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Free Parx Racing Picks & Predictions — August 17, 2026

August 17, 202610 racesAll Parx Racing picks

It's a warm Monday afternoon at Parx Racing — partly cloudy skies and 82°F — which means a fast, consistent dirt surface is the order of the day. Ten races are on the card, all run over the main track, so pace dynamics and surface biases are going to be central to every single ticket you build today.

The card is heavy on claiming action from gate to wire, ranging from sprints as short as six furlongs out to routes stretching 1 mile and 70 yards. That distance comes up repeatedly — five times today — so horses that handle a two-turn trip on Parx's main oval are worth a premium in your thinking. Keep an eye on how the early speed is holding up; a slight bias either way can flip a race on its head.

TrackWiz analysis has flagged some sharp angles throughout the card, including a couple of morning-line overlays that could offer real value at the windows. War Commander (2/1 ML, 88.54 TrackWiz rating) stands out as the top-rated horse on the entire card, and the free races give you a solid foundation to build from before diving into the premium analysis.

3 Free Races at Parx Racing

Race 1

4:40 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Two horses separate themselves from the field on the TrackWiz ratings sheet in this 1-mile-70-yard dirt claimer, but the pace picture and a 20-point gap between the top two and the rest makes this feel like a two-horse race with a live third option.

win2Royalties RichesML 7/2

Royalties Riches tops the TrackWiz ratings at 86.35 and brings a career win rate of 20% — the best closing number among any horse in this field. Jockey Dexter Haddock is a reliable pilot at Parx, and trainer Michael V. Pino tends to spot horses in spots where they can win rather than just fill out fields. With a 20-point cushion over most of the competition, this one projects as the most reliable ticket in Race 1.

place3ExtrasexyzqteepeyeML 4/1

Extrasexyzqteepeye checks in at 84.57 on the TrackWiz scale, only a length-and-a-half behind our top pick in terms of rating, and trainer J. Tyler Servis has a strong reputation for keeping horses ready at Parx. Frankie Pennington has the mount and will likely be forwardly positioned, which suits the 1-mile-70-yard distance. At 4/1 morning line, there's real place value here if Royalties Riches gets the job done up front.

show5American PeachesML 9/2

American Peaches comes in with a 78.69 rating and draws the 5-post, which sets up a clean trip over this one-turn-plus layout. The 9/2 morning line is honest, and trainer Timothy J. Smylie keeps a tidy barn. With the top two horses absorbing each other's pressure, a pacified American Peaches could easily be picking up pieces late to complete the exacta or trifecta.

Race 2

5:07 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A 6-furlong sprint where the TrackWiz top two are separated by only three points but both sit well clear of the rest of a compact field, setting up a potential pace duel that could spring a closer.

win7Prairie DunesML 4/1

Prairie Dunes leads all comers with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating despite a 4% career win rate — suggesting this horse has run well without always getting the win, which at 4/1 could make the morning-line price look stale if things break right. Dexter Haddock takes the mount for trainer Miguel A. Rodriguez, and the 6-furlong sprint surface here at Parx suits horses who can sit close to the pace and pounce. Our analysis points to this as the best bet of the race.

place3Battle AnthemML 3/1

Battle Anthem is the 3/1 morning-line favorite and backs it up with an 82.53 rating and a solid 12% career win clip — the best among the top-rated horses in this field. Trainer Alfredo Velazquez puts Dalila A. Rivera up, and the 6-furlong dirt distance looks tailor-made for a horse rated this highly at the claiming level. If the pace gets hot up front, Battle Anthem is the most likely beneficiary.

show4VixML 9/2

Vix brings a 13% career win rate and a respectable 64.35 TrackWiz rating into a race where several horses project to duel early. Trainer Elliott Soto-Martinez places horses aggressively, and Vix's average speed figure of 53 puts her right in the mix with the front-runners. At 9/2 on the morning line, she's a sensible show hedge and trifecta inclusion.

