Del Mar Horse Racing Picks for Sunday 8/14/22

Updated: Sep 10, 5:00pm UTC

Starting at 5:00 p.m. ET, we have 10 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 horse racing projections, these are the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

1. Halosnheaven and Infinite Diamond, Race 5

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5 and 2/1

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Race 5 is a Maiden Special Weight for 2-year-olds fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs. Infinite Diamond (2/1) is the top pick of numberFire who could challenge and win over the slight favorite Halosnheaven (8/5) and Ice Dancing (5/1).

Halosnheaven had a solid runner-up debut showing speed to chase down the pace setter but caught at the wire by a closer. The meets leading jockey Juan Hernandez rides for controversial trainer Bob Baffert.

Infinite Diamond was scratched from a Grade 2 race Saturday to try and break through with a maiden win here. She had a promising debut at Gulfstream and a bullet workout at his week at Del Mar.

2. Giver Not a Taker and Please Focus, Race 7

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 7/2

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Race 7 is a Maiden sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs for Cal-bred 2-year-olds. Please Focus (7/2) is a top challenger to the favorite, Giver Not a Taker (5/2), according to the numberFire data. Nauvoo (5/1) is one to include in exacta and trifecta wagering.

Please Focus is a sibling to four winners, Giver Not a Taker looks ready to fire with a blazing bullet 5 furlong gate drill.

Nauvoo is by high-percent debut sire Not This Time. The horse gets a 5 lb Apprentice jockey weight break.

3. Pop D'oro and Havnameltdown, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 20/1 and 9/5

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Race 9 is the $200,000 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds sprinting 6 furlongs. Pop D'oro (20/1) is a well-bred longshot who offers value and can challenge ahead of the favorite, Havnameltdown (9/5), who is trained by Bob Baffert - an eight time winner of this race.

Havenameltdown won his debut here last month wire-to-wire as the favorite. Pop D'oro is 1-for-2 and will be coming from off the pace.