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Retama Park Picks & Predictions — August 20, 2026

August 20, 20269 racesAll Retama Park picks

Results are in — see the official Retama Park chart and payouts (our top pick won 2 of 9)→

It's a hot Thursday at Retama Park — and we mean that literally. Temperatures are pushing 96°F under partly cloudy skies, and if you've spent any time at a Texas oval in August, you know the heat can be a real factor. Fast, dry conditions are expected on the dirt, which typically favors horses that can get out sharp and hold their ground in these short-format Quarter Horse sprints.

Nine races are on the card today, ranging from tight 250-yard dashes to the day's longest test — a 440-yard Allowance closer in Race 9. The mix of Claiming, Maiden, Maiden Claiming, and Allowance conditions gives us plenty of angles to work with, whether you're looking for a single win bet or building toward a multi-race sequence.

TrackWiz has full analysis on all nine, with three races open to every reader and deep-dive premium coverage on the back six. Let's dig in.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:45 PM EDT

Claiming · 250 yd · Dirt

A short 250-yard dirt dash where two horses stand clearly above the field on our ratings, but a pair of experienced claimers could make this tighter than the morning line suggests.

win7Wild SenoritaML 7/2

Wild Senorita tops our TrackWiz ratings for this race at 86.35 and draws considerable support at 7/2 on the morning line. What stands out beyond the raw rating is a 28% career win percentage — that's a horse that knows how to finish in front, not just show up. Trainer Angel Sanchez sends her out with jockey Olvin Josue Martinez, a pairing worth watching. At a short 250 yards, speed and gate presence are everything, and Wild Senorita brings both to the table.

place4Chile AnchoML 5/2

Chile Ancho is the morning-line favorite at 5/2 and carries our second-highest rating in the race at 76.61, making the place slot a natural fit. Trainer Enrique Alvarado puts up Eleazar Rivera Hernandez in the irons, a capable pairing for a quick sprint. The 16% career win rate is modest, but in a race this short, hitting the board is the more realistic outcome.

show1KleyopatraML 3/1

Kleyopatra rounds out our top three with a TrackWiz rating of 71.99 and a career win percentage of 33% — actually the highest in the field and a figure that demands respect. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. pilots her at 3/1 morning line odds, offering fair value if she's used in exacta or trifecta tickets underneath. Trainer Joseph D. Manucy keeps her eligible, and that 33% win rate says she's been here before and delivered.

Race 2

12:15 AM EDT

Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

Two horses have separated themselves from the pack in this 330-yard claiming sprint, with a potential value play lurking in the back third of the field.

win8Jet Black ViperML 5/2

Jet Black Viper owns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 87.81 and is fairly priced at 5/2 on the morning line. Trainer Richard D. Sedillo sends out Ruben Delarosa, Jr., a jockey who knows how to get a sprinter out of the gate clean. While the 7% career win percentage looks thin on paper, our rating model weights recent form and class pedigree — and Jet Black Viper grades out as the clear class of this field.

place7Music MaestroML 3/1

Music Maestro runs right behind the top pick with an 82.90 rating and has trainer Marc E. Jungers — who also saddles A Dash of Dahlia in this race — putting up Lucas Constantin. The 3/1 morning line reflects legitimate respect from the oddsmakers. A 5% career win percentage is the one caution flag, but place horses don't need to win — they need to hit the board, and Music Maestro's profile suggests she can do exactly that.

show4Hardly ShiningML 10/1

Hardly Shining is an interesting show target at 10/1 with a rating of 53.54 — not spectacular, but comfortably ahead of the bottom half of this field. Trainer Jose Dolores Camacho sends out Eliazar T. Vera, a jockey with multiple mounts on today's card. If the top two run into any gate trouble in this tight 330-yard dash, Hardly Shining could sneak into the exacta and trifecta positions, making the 10/1 morning line worth a look in multi-race wagers.

Race 3

12:42 AM EDT

Maiden · 350 yd · Dirt

This maiden sprint at 350 yards features a heavy favorite backed by our top rating, but a pair of horses in the mid-70s create legitimate exotics interest.

win2Jess Sissy CartelML 9/5

Jess Sissy Cartel is the clear standout here, carrying an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — the highest in the field and nearly 14 points clear of the second choice. The 9/5 morning line makes her the heavy favorite, and it's well deserved. Trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III deploys Noe Villatoro, who is very active on today's card. Being a maiden race means no one has a win to their name, but Jess Sissy Cartel's profile suggests she's in a different tier of ability from most of her rivals.

place9Sensational SinnerML 4/1

Sensational Sinner is an interesting place play at 4/1 with a rating of 76.45 — second best in the field and well clear of everyone except the top pick. Trainer Mario J. Loza puts up Gilberto Linares, and the 4/1 morning line reflects genuine support. If Jess Sissy Cartel stumbles out of the gate or encounters any trouble in this short sprint, Sensational Sinner is well-positioned to grab the runner-up spot.

show7Mj WattersML 9/2

Mj Watters fills out the trifecta key at 9/2 with a rating of 74.41 — third-best in this maiden field and only separated from Sensational Sinner by two points. Trainer Francisco Perez, Jr. hands the reins to Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr., and the odds suggest the public sees something here too. In a maiden race where any given horse could underperform, having three closely grouped ratings at the top gives the trifecta real structure.

