Saratoga Horse Racing Picks for Friday 7/14/23

It's opening weekend at Saratoga Race Course and the summer meet runs through Labor Day, Sept. 4. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) set up a summer schedule that includes 40 racing days and 71 stakes worth a total of $20.8 million in purses. A total of 19 Grade 1 races is highlighted by the 95th running of the Whitney on Aug. 5 and the 154th Travers on Aug. 26.

Friday's post time is 1:10 p.m. ET from Saratoga Springs. Get in the game with mobile betting on FanDuel Sportsbook.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, and monitor the weather and track conditions with potential rain in the forecast.

(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 Picks

According to numberFire horse racing projections and Guaranteed Tip Sheet, these are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing on July 14.

1. Accede and Randomized, Race 4

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5 and 7/5
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Race 4 is the $135,000 Wilton Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 mile. A compact field of five and the numberFire data and Guaranteed Tip Sheet has the two Chad Brown-trained runners as win contenders with Accede (8/5) and jockey Flavien Prat outdueling Randomized (7/5) and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Sacred Wish (7/2) is in the mix with Johnny Velazquez riding and should benefit from a sloppy track.

2. Dot's Dollar and Happy Farm, Race 8

FanDuel Racing Odds: 8/5 and 6/1
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Race 8 is a higher-end Claiming race for older horses sprinting 6 furlongs. Dot's Dollar (8/5) with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. riding for Belmont's top trainer Linda Rice should be tough to beat. He's won three of his last five starts and also posted a 103-speed figure last month while finishing third.

Cees Get Degrees (7/2) has hit triple-digit speed figures in his last two races with a win and Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes the mount. Happy Farm (6/1) has 13 wins and 14 runner-up finishes in 43 starts.

3. Love Reigns and My Sweet Affair, Race 9

FanDuel Racing Odds: 7/5 and 7/2
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Race 9 is the $150,000 Coronation Cup for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Bosserati (8/1) with jockey Tyler Gaffalionie looks loaded with early energy and should jump out to an early lead. But the numberFire top pick of Love Reigns (7/5) is the only horse in the field with a start on the Saratoga turf, and Joel Rosario rides again after guiding her to an off-the-pace win in her 2023 debut in April at Keeneland.

L Street Lady (9/5) will only run if the race is moved to the main track. My Sweet Affair (7/2) has a bullet work in place and is an upset contender if the pace is faster than expected. Guaranteed Tip Sheet notes Love Appeals (3/1) is 2-for-3 for trainer Christophe Clement and is a win contender with Love Reigns. Love Appeals won her debut in Feb. before dusting the field in April at Aqueduct.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.