Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 8/4/22

Starting at 1:05 p.m. ET, we have 10 races at Saratoga. Using numberFire’s projections as a guide, here are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing.

As always, check the program at "The Spa" 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).

Saratoga Betting

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

1. Mystic Night and Art Collector, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 7/5

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Rae 8 is the $135,000 Alydar Stakes for older horses at 1 1/8 miles. The favorite and top pick of numberFire in the six-horse field is last October's Grade 1 Woodward Stakes winner Art Collector (7/5). He also won this race last year after Bill Mott took over as trainer, but has not raced since February when he finished 12th in the Saudi Cup. Art Collector has been training very well over the Saratoga surface with multiple bullet works.

Bal Harbour (8/1) returns to trainer Todd Pletcher's barn and makes his 2022 debut. He hasn't won a race since 2018, but has finished in-the-money in more than half his 19 starts since then.

Mystic Night (5/2) figures to get bet from the rail as he goes out for the popular top trainer/jockey duo Chad Brown and Irad Ortiz, Jr. He's 2-for-2 this year with a top 108 speed figure after missing in his minor stakes try last December. Working better and his off the pace and closing style can deliver and projected to hit the board by numberFire.

2. Atone and Good Governance, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 3/1

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Race 9 is an Allowance race at 1-mile on the turf. Atone (5/2) is a deserving favorite for EPO trainer Mike Maker and a top choice by nunberFire's data. He's runs well at Saratoga and has been in solid form without winning this year in four starts. Now he drops from a series of stakes races.

Fellow EPO trainer Chad Brown has a pair of European runners to challenge with Emaraaty (6/1) ridden by Flavien Prat and Good Governance (3/1) with Irad Ortiz, Jr.

3. Mandy Green and Freedomofthepress, Race 10

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 9/2
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Race 10 is a Starter Allowance sprint for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Miss Domina (5/2) is the favorite of 10 runners, She won here on the dirt last summer and then was third on the turf, but her form has not been strong since.

Stuck On Kitten (3/1) is a lightly race 4-year-old who finished first and second to close last year and was fourth in her comeback last month.

Freedomofthepress (9/2) was just a neck behind Stuck On Kitchen last race, but she had the lead in the stretch before faltering after fast fractions going 6 furlongs. Live chance at a better price to hit the board or win. Mandy Green (5/1) has improved her speed at Belmont in two races since May and is one to watch and consider from off the pace, according to numberFire's projections.