Daily Picks

Presque Isle Downs Picks & Predictions — June 17, 2026

Wednesday, June 17, 20268 racesPresque Isle Downs

We're heading to Presque Isle Downs on a cool, cloudy Wednesday — 69°F and overcast, the kind of weather that keeps the track playing honest without any heat-baked speed bias to worry about. Eight races on the dirt today, ranging from maiden claimers to allowance company, so there's something for every level of bettor on the card.

The mix of maiden races and open claiming sprints makes for an interesting puzzle early, while the back half of the card steps up in class with a pair of allowance races that should draw some real talent. TrackWiz analysis has identified strong angles across the full card — including a few spots where the morning line looks beatable.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:30 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A maiden claiming field of all first-timers or winless horses stretching out to a mile and 70 yards on the dirt — ratings are spread wide, making this more than just a chalky affair.

win4Lost KittyML 7/2

Lost Kitty (No. 4) owns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 86.35, a significant margin over the next-best competitor and a number that commands respect in any maiden field. Antonio Gallardo gets the call for trainer Murray Rojas, and the 7/2 morning line actually represents solid value given that rating edge. Going a route of ground — a mile and 70 yards — should suit a horse with this profile, and the pace scenario figures to set up for a closer or stalker with late kick. This is our strongest play of the opener.

place5Thy Name Is WomanML 8/1

Thy Name Is Woman (No. 5) comes in at a juicy 8/1 on the morning line despite posting a 73.36 TrackWiz rating, second-highest in the field. Trainer John Fennessy has two entries in this race, which tells you he's comfortable sending horses in here, and Addiel Ayala is a capable handler over Presque Isle's track. At those odds, she's a prime place-ticket overlay if the top choice hits any trouble in the going.

show2Red DrapesML 2/1

Red Drapes (No. 2) is the public's favorite at 2/1 and checks in with a 62.83 rating — third-best in the field. The morning line support suggests connections and bettors alike see talent here, and Israel Rodriguez is a reliable hand for trainer Juan Arriagada. At short odds she may not offer win value, but she's a dependable show anchor for horizontal wagers.

Race 2

7:57 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Six claimers go 6½ furlongs on the dirt with a clear pace-and-power setup — the top two rated horses both carry above-average speed figures and should go toe-to-toe down the lane.

win5Stargazzers DreamML 3/1

Stargazzers Dream (No. 5) tops this field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and an average speed figure of 55, matching the pace-setters in the field. Hector Diaz Jr. is in the irons for trainer Kelsey Danner, and at 3/1 on the morning line this is a horse priced close to fair value rather than the overlay you'd hope for — but the rating edge is real. A 15% career win rate tells you this horse has been competitive at this level, and the 6½-furlong distance is a sprint that should play to its strengths.

place6Tiz Big MoneyML 5/2

Tiz Big Money (No. 6) is the field's speed figure leader with an average of 56 — a tick above Stargazzers Dream — and carries a 12% career win rate into a distance that suits grinding front-runners. At 5/2 on the morning line, the public is already on board, but the 76.56 rating and that top speed fig make the place slot a comfortable fit. Gaddiel Martinez takes the mount for Randall Russell, a barn worth noting.

show2CamiloML 9/2

Camilo (No. 2) checks in at 9/2 on the morning line with a 68.65 rating and a 55 average speed figure, making him a legitimate piece of the trifecta at a price. Antonio Gallardo rides for trainer Katy Cheeks, and a 15% career win rate shows this horse has found the winner's circle before at this level. He's the kind of show-ticket value play that holds up nicely in the exotic pools.

Race 3

8:24 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A tight maiden claiming mile where five of the six horses are separated by just four rating points — this could easily come down to pace position and a clean trip.

win5Buck's HowlML 7/2

Buck's Howl (No. 5) leads all horses with a 55.83 TrackWiz rating and averages a 53 speed figure for trainer Kelsey Danner, who also had the top pick in Race 2. Edwin Gonzalez picks up the mount in what is a genuinely clustered field, and at 7/2 on the morning line there's a slight overlay case here given the ratings advantage. In a maiden field this bunched, any edge matters — and Buck's Howl has the slimmest but clearest one.

place6Star SaverML 4/1

Star Saver (No. 6) is just a sliver behind at 55.00 on the TrackWiz scale and also posts a 53 average speed figure, making this essentially a photo-finish matchup with the win pick on paper. Antonio Gallardo rides for trainer Aaron West, and the 4/1 morning line provides a touch of place value if Star Saver fires a typically competitive effort. In a race this tight, she's an easy inclusion on the place side of any horizontal ticket.

show3T' RayML 3/1

T' Ray (No. 3) is another horse clustered near the top at a 54.84 rating, third-best in the field, and carries morning line favoritism at 3/1 under Israel Rodriguez for trainer Scooter Davis. The public clearly respects this runner, and while the lower average speed figure of 51 is a slight concern, the overall form profile says she belongs in the mix. Solid show-ticket anchor in what figures to be a competitive pace scenario.

