

Hollywoodhellraisr (8/1) is in here for EPO trainer Phil D’Amato. He can improve after he lost ground in his debut going wide, but he finished third from well of the pace. He goes from sprint to stretching out, something D’Amato plans for.