Race 3

5:34 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

War Commander looms as a dominant figure on paper in this 1-mile-70-yard claimer, but the morning line implies the public agrees — the question is whether the price reflects the risk of a single standout in a field that includes two legitimately live rivals.

win5War CommanderML 2/1

War Commander owns the highest TrackWiz rating in the race at 88.54 — a meaningful separation from the second-best horse — and a 16% career win rate that signals a horse who gets the job done when conditions align. Joezer Rangel takes the reins for trainer Julio Rodriguez, and the 1-mile-70-yard distance is where War Commander's stamina profile should shine. The 2/1 morning line is short, but the rating gap here is hard to argue against.

place2What It TizML 5/2

What It Tiz is one of the more interesting horses on the board: a 72.94 TrackWiz rating paired with a 14% career win rate tells you this is a horse that runs consistently and competes. Luis M. Ocasio has been busy at Parx and rides well over this surface, and the 5/2 price suggests the public likes this one as a legitimate threat to War Commander. In a pace duel scenario, What It Tiz profiles as a closer who could mop up.

show4Real ConvictionML 3/1

Real Conviction slots in at 65.14 on the TrackWiz scale and carries a 10% career win rate — workmanlike numbers, but workmanlike can cash show tickets. Dexter Haddock gets on for trainer Jacinto Solis, and at 3/1 morning line, Real Conviction is priced to attract attention in exactas and trifectas. If the top two tire each other out, this one is positioned to sneak into the frame.

Three races are unlocked and available to every TrackWiz reader today. Race 1 sends us right into a route on the dirt, where Royalties Riches opens at 7/2 on the morning line — fair odds for a horse our models rate at 86.35. Race 2 shifts to a six-furlong sprint, and Prairie Dunes (4/1 ML, 85.62 rating) could be a live price if the pace scenario sets up correctly for a stalker or closer. Then Race 3 is the jewel of the free slate: War Commander is the top-rated horse on the entire card at 88.54, going off at just 2/1 — the kind of play where the rating and the line actually line up cleanly.

A thread connecting all three free picks: they're all dirt races, and all three horses project well for the Parx main track under today's conditions. If the surface is playing fair through the early races, that's a green light for our top picks. Watch the first result carefully — it'll tell you a lot about how the day is going to unfold.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:01 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

This 6.5-furlong dirt claimer looks like a class question more than a pace question — one horse stands out on multiple handicapping angles while the rest of the field is tightly bunched on both ratings and speed.

win3I Believe in MagicML 5/2

I Believe in Magic is our clear top selection in Race 4, holding the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 87.81 and — crucially — the best career win percentage in the race at 24%. Those two numbers together are a powerful combination. Noel Herman pilots for trainer Jorge Diaz, and the 6.5-furlong distance looks well within this horse's wheelhouse based on an average speed figure of 54. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price is fair for the standout in the field.

place4SundriaML 2/1

Sundria enters as the morning-line favorite at 2/1 with a 74.8 TrackWiz rating and a 17% career win rate that proves she belongs in this spot. Trainer Wayne Potts puts Eliseo Ruiz in the irons — a solid combination at Parx. Even if I Believe in Magic dominates, Sundria's consistency makes her the safest place-ticket investment in the race.

show2So SwellML 6/1

So Swell is an intriguing show option at 6/1 morning line, checking in at 68.5 on the TrackWiz scale. The 9% career win rate is modest, but trainer Irving Rodriguez has been placing horses in competitive spots, and Jorge A. Vargas Jr. is one of the better jockeys in the Parx colony. At a price, So Swell fits neatly into trifecta tickets as the third piece.

Race 5

6:28 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A two-horse war looks brewing at the top of the TrackWiz ratings in this mile-and-70-yard claimer, with the rest of the field more than 13 points off the pace — making this a good race for exacta players who can identify the order.

win5SinceritoML 7/2

Sincerito tops our ratings board at 86.35 and posts an average speed figure of 52 at this distance, with Angel Castillo aboard for trainer Carlos E. Caban. The 7/2 morning line underestimates the rating edge this horse holds over most of the field — only Awol comes close. The 1-mile-70-yard dirt route suits a horse with a pace-pressing profile, and our analysis puts Sincerito as the most likely winner.