Three races are open to all readers today, and they cover a nice cross-section of the card. Lost Kitty (7/2 ML, Race 1) headlines a maiden claiming route going a mile and 70 yards — our ratings peg her as the clear top choice at 86.35 in a wide-open field. In Race 2, Stargazzers Dream draws in at 3/1 for a 6½-furlong dirt claiming sprint and carries our highest rating among the free picks at 87.08, making her a horse to watch closely at a price that could easily firm up by post time. Race 3 brings another maiden claiming mile with Buck's Howl getting the nod at 7/2 — a more volatile spot with a lower confidence rating, so approach with appropriate caution and look for value in the exotics.

The cool, stable conditions today shouldn't significantly favor front-runners or closers in any particular way — pace scenario becomes about the individual fields rather than a track-wide bias. That levels the playing field and makes clean trip horses especially appealing. Keep that in mind as you build your tickets in the free races.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

8:51 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

This route claiming field features a clear class standout on the ratings — but a couple of lightly-raced closers and a horse with a 14% career win rate could make life interesting at the top of the stretch.

win5Good Enough for MeML 3/1

Good Enough for Me (No. 5) owns the field's top TrackWiz rating at 87.08, a clear step above everyone else entered, and Victor Severino gets the ride for trainer Alejandro Gomez. The 3/1 morning line is fair for a horse with this kind of ratings dominance, though a 3% career win rate is worth noting as a small caution flag — this horse has shown ability without always converting. The distance of a mile and 70 yards suits plodders with a turn of foot, and nothing in this field looks capable of matching the top rating number.

place3Silent DivaML 9/2

Silent Diva (No. 3) is second-best in the field at a 78.32 rating and posts the highest average speed figure in the race at 54 — a meaningful data point at a route distance. Gaddiel Martinez takes the mount for Cathy Carr Rozantz, and the 9/2 morning line offers genuine place value for a horse that looks like the natural runner-up to the top pick. A 4% career win rate is modest but this is a horse whose figure profile says she runs hard every time.

show4Tango ZuluML 7/2

Tango Zulu (No. 4) checks in third on the TrackWiz scale at 70.17, but the 49 average speed figure is the lowest among the top contenders — something to keep in mind on a day track. Rosario Montanez is in the irons for Moises Valdez, who also trains Khozanall in this race. A 7/2 morning line suggests market support, and as a show hedge in exotics, the rating puts Tango Zulu squarely in contention for the bronze.

Race 5

9:18 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden special weight sprint at 4½ furlongs — most of these first-timers carry no speed figure history, so trainer form and workout patterns could be the difference-maker tonight.

win5Ritzy RagsML 5/2

Ritzy Rags (No. 5) leads this maiden field with a 57.50 TrackWiz rating and is the morning line co-leader at 5/2. Trainer Eoin Harty is a name worth trusting with first-time starters — a conditioner with that kind of reputation doesn't enter lightly in a spot like this. Israel Rodriguez picks up the mount and the combination of top rating, respected trainer, and favorable odds makes Ritzy Rags our clear win selection in what is admittedly a tricky debut field.

place6ZimomoML 3/1

Zimomo (No. 6) is the only horse in this field with an actual average speed figure on record — a 55 — which is a meaningful advantage when everyone else is a complete unknown quantity. Hector Diaz Jr. rides for Kelsey Danner, a barn we've seen active on this card, and a 56.67 rating slots Zimomo just a sliver below the top pick. At 3/1 on the morning line, the place offering is close to fair, but Zimomo's prior speed figure experience is a real edge in a field full of question marks.

show4Gangam GreyML 7/2

Gangam Grey (No. 4) rates third-best in the field at 55.83 and opens at 7/2 with Edwin Gonzalez up for trainer Timothy Hamm. No speed figure history is concerning in a debut sprint, but the rating places this horse in the discussion, and Hamm also trains Cash Cashel in this race — dual entries from the same barn in a maiden sprint often means one of them is live. Gangam Grey is the higher-rated of the two and earns the show-ticket nod.

