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Finger Lakes Picks & Predictions — September 16, 2026
Finger Lakes rolls out an 8-race Wednesday card and the conditions are about as cooperative as you'll get this deep into the meet — cloudy skies, 75°F, and a dirt surface that should play fair all afternoon. No rain in the picture means the strip stays consistent, and that's good news for speed figures you can actually trust.
The card leans heavily on dirt routes, with four races going at least a mile. That sets up some interesting pace dynamics — especially in the allowance spots where class and stamina tend to separate contenders from pretenders. There's also a Starter Optional Claiming race in Race 7 that often produces sharp betting action from horsemen who know exactly what they have.
TrackWiz has three races open to all readers today and five more locked in for subscribers. Whether you're playing the whole card or just looking for a spot play or two, there's plenty to work with here.
Best Bets
Race 1
Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt
A clear class standout emerges in this mile claiming opener, but the Kantarmaci barn sends out two runners that could complicate matters and muddy the exacta.
Schlomo (#3) is the most dominant figure in the field by a wide margin — an 87.08 TrackWiz rating that towers over the second-best horse here. Reylu Gutierrez picks up the mount, a solid tactical rider who can manage a one-mile trip. A 16% career win rate on a horse with this rating separation points to a confident win play at 3/1 morning line. This is as close to a clearcut top pick as you'll see in a field like this.
Spirit of Esther (#6) is an interesting piece of the puzzle — a 72.36 rating good for second-best in the field, despite a modest 3% career win rate that screams 'she's been unlucky or lightly raced.' Trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci also sends out Schlomo, meaning the barn has a strong presence. At 5/1, she offers real value underneath if the favorite handles things up front.
Nantz (#2) rates third in the field at 71.26 and carries a 10% career win rate, which is respectable for this level. Trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci — related barn to Ilkay — keeps this horse competitive, and an average speed figure of 55 ties Schlomo for best in the field. A logical show ticket and a key exotic inclusion.
Race 2
Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt
An all-maiden claiming mile where nobody has broken their maiden yet, but one horse rates significantly above the rest on our models — making this closer to a near-single than a wide-open affair.
Saint Solomon (#1) sits atop the TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 — nearly 17 points clear of the second-best runner in the field. Jockey Keiber J. Coa is a trusted hand in this circuit, and trainer Tamara Housel puts a horse in a spot she can win. The 2/1 morning line reflects public respect, but the rating gap is wide enough that this is a legitimate win single in your exotics.
Savvylicious (#2) is the clear second choice on paper at 71.23 and actually has the best average speed figure in the field at 54, edging Saint Solomon. Olaf Hernandez gets the call for trainer Michelle Tasso in what shapes up as a pace-pressing role. If anything goes wrong with the favorite, this one is best positioned to grab the runner-up spot.
Darby Dreams (#4) slots in as the third-best rated horse at 55.83 — a meaningful step down from the top two but ahead of the rest of the field. Trainer Jose Merced and jockey Jose Ventura form a familiar Finger Lakes combination. At 7/2 on the morning line, there's some value here as a show play or as a third leg in trifecta coverage.
Race 3
Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt
This allowance mile has a confusing rating vs. morning line story — the top-rated horse is going off at 4/1 in a field where the favorite sits at 5/2, setting up a potential overlay situation worth exploring.
Tahila (#1) leads all runners with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating and goes at 4/1 — longer than the morning-line favorite despite the superior number. Jose Baez gets the mount for trainer Dana Saul, and at a one-mile distance on dirt, this horse's 53 average speed should be right in the mix. A career win rate of just 5% might spook casual bettors, but the rating edge here is real and this looks like a TrackWiz value play.
Warrior Bunny Zee (#2) rates second in the field at 71.61 and brings an 8% career win rate into this allowance test. Keiber J. Coa is one of the sharper riders on this circuit, and trainer Michael A. LeCesse puts horses in spots to run. An average speed figure of 53 keeps this horse honest at a one-mile trip, making her a logical place contender at 3/1.
Annagenda (#4) might have the most interesting profile in the race — a 20% career win rate is the second-highest mark in this field, and trainer Paul W. Barrow runs a steady operation at Finger Lakes. The 65.51 rating slots her fourth overall, but horses with her win percentage often find ways to hit the board even when outrated. At 7/2, she's a solid trifecta inclusion.
The first three races are on the house, and they give you a solid cross-section of the card. Schlomo opens the day in a Claiming route at a mile and 70 yards — our top-rated pick at 87.08 going off at 3/1 morning line, which looks like fair value rather than a bargain, so watch the pools. In Race 2, Saint Solomon is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 in a Maiden Claiming mile, posting our highest free-race rating at 88.54 — that kind of number in a maiden field usually means a clear standout. Round out the free looks with Tahila in Race 3, an Allowance mile where she's rated 85.62 at a juicy 4/1 morning line.
One thread connecting all three free picks: they're all routing on a surface that should be playing honestly today. No track bias concerns with the weather holding steady, so speed figures carry their full weight. If you're building a Pick 3 ticket for the first leg, these three races are your starting point — and TrackWiz analysis has you covered on all of them.
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A clean, manageable 8-race card at Finger Lakes with solid conditions and some genuine value spots sprinkled throughout. Schlomo, Saint Solomon, and Tahila lead the free plays — all three in dirt routes where our ratings carry conviction. For the full picture, including pace scenarios, exotic tickets, and that Allofasuddenlee longshot angle in Race 5, subscribers have everything they need. Let's have a big Wednesday at the Lakes.