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Retama Park Picks & Predictions — August 14, 2026

August 14, 202610 racesAll Retama Park picks

Results are in — see the official Retama Park chart and payouts (our top pick won 2 of 10)→

It's a warm Friday afternoon at Retama Park — partly cloudy and sitting right at 88°F — and the Quarter Horse sprints are flying today. Ten races are on the card, stretching from lightning-quick 250-yard dashes all the way out to a 550-yard test of stamina, giving bettors a wide range of race shapes and pace scenarios to work with.

The card leans heavily on claiming and maiden claiming company, which means turnover is high and trainers are often maneuvering for position. That's where sharp eyes find value. We've got three free race breakdowns to get you started, plus seven premium races for subscribers who want the full picture before they pull the trigger.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:45 PM EDT

Claiming · 250 yd · Dirt

One horse stands head and shoulders above this 250-yard claiming opener — the question is whether the morning line favorites can run down a dominant TrackWiz rating.

win7Corona for ChampML 5/2

Corona for Champ (#7) carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.81 — a full 27 points clear of the next contender — and that gap is simply too large to ignore in a short-burst 250-yard sprint. Jockey Gilberto Linares gets a horse that projects to be on or near the lead from the gate, which in a quarter-horse race this short is often all that matters. At 5/2 on the morning line, the market respects this one too, so there's no hidden value, but the rating edge is the angle here. Back with confidence, eyes open.

place6Mr King TonyML 3/1

Mr King Tony (#6) checks in with a 60.56 TrackWiz rating and a 16% career win rate — the best win percentage among the top-rated horses in this field. Jockey Angel A. Fierro pairs with trainer Sergio Luis Lira, and at 3/1 on the morning line he represents solid place value behind the dominant top pick. In ultra-short sprints, the second-best horse often literally finishes second.

show5Mf Heir Force WonML 7/2

Mf Heir Force Won (#5) sits just a tick below Mr King Tony at a 58.03 rating, and also brings a 14% career win rate into the gate. Trainer Jorge Rivas Correa sends this one out with H. Javier Hernandez aboard — a jockey who'll be busy all card — and the 7/2 morning line suggests the market sees a live runner here. Use underneath in trifecta tickets as a logical third.

Race 2

12:15 AM EDT

Claiming · 440 yd · Dirt

A clear two-horse battle at the top of the ratings shapes this 440-yard claiming dash, with a potential closer lurking at double-digit odds.

win5Heza Vicious RogueML 2/1

Heza Vicious Rogue (#5) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 and carries a 16% career win rate, making him the most complete profile in the field. Trainer Shae L. Cox puts Claudio Ponce Aguilar in the irons — a jockey who appears multiple times across today's card, suggesting he's one of the meet's go-to riders. The 440-yard distance is long enough that a horse with real ability can separate, and Heza Vicious Rogue's rating lead is substantial. At 2/1 on the morning line, this is the right horse at an acceptable price.

place6Tactical FeatureML 5/2

Tactical Feature (#6) rates second in the field at 82.19, only 6 points off the top, which in a competitive claiming race is razor-thin. Trainer Arnold Lewis and jockey Eliazar T. Vera combine on a horse with a 5/2 morning line that makes place wagering here a reliable play. The rating gap between these two and the rest of the field is notable — if Heza Vicious Rogue stumbles out of the gate, Tactical Feature has the tools to steal it.

show7T N a Money WagonML 3/1

T N a Money Wagon (#7) rounds out the top three in TrackWiz ratings at 71.15, a meaningful step back from the top pair but clearly ahead of the rest. Jockey Froylan Tellez Ramirez rides for trainer Brittany N. Tellez — a family connection that often signals a horse that's been tuned up at home. At 3/1 on the morning line, show tickets and trifecta use are justified.