The first three races on today's card are your free looks, and they're a solid appetizer for the afternoon. All three go on the dirt at distances between 250 and 350 yards — pure Quarter Horse territory where gate speed and clean breaks are everything. On a dry, fast surface baking under near triple-digit heat, horses that established early position in prior efforts get a significant edge.

Our top pick in Race 1, Wild Senorita (morning line 7/2, TrackWiz rating 86.35), sets the tone. Race 2 follows quickly with Jet Black Viper (5/2, 87.81) posting the highest TrackWiz rating of the free group — a name to know early. And in Race 3, Jess Sissy Cartel heads a Maiden field at 9/5 with an 88.83 rating that stands out as the top mark across all three free races. The pace scenario in these short sprints doesn't allow for much ground-saving; position out of the gate is the ballgame today.

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Race 4

1:09 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 250 yd · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claiming sprint over 250 yards where no horse has broken their maiden and ratings are tightly bunched in the mid-50s — ripe for an upset.

win4Miss AbrilML 5/1

Miss Abril leads our TrackWiz ratings for this race at 60.77 and goes postward at 5/1 on the morning line — a fair price given how compressed the field is. Trainer Brittany N. Tellez gives the call to Froylan Tellez Ramirez, keeping it in the barn family, which often signals a confident trainer. In a race where no horse has a win, first-time edge and physical maturity matter enormously, and our model gives Miss Abril the best overall profile in the field.

place9Mas AmorML 5/2

Mas Amor is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 with a rating of 57.50, making her a logical place play behind our top pick. Trainer Jose M. Farias sends out H. Javier Hernandez, a jockey who has multiple rides today and clearly knows this circuit. The gap between Miss Abril and Mas Amor is narrow enough that a slight edge off the gate could swap their finishing positions — which is exactly why Mas Amor is a solid place bet.

show5Texis Cash JessML 10/1

Texis Cash Jess is a sneaky show play at 10/1 with a rating of 55.94 — only two points behind the place pick and hidden in a field that doesn't separate cleanly. Trainer Carlos A. Fierro puts Angel A. Fierro up, another family-connected entry worth noting. At 10/1 in the exotics, Texis Cash Jess gives your trifecta tickets a healthy overlay if the top two finish ahead but a longshot sneaks into third.

Race 5

1:36 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

One horse stands alone at the top of the ratings in this maiden claiming sprint, while the rest of the field clusters tightly — making the win pick clear but the exotics unpredictable.

win10Iceman WattersML 5/2

Iceman Watters is in a class by himself here, topping our TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 — more than 32 points clear of the next horse. The 5/2 morning line seems almost generous given that margin. Trainer Arnold Lewis deploys Oliver E. Martinez, and while this is a maiden event where anything can happen, Iceman Watters's profile gives him a decisive edge over every rival in the field.

place4Cedar PostML 4/1

Cedar Post sits in a comfortable spot at 4/1 with a rating of 55.00, good enough for third-best in a tightly bunched mid-field. Trainer Janessa Lee Muniz gives the call to Olvin Josue Martinez, who shows up multiple times on today's card. If Iceman Watters does his job on the front end, Cedar Post looks like the most likely survivor in the scramble for second.

show1Dulces HeroML 9/2

Dulces Hero opens at 9/2 with a rating of 53.35 — tied with Flyn Honey Senator for fourth in the field — but gets the nod over that rival based on a slight edge in our model's overall profile. Trainer Zackary Stinebaugh sends out Rosendo E. Pina Garcia, a quieter combo in this field. In a 300-yard dash where a bad break can end a race before it starts, Dulces Hero's rating is solid enough to land on the board in a competitive finish.

Race 6

2:03 AM EDT

Maiden · 350 yd · Dirt

A maiden sprint that shapes up as a two-horse battle at the top, with the top-rated pair nearly identical in our model and a 5/1 contender adding legitimate exotics depth.

win9The King KarverML 7/2

The King Karver tops the field with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating and goes at 7/2 on the morning line — a touch of value given how close this horse grades to the field's second choice. Trainer John Boegner puts up J.R. Ramirez, Jr., a jockey who is busy on today's card. In a maiden race where ability is often the deciding factor, The King Karver's edge — slim as it is over Rc Said Cap Em — gives him the nod as our win selection in what should be a fast, clean sprint.

place5Rc Said Cap EmML 5/2

Rc Said Cap Em is separated from the top pick by just 0.12 rating points (86.23 vs. 86.35), making this essentially a dead heat on paper — and that's exactly why the place spot is so apt. Trainer J.W. Plunkett sends out Eliazar T. Vera at 5/2 on the morning line. If you're playing exactas, boxing these two is a must — the difference between them is razor-thin and either could win.

show10Eagle DesireML 5/1

Eagle Desire brings a rating of 70.75 to the table at 5/1, a meaningful step below the top two but well clear of the rest of this maiden field. Trainer Joseph D. Manucy hands the reins to Lucas Constantin, who also rides Music Maestro earlier on the card. Eagle Desire's third-place slot in our ratings makes her the most logical show play and a useful bottom leg on trifecta tickets built around the top two.