place3AwolML 4/1

Awol checks in at 79.45 on the TrackWiz scale — second-best in the field — and trainer Wayne Potts pairs again with Eliseo Ruiz, a combination we flagged favorably in Race 4 as well. The 4/1 morning line is honest, and an 8% career win rate on a horse this well-rated at the claiming level suggests one that may have been unlucky or pace-compromised in prior efforts. A strong place candidate.

show7Desert AireML 6/1

Desert Aire offers a 65.94 TrackWiz rating and 13% career win rate for trainer Jacinto Solis, with Dexter Haddock up — and that jockey-trainer connection has shown up repeatedly on today's card. The 6/1 morning line offers genuine value in a race where the top two may be fighting each other, leaving Desert Aire room to close into a show spot. Worth using in trifecta combinations.

Race 6

6:55 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Nine horses go to the post in this 1-mile-70-yard claimer and the ratings cluster tightly between 60 and 83 — a wide-open affair where value plays abound and the show position could come from several directions.

win2Thomas BenjaminML 9/2

Thomas Benjamin packs a 82.59 TrackWiz rating and a 12% career win rate that ranks among the better figures in this nine-horse field. Magglio Sanchez rides for trainer Susan L. Crowell, and at 9/2 on the morning line, the public may be underestimating a horse who projects as the most accomplished horse in the race on a ratings basis. The 1-mile-70-yard route gives a horse with stamina room to close, and Thomas Benjamin fits that profile.

place6Vino DominusML 3/1

Vino Dominus comes in at 81.73 — just a whisker behind Thomas Benjamin — and brings a 53 average speed figure that's actually the fastest in the field. Trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado puts Ruben Silvera up and the 3/1 morning-line price makes this a logical exacta partner with our top pick. If the pace gets honest in a nine-horse field, Vino Dominus looks like the horse most capable of running them all down.

show7Will's MusicML 8/1

Will's Music is a fascinating show option at 8/1 morning line with a 79.79 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field despite being priced like a longshot. Trainer Jennifer B. Shaw puts Joezer Rangel in the irons, and an 8% career win rate can be deceiving if this horse has been facing tougher company. In a wide-open nine-horse field, Will's Music at double-digit odds in trifectas is a value-positive play.

Race 7

7:22 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A deep nine-horse 6.5-furlong sprint where four horses are within two points of each other at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — expect a pace battle with several legitimate closers lurking.

win4Nicole's KingML 4/1

Nicole's King tops our ratings at 85.62 and carries a stellar 20% career win rate — one of the best in today's entire card — with Dexter Haddock, arguably the busiest and most effective jockey on the Parx circuit today, in the irons for trainer Miguel A. Rodriguez. The 4/1 morning line feels like fair value given the win percentage and rating. In a race this competitive, backing the horse with the highest win rate makes a lot of sense.

place8AhsadML 3/1

Ahsad comes in at 84.71 — essentially a dead heat with Nicole's King on the TrackWiz scale — with a 14% career win rate and Jorge A. Vargas Jr. up for trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado. The 3/1 morning line makes Ahsad attractive as either a win or place bet, and with four horses clustered this tightly in the ratings, a horse priced at 3/1 with near-top ratings is the definition of a value play. Use Ahsad on top in exactas as a live alternative.

show2Keeping It CountryML 5/1

Keeping It Country brings the field's highest career win rate at 25% — a number that genuinely stands out — and posts a 78.84 TrackWiz rating with a 54 average speed figure. Noel Herman rides for Roberto J. Rosado at 5/1, and a horse that converts at 25% over its career doesn't need everything to go right to hit the board. This is a legitimate show bet and a trifecta must-use.