Race 6

9:45 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

An allowance optional claiming sprint where the morning line favorite shows a massive rating edge — but watch the 8/1 shot with a career win rate that tells a different story than the public's pricing.

win3HectorML 9/5

Hector (No. 3) is the class of this field, posting an 86.24 TrackWiz rating and a 25% career win rate that confirms he knows how to close the deal. A 56 average speed figure ties the top mark among the contenders, and Huber Villa-Gomez takes the mount for trainer Ron Potts. The 9/5 morning line makes him a near-chalk, but the underlying numbers justify the price — this looks like a horse making a straightforward run through a beatable field.

place1Thorn of HeartsML 8/1

Thorn of Hearts (No. 1) is the value story in this race, opening at 8/1 despite an 18% career win rate and a 56 average speed figure — numbers that match the favorite's best marks. Israel Rodriguez rides for trainer Henry Miller Jr., and a 79.79 TrackWiz rating places this horse firmly in the top three. At 8/1, there's significant overlay potential here for place bettors; this is the kind of horse that wins at a big number when the favorite stumbles.

show5Reeled InML 2/1

Reeled In (No. 5) carries a 74.70 TrackWiz rating and a 19% career win rate, making this a horse that has regularly put in money finishes at this level. Gaddiel Martinez rides for Randall Russell — a two-horse barn on this card, which suggests Russell is confident in the spot. The 2/1 morning line might actually cap the show-ticket value, but Reeled In's consistency numbers make it a reliable exotic anchor.

Race 7

10:12 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

A six-furlong allowance where a proven winner at a high rate takes on a field with legitimate depth — the pace scenario looks like it could set up for a strong closer coming from just off the pace.

win1Valiant VictoriaML 4/1

Valiant Victoria (No. 1) is the standout on numbers, posting a field-best 85.62 TrackWiz rating backed by a 26% career win rate — one of the highest conversion rates on the entire card tonight. A 56 average speed figure matches the top tier of this field, and the Scott Spieth/Aldana Spieth trainer-jockey combination is an intriguing family operation to have onside. At 4/1 on the morning line, this is a horse whose rating and win percentage suggest she should be priced closer to favoritism.

place5Fleur DelacourML 3/1

Fleur Delacour (No. 5) checks in with a 77.47 TrackWiz rating and a 56 average speed figure — matching the top contenders on raw speed — under Israel Rodriguez for trainer J. Michael Rogers. A 11% career win rate is unspectacular but Rodriguez is a capable pilot who can get the most out of a horse with back class. At 3/1 on the morning line, the place slot suits a horse that figures to be competitive deep into the lane.

show6Valiant EnyaML 6/1

Valiant Enya (No. 6) brings the field's second-best career win rate at 30% — a genuine standout number — paired with a 63.82 TrackWiz rating and a 55 average speed figure. Walber Alencar gets the call for trainer John Fennessy, who is well-represented across tonight's card. The 6/1 morning line is where the value lives: if Valiant Enya fires anything close to her peak effort, she's a live show horse at a price worth including in your trifecta coverage.

Race 8

10:39 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint at 5½ furlongs to close out the card — two horses with strong ratings separate themselves from the pack, but a couple of mid-priced runners could complicate the exacta.

win3IntimateML 3/1

Intimate (No. 3) tops this field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — the highest mark of any horse in the final race — paired with a 55 average speed figure under Walber Alencar for trainer W. John Bourke. The 3/1 morning line is fair, and in a maiden field this competitive, a horse with a dominant rating number is exactly the kind of play you want to anchor your card-closer tickets around. Alencar has been active at this meet and should give this horse every opportunity to show her class.

place8Starlit SkyML 5/1

Starlit Sky (No. 8) is our value play in this race, posting a 81.70 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — yet opening at 5/1 on the morning line. Israel Rodriguez takes the mount for trainer Ron Potts, the same barn that tacked up the favorite in Race 6. A 52 average speed figure trails the top couple of horses, but the rating gap between Starlit Sky and the rest of the field is significant enough to make her a clear place contender at an overlaid price.

show4Lady HarrietML 8/1

Lady Harriet (No. 4) rates third in the field at 63.15 and posts a 55 average speed figure — matching the win pick — under Victor Severino for trainer John Fennessy. The 8/1 morning line is where the angle lives: if the top two split the pace and get into a battle, Lady Harriet sitting just off them with matching raw speed could hit the board at a big number. She's a smart show play and a trifecta inclusion for anyone hunting a big ticket to close out the night.

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Bottom line: a full dirt card at Presque Isle with solid plays in every tier. Lost Kitty and Stargazzers Dream lead the free selections, while Valiant Victoria at 4/1 in Race 7 is the value play we're most excited about for subscribers. It's a manageable 8-race card with real opportunities — get the complete picture with a TrackWiz subscription at /pricing and make the most of today's card.

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