Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 8/18/22

Starting at 1:05 p.m. ET, we have 10 races Thursday 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. Tsuris and Clear the Deck, Race 5

FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/1 and 3/1

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Race 5 is a Maiden Special Weight for 2-year-olds sprinting 6 furlongs. The horse on the rail, Tsuris (4/1) is the top pick, according to the numberFire data. Uncle Dan (4/1) and Clear the Deck (3/1) are considered contenders.

Clear the Deck finished second in his debut, and trainer Kenny McPeek adds blinkers looking for a quicker start from jockey John Velazquez.

Tsuris makes his debut, and he's a big, good-looking runner based on his early workouts.

2. Winit and Perceived, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/2 and 4/1

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Race 8 is an Allowance race at 1 1/8 miles.

The tepid favorite Winit (5/2) ooks to make it two in a row after breaking his maiden last race, and he's really improved this summer. But the numberFire data projects. Perceived (4/1) in front of Complete Agenda (3/1). Nabakov takes a big drop in class after a poor effort last time out in a Grade 3 race.

3. Royal Dancer and Busy Morning, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 9/2 and 2/1

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Race 9 is the $150,000 New York Stallion Series Stakes restricted to 3-year-old fillies going 1-mile on the inner tur. Royal Dancer (9/2) with leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. should get the front and is a threat to stay their down the stretch as the top pick of numberFire. She's still a maiden, and finished a very close third behind Dream Central (5/2) in this Stallion Series race in June. Robyn and Eli (5/1) and the favorite Busy Morning (2/1) are projected in-the-money finishers.

Robyn and Eli nearly won at this level two starts back, but didn't handle this track last race. Busy Morning had a breakout performance at 6 furlongs, and tries a 1-mile distance again after missing prior.