Race 8

7:49 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Maiden claimers can be tricky — all zero career wins, so the ratings and speed figures do the heavy lifting here, and there's a meaningful gap between the top horse and the rest of the field.

win3Mor Cheese PleaseML 4/1

Mor Cheese Please holds the highest TrackWiz rating in this maiden field at 85.62 — a significant margin over the second-rated horse — and trainer Hugo O. Padilla puts Mychel J. Sanchez on the mount. In a maiden claiming field where no horse has broken their maiden yet, the horse with the biggest rating advantage is exactly who you want to be on. The 4/1 morning line is inviting, and this is one of our strongest plays on the card.

place6Sole LuteML 3/1

Sole Lute is the morning-line second choice at 3/1 and backs it up with a 70.0 TrackWiz rating — the second-highest in the field. Trainer John C. Servis is a well-regarded conditioner and Luis M. Ocasio gets the call. The only mild concern is an average speed figure of 50, the lowest among the top four horses, but in a maiden field, class and rating tend to trump raw speed numbers. A solid place bet.

show5TregetourML 5/1

Tregetour slots in third on the TrackWiz scale at 62.65, which is close enough to the second-rated horse to be live in the superfecta and trifecta. Trainer Jacinto Solis puts Abner Adorno up — both are familiar names on today's Parx card — and the 5/1 morning line leaves a little value. In a maiden field this unpredictable, backing three horses at reasonable prices is the right move.

Race 9

8:16 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

King Barou separates himself from a messy eight-horse claimer where most of the field clusters below 60 on the TrackWiz ratings — a potential overlay situation if the public focuses on the morning-line price rather than the ratings gap.

win7King BarouML 6/1

King Barou is a standout at 82.71 — a full six points clear of the next-best horse — and pairs a 14% career win rate with an average speed figure of 52, which is competitive for the class level. Dexter Haddock jumps off the bench again for trainer Miguel Penaloza, and his presence on today's card has been consistently associated with our top selections. At 6/1 morning line, King Barou looks like one of the best overlay opportunities on the entire card.

place3It's AuthenticML 3/1

It's Authentic carries a 76.43 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field by a comfortable margin — and Jorge A. Vargas Jr. rides for trainer Esteban Padilla. The 3/1 morning line is the second choice on the board, and a 5% career win rate in a 1-mile-70-yard route might suppress the public's interest, creating a bit of value. This is a solid exacta partner with King Barou.

show5BrentwoodML 8/1

Brentwood brings an 11% career win rate — the best of any horse in the bottom half of this field — and posts a 56.7 TrackWiz rating that puts it in realistic striking distance of a board finish. Trainer Teresa Hagemeier puts Abner Adorno up, and at 8/1 morning line, Brentwood makes for a sneaky show bet and a worth trifecta inclusion if King Barou runs to form up front.

Race 10

8:43 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

A ten-horse 7-furlong closer to wrap up the card, and the speed figures tell a compelling story — one horse towers over the field while a handful of legitimate mid-pack contenders compete for the minor awards.

win5EnforcerML 4/1

Enforcer holds an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — the clear top number in a ten-horse field — and posts the best average speed figure in the race at 54. Jorge A. Vargas Jr. takes the mount for trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, and a 13% career win rate is solid in this claiming context. The 4/1 morning line might drift at the windows given the competition's credentials, but the rating differential here is too large to ignore — this is our Race 10 top selection.

place8Mission FirstML 9/2

Mission First jumps off the page with an average speed figure of 56 — the highest of any horse in this race and one of the highest on today's entire card. The 73.47 TrackWiz rating combined with a 16% career win rate for trainer Roberto J. Rosado makes Mission First a serious threat to hit the board. Noel Herman rides, and at 9/2 morning line, this horse projects as the most dangerous rival to Enforcer.

show9Cojelo Pa TiML 5/2

Cojelo Pa Ti is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 and brings a blistering 30% career win rate — the highest of any horse on today's Parx card. The 68.88 TrackWiz rating trails both top picks, but a horse who wins nearly a third of its career starts doesn't need a lot of help to find the board. Mychel J. Sanchez has a live mount here for trainer Michael V. Pino, and Cojelo Pa Ti is a must-use in trifectas.

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Bottom line for August 17 at Parx: War Commander is the horse of the day on our ratings, the free slate gives you three quality plays to get started, and the premium card is loaded with pace angles and exotic opportunities worth exploring. Race smart, manage your bankroll, and remember — no race is a lock. Good luck at the windows today.

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