Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 7/24/22

Starting at 5:00 p.m. ET, we have 11 races Sunday at Del Mar, "Where the Turf meets the Surf."

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, and monitor the weather and track conditions.

(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).

Del Mar Betting

According to numberFire Racing's projections, these are the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Tapatio Leo and Stay in the Game, Race 6

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 4/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 6 is a Maiden Special Weight for Cal-bred 2-year-olds sprinting 5 furlongs. A pair of Stay Thirsty juveniles are in the mix with the debut of Tapatio Leo (5/1) and Stay in the Game (4/1), who improved his speed and runner-up finish behind the favorite in his third start last month.

Tapatio Leo is the projected winner according to numberFire's data with first time starters Duty First (5/1) and Warrens World (12/1) completing the finishing position.

2. Tizamagician and Dicey Mo Chara, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5 and 4/1
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 8 is the $125,000 Cougar II Stakes (G3) at 1 1/2 miles. Tizamagician (8/5) makes his first start in eight months, but numberFire's algorithm still likes his chances to win as the top choice. He's finished 1st or 2nd in 14-of-21 starts and won this race last summer.

Dicey Mo Chara (4/1) has posted triple-digit speed figures in his last three starts with a pair of in-the-money including a close runner-up in a Grade 3 race. He's projected to hit the board along with Extra Hope (4/1), who is rounding into form off a runner-up finish. Heywood's Beach (5/2) finished 4th in his 2022 debut in a Grade 1 turf mile, and can improve on that finish stretching out.

3. Smooth Like Strait, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/5
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel

Race 9 is the $100,000 Wickerr Stakes at 1-mile on the turf. A full field of 13 runners, and Smooth Like Strait (6/5) is a formidable favorite breaking from the No. 12 post. He's the top pick of numberFire with a 46% chance of winning based on the morning line odds at FanDuel Racing. Bran (5/1) is the projected runner-up.

Smooth Like Strait is the class of the field, and drops from a pair of in-the-money finishes in graded stakes to run in this restricted stakes race. Smooth Like Strait has 2 wins and 4 runner-up finishes in six starts at Del Mar.