Race 3

12:42 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 250 yd · Dirt

This 250-yard maiden claiming sprint is wide open among maidens, but two horses separate themselves noticeably from the pack on our ratings.

win6Crown Royal KnockoutML 3/1

Crown Royal Knockout (#6) leads all entrants with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating in what is otherwise a competitively modest maiden field. Jockey J.R. Ramirez, Jr. — one of the card's busiest riders today — picks up what looks like the class of the field for trainer Paul Leal. In a 250-yard dash where the race is essentially decided in the first jump, having the top-rated horse is a significant edge. Morning line 3/1 is fair and makes this a straight win-ticket play.

place10Sheza Savage YgML 7/2

Sheza Savage Yg (#10) comes in second on our ratings at 74.74, more than 12 points behind the top pick but a full 21 points ahead of the third-rated horse in the field. Manuel Lara takes the mount for trainer Edgar V. Mendoza, and at 7/2 on the morning line there's legitimate place value here. The double-digit program number means she'll be loading from the far outside — something worth monitoring at the gate in short sprints.

show7Pulgarcita MiaML 5/1

Pulgarcita Mia (#7) rates 53.33 and lands squarely in the middle tier of this competitive maiden bunch. Trainer Saul Ramirez, Jr. sends out Eleazar Rivera Hernandez, and at 5/1 on the morning line the show price could be generous if she fires her best shot. In maiden races with a lot of unknowns, having a show position hedge at 5/1 makes solid exotic sense.

Our free coverage kicks off right from the jump with Race 1, where Corona for Champ (morning line 5/2, TrackWiz rating 87.81) looks like a solid foundation for the day. Race 2 brings Heza Vicious Rogue to the 440-yard distance at a 2/1 morning line — one of our strongest-rated picks on the card at 88.54 — and at a distance that rewards horses with a clean break and early acceleration. Race 3 shifts back to 250 yards in maiden claiming company, where Crown Royal Knockout (3/1) earns an 87.08 rating and profiles as a horse that should handle the short burst well.

The common thread across these three free races: early speed is king on a warm Texas afternoon at Retama. Quarter Horse racing rewards clean gates and quick reactions, and all three of our free top picks project favorably in that department. Use these races to dial in your pace reads before diving into the deeper part of the card.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

1:09 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 400 yd · Dirt

A tricky 400-yard maiden claiming affair where the morning-line favorite doesn't top the TrackWiz ratings — creating genuine intrigue at the top of the ticket.

win2C Shes Lucky LadyML 5/1

C Shes Lucky Lady (#2) leads the field with a 66.49 TrackWiz rating despite being listed at 5/1 on the morning line — a potentially undervalued position relative to her ratings edge. H. Javier Hernandez, one of today's most active jockeys, picks up the mount for trainer Ricardo Alonso Vallejo. The 400-yard distance gives her enough runway to showcase pure ability, and our analysis puts her ahead of the morning-line favorite Rcv Blue Fire. This is the kind of overlay that sharp bettors look for.

place9Rcv Blue FireML 2/1

Rcv Blue Fire (#9) is the 2/1 morning-line chalk and rates 58.33 — solid, but slightly behind our top pick. Trainer Adan Guzman saddles Noe Villatoro, and the public money will likely make this horse even shorter come post time. As a place bet, she's reliable; as a win bet, our model suggests you're leaving value on the table by not siding with C Shes Lucky Lady on top.

show1Be the AnswerML 4/1

Be the Answer (#1) rates 58.25, just a whisker behind Rcv Blue Fire, and draws the rail which in quarter horse racing can be either a blessing or a curse depending on the break. Trainer Carlos Cruz Lopez turns to Eliazar T. Vera, a rider we've seen throughout today's card. At 4/1, show tickets are fair, and she's a logical trifecta wheel underneath the top two.

Race 5

1:36 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 550 yd · Dirt

Indian Cartel looms as a dominant favorite in this 10-horse maiden claiming 550-yard sprint, but two mid-priced contenders make the exacta and trifecta worth building.

win2Indian CartelML 2/1

Indian Cartel (#2) owns the highest TrackWiz rating in the field by a wide margin at 88.54 — matching the top rating we've seen across the entire card today. Claudio Ponce Aguilar, one of the busiest riders at Retama this card, gets aboard for trainer Ricardo Aguirre, and the 550-yard distance is the longest test on today's program, giving a superior horse more time to prove it. At 2/1 on the morning line, this is a fair price for a horse that could easily be even money by post. Make it your win bet and build the exotics around it.

place6KinetikML 3/1

Kinetik (#6) rates second in the field at 65.45 with H. Javier Hernandez in the saddle for trainer Ignacio Bustamante. There's a 23-point gap between Kinetik and Indian Cartel on our model, but the rest of the field is bunched enough that second place could be hotly contested. At 3/1, the place price is workable and he's the most logical bridesmaid in this race.

show9An Dee SpecialML 4/1

An Dee Special (#9) comes in third on our ratings at 59.19 and gets Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. — who is also active throughout today's card — for trainer Rodolfo Gutierrez Hernandez. At 4/1 on the morning line, the show position offers value, and in a 10-horse field at 550 yards, the longer trip creates opportunities for pace scenarios to play out in favor of closers or stalkers. Include in your trifecta underneath.

Race 6

2:03 AM EDT

Claiming · 350 yd · Dirt

A 10-horse claiming battle at 350 yards features a standout ratings leader and a legitimate value angle buried mid-pack — this race has exotic potential.

win7Mr Dashing YessML 7/2

Mr Dashing Yess (#7) tops the field with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating, a significant edge in what's otherwise a tightly-bunched field. H. Javier Hernandez — arguably the busiest jockey on today's card — picks up the mount for trainer Jorge Rivas Correa. The morning-line at 7/2 is fair but not generous, so the win bet here is about backing a clear ratings leader rather than finding overlay value. In 350-yard claiming races, the best horse usually runs a honest race.

place5SkoobyML 10/1

Skooby (#5) is the TrackWiz value play of this race, rating 66.94 with a standout 23% career win rate — the second-highest win percentage in the field. J.R. Ramirez, Jr. rides for trainer Joseph D. Manucy, and the 10/1 morning line screams potential overlay given that win rate. If you're building exactas or quinellas, Skooby underneath Mr Dashing Yess is a place bet with real pop.

show10Tempting for CashML 3/1

Tempting for Cash (#10) brings a 15% career win rate and a 63.38 rating — solid third-best in the field — for trainer Joe Chapa and jockey Ruben Delarosa, Jr. At 3/1 on the morning line, the show price won't be huge, but the consistency suggested by a 15% win rate makes her a reliable underneath play in trifectas. Chapa also trains Train Hoppin in this same race, so he clearly has the barn well-represented.

Race 7

2:30 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 250 yd · Dirt

A wide-open 10-horse maiden claiming sprint at 250 yards where our top pick is a morning-line longshot — exactly the kind of race where the ratings model can find real value.

win4Shes a War EagleML 15/1

Shes a War Eagle (#4) tops the TrackWiz ratings in this maiden field at 62.72 — notable because she's listed at 15/1 on the morning line, a significant discrepancy between our model and the public's expectations. Jockey Arturo Alvarez gets aboard for trainer Martin Rodriguez, and if the gate breaks cleanly, this filly could steal the whole thing at a massive overlay price. In a 250-yard race where everyone is essentially breaking even on the clock, the ratings edge matters more than pedigree narratives. This is the kind of play TrackWiz analysis is designed to uncover.

place6Tlc DreamML 10/1

Tlc Dream (#6) rates 56.51 — second in the field — and goes postward at 10/1, another potential overlay in a race where the morning line appears tilted toward pedigree perception rather than form. Trainer Francisco Campos, Jr. and jockey Claudio Ponce Aguilar combine on a horse that our model respects even if the tote board doesn't yet. The place price at 10/1 could be exceptional — use aggressively in exactas.

show9That a Pool DealML 7/2

That a Pool Deal (#9) rates 55.83 and is the 7/2 morning-line second choice, making it the 'public horse' in a race where our top two picks are double-digit prices. J.R. Ramirez, Jr. climbs aboard for trainer Isidro Hinojosa, and while we prefer the longshot angles above on top, That a Pool Deal is a safe show anchor in trifecta combinations. If the race sets up for a pace-presser, this one could outrun the morning line.