Race 7

2:30 AM EDT

Maiden · 350 yd · Dirt

Adieu enters this 350-yard maiden sprint with a dominant rating advantage, but a cluster of horses in the low-to-mid 50s could make the exotics interesting if anything goes sideways.

win6AdieuML 5/2

Adieu is our top-rated horse in Race 7 at 87.81 — a significant gap over the rest of the field — and draws favorable 5/2 morning-line support. Trainer Alfred A. Aparicio deploys Eliazar T. Vera, a busy and capable jockey on this card. In a 350-yard maiden sprint, a horse this far ahead in the ratings is the kind of play you build your exotics around — the question isn't whether Adieu is the best horse, it's whether she executes.

place8LorenzitaML 7/2

Lorenzita is a solid place play at 7/2 with a rating of 55.83 — second-best in the field and a comfortable distance ahead of the third-place cluster. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh gives the mount to Gilberto Linares. If Adieu runs her race cleanly, Lorenzita has the profile to hold off the rest of the field for the runner-up spot.

show4Jess Send HerML 9/2

Jess Send Her rounds out our ticket at 9/2 with a 54.17 rating — only 1.66 points behind Lorenzita, making this a very tight call for the third spot. Trainer Raul Ramirez deploys Oliver E. Martinez, who is on multiple mounts today and is comfortable on this circuit. The 9/2 morning line offers solid value in the show slot and makes Jess Send Her an attractive addition to trifecta and exacta part-wheels.

Race 8

2:57 AM EDT

Maiden · 250 yd · Dirt

Two horses break away from a deep maiden field in this 250-yard sprint, setting up a potential top-two battle while a third contender lurks in the middle of the pack.

win1Big Sky CowboyML 4/1

Big Sky Cowboy earns our top rating in Race 8 at 85.62 and is priced attractively at 4/1 on the morning line. Trainer Bradley C. Bolen sends out Jose R. Herbert, who also handles Backed by Fame earlier in the card — this trainer clearly has confidence in the jockey. In a short 250-yard dash, post draw and gate quickness matter as much as anything, and Big Sky Cowboy's rating gives him the class edge in a wide-open maiden field.

place5Eyesa Got ItML 9/2

Eyesa Got It runs a close second in our ratings at 84.90 — only 0.72 points behind Big Sky Cowboy — and opens at 9/2, making this another near-coin-flip at the top. Trainer Jesse E. Ramos deploys Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr., a jockey with experience on today's Retama card. The narrow rating gap between the top two means exacta boxes involving both horses should be near the top of any ticket structure here.

show8Maxis Round UpML 5/2

Maxis Round Up offers a different angle as the 5/2 morning-line second choice with a rating of 74.09 — third in the field but priced like a contender. Trainer Miguel Angel Medina gives the call to Luis L. Vivanco, and the public clearly sees value here at a price that seems tighter than our model suggests. If the top two outrun their ratings, Maxis Round Up is well-positioned to snag the show spot and could even push for more.

Race 9

3:24 AM EDT

Allowance · 440 yd · Dirt

The night's feature allowance at 440 yards — the longest race on the card — brings together horses with actual win percentages, and two clear contenders sit well above the field.

win7Mitoles PrincessML 3/1

Mitoles Princess is our top pick with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and a 16% career win percentage — a solid mark for an allowance sprinter at this distance. Trainer Kie Mushinski sends out Claudio Ponce Aguilar at 3/1 on the morning line. The 440-yard distance is the longest race on tonight's card, which rewards horses with stamina and a reliable finish — Mitoles Princess's rating and win percentage suggest she has both.

place6Going for GoldML 7/2

Going for Gold brings an 80.43 rating and a 10% career win percentage to the table at 7/2 on the morning line. Trainer Adan Guzman gives the mount to Noe Villatoro, one of the more active jockeys on today's program. At a distance that stretches to 440 yards, horses that close well have extra value, and Going for Gold's profile suggests she's a legitimate threat to hit the board behind the top selection.

show3Goliath StoneML 9/2

Goliath Stone is a credible show play at 9/2 with a 63.97 rating — third-best in the field — and a 11% career win percentage that shows he can compete at this level. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh saddles Ali Rivera in a combination that's familiar with the Retama circuit. In a 440-yard allowance where pace can get complicated, Goliath Stone's overall profile makes him a reliable third-leg