Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Thursday 7/21/22

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 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. V Mart and Forbidden Secret, Race 4

FanDuel Racing Odds: 6/1 and 3/1
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Race 4 is a Maiden Special Weight for 2-year-olds sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs. The numberFire projected order of finish is Forbidden Secret (3/1) to win ahead of Run Poppy (5/2) and Smart Prize (7/2).

With green, inexperienced runners, these races can produce payoffs, and V Mart (6/1) is worth including as a contender and in exacta and trifecta wagering. He's a son of Hard Spun with some strong works leading up to his debut.

Forbidden Secret also makes his debut with a recent bullet work like V Mart.

2. Mia Bea Star and Caragate, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/1 and 2/1
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Race 8 is an Allowance race for state bred fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles. The numberFire algorithm projects the favorite U Guys are No Fun (4/5) to win with leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding from the rail. Mia Bea Star (8/1) and Captainsdaughter (7/2) round out the order of finish.

Caragate (2/1) is sired by the great Arrogate, and she's hit the board in 3-of-4 starts this year but without a win including last race as the favorite.

Mia Bea Star finished third a few lengths behind Caragate last race, but has been a consistent Allowance starter who also finished runner-up over this track last summer.

3. Dakota Gold and Practice Squad, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/5 and 9/2
Bet Now at TVG | Bet Now at FanDuel


Race 9 is the minor Rick Violette Stakes for state bred 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf. The numberFire data project the favorite Dakota Gold (4/5) to win with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons. Both Practice Squad (9/2) and Coinage (5/2) are projected to hit the board.

Dakota Gold has won 3-of-4 races and his only miss was a fifth place finish in last Novembers Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He makes his second start of 2022 off a NY Stallion Stakes win as the heavy favorite.