Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Saturday 8/21/21
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).
Going Global and Madone, Race 9
FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/5 and 5/2
Race 9 is the $300K Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
It's a formful race, and the top pick, according to numberFire’s data, is Madone (5/2) with Going Global (9/5) and Fluffy Socks (4/1) projected to hit the board.
Madone is 3-for-3 at Del Mar and ran her fastest race ever last month when winning the Grade 2 Clement at 1 mile. She tracked down favored Going Global in that one and now tries to repeat going added distance.
Going Global won her five previous racing, including a pair of Grade 3 races at this distance in March and April, with her highest speed figure (104).
Express Train and Royal Ship, Race 10
FanDuel Racing Odds: 3/1 and 7/2
Race 10 is the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic for mostly older horses going 1 1/4 miles. Six horses have morning line odds from 7/2 to 5/1, and numberFire likes Express Train (3/1) and Royal Ship (7/2). FanDuel Racing odds suggest implied win odds of 25% and 20%, respectively, for those two contenders.
The winner of the Pacific Classic earns a fees-paid entry to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Del Mar.
None of these runners will be among the favorites in the Classic, but Express Train won a Grade 2 race last month, defeating Royal Ship and Tripoli (5/1) in a close finish. He’s training very well since and has proven ability at this distance with tactical speed. Money On Tap (20/1) is a longshot with value.
Royal Ship was compromised in that last race but won a Grade 2 and was runner-up in a Grade 1 race prior. Royal Ship should make a strong late run at this distance.
Tizamagician (5/1) will likely push up front with Flavien Prat riding and is a contender, finishing first or second in five of his last six graded stakes starts. Dr. Post (4/1) is 2-for-3 this year, winning at Monmouth last time out with his fastest race -- defeating Whitney winner and BC Classic contender Knicks Go. Top Race Reports and West Coast Handicapping Report rate them both top contenders to win.
United, Race 11
FanDuel Racing Odds: 2/1 and
Race 11 is the $300K Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on the turf. The winner earns an automatic invite to the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Del Mar.
Arklow (5/2) and United (2/1) set up to be quite the battle of East versus West, and numberFire's model gives a slight edge to Arklow. He's a nine-time winner and won a Grade 2 race here last fall. United is the top distance horse in California and won the Grade 2 Eddie Read last time out.
Guaranteed Tip Sheet likes United to prevail and notes he's run five turf races at Del Mar, winning three with two runner-up finishes. Leading jockey Flavien Prat rides again after bringing United home a winner last month in a Grade 2 race at Del Mar.