Race 8

2:57 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

La Caponera stands out as a dominant figure in this 10-horse maiden claiming sprint at 300 yards — a race where the top pick's rating towers over the field.

win5La CaponeraML 5/2

La Caponera (#5) carries an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — tied for among the highest on today's entire card — in a maiden field where the next-best horse rates nearly 30 points lower. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. gets the call for trainer Martin Rodriguez, and the 5/2 morning line reflects that the public also sees this one clearly. In a 300-yard maiden race, a nearly 30-point ratings advantage is a commanding edge. Play to win and use on top of all multi-race tickets.

place4Mary Anns CoronaML 5/1

Mary Anns Corona (#4) rates 58.01 for trainer Winston Lewis and jockey Alejandro Medina — a meaningful step below the top pick but comfortably ahead of the show contender. At 5/1 on the morning line, the place price represents fair value and she's the logical exacta partner underneath La Caponera. In maiden races, the second-best on ratings often runs a clean second.

show9Special EagleML 4/1

Special Eagle (#9) rates an even 55.00 for trainer Aracely Mejia and jockey Rigoberto Camarillo Ortega — just below Mary Anns Corona and well-positioned as the third-best in a field where three horses clearly separate from the pack. At 4/1 on the morning line, the show position is reasonable, and this horse rounds out the natural trifecta sequence. Include in all three-horse combinations.

Race 9

3:24 AM EDT

Allowance · 250 yd · Dirt

The allowance ranks step up the class significantly in Race 9, and two horses are separated by less than half a point on our ratings — setting up a fantastic top-of-the-ticket duel.

win3Streakin N KissesML 3/1

Streakin N Kisses (#3) edges out the field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and a 16% career win rate — a solid foundation for an allowance sprinter at 250 yards. H. Javier Hernandez, the card's most active jockey, takes the mount for trainer Sergio Luis Lira, and at 3/1 on the morning line the price is fair for a horse our model puts marginally on top. The combination of a strong win rate and a top rating in an allowance field suggests a horse that knows how to find the wire first.

place2RazzledazzlemeML 5/2

Razzledazzleme (#2) rates just 0.49 points behind the top pick at 86.59 — statistically a coin flip on ratings — but goes postward at 5/2 as the morning-line favorite. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. rides for trainer John Boegner, and while the public may have this one on top, we're comfortable using it as our place selection given the razor-thin ratings gap. The exacta pairing of these two horses in either direction is the play of the race.

show5Besame ByeML 5/1

Besame Bye (#5) brings the most impressive career win rate in the entire allowance field at 33% — one in three starts resulting in a victory is genuinely elite at this level. Beny Bautista Cortes rides for trainer M. Brent Kennedy, and the 5/1 morning line on a horse with that win rate suggests potential overlay value. At 76.39 on our ratings, she's firmly in the conversation for the top spot on a good day — and a legitimate show anchor in trifectas.

Race 10

3:51 AM EDT

Maiden · 250 yd · Dirt

Tonight's finale is a 10-horse maiden sprint at 250 yards where one horse towers over the field on our model — but several mid-packers make the exotics interesting.

win5This Is MarshallML 3/1

This Is Marshall (#5) tops the field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — a dominant figure in a maiden field where most entrants rate in the 40s. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. gets the mount for trainer Winston Lewis, and at 3/1 on the morning line, the public is clearly locking onto the right horse. In a 250-yard maiden sprint with no speed figures to parse, the ratings advantage is the sharpest tool we have — and this one leads the field convincingly. Close out your card with a win bet here.

place10KarakterML 7/2

Karakter (#10) rates 55.83 for trainer Sergio Luis Lira and jockey J.R. Ramirez, Jr. — well behind the top pick but firmly ahead of the next tier in the field. Loading from the outside gate in a 250-yard sprint is a challenge, but the ratings say this horse belongs in the exacta. At 7/2 on the morning line, the place ticket offers fair return, and Ramirez is one of the day's most reliable riders.

show4Absolutes CartelML 4/1

Absolutes Cartel (#4) rates an even 55.00 — essentially tied with Karakter for the second-best position in the field — and gets Gilberto Linares for trainer Mario J. Loza, who has been active throughout the entire card today. At 4/1 on the morning line, this is a sound show play and a natural trifecta finisher. Loza's barn having multiple horses on the card is worth noting as a sign of a stable firing on all cylinders.

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A full Texas-summer card at Retama, ten races deep, with value scattered across the claiming and maiden ranks. Start with Corona for Champ, Heza Vicious Rogue, and Crown Royal Knockout in the free races — then let TrackWiz's full premium analysis guide you through the rest of the card. Good luck out there, and as always, bet smart. Full card coverage is available to subscribers at TrackWiz Premium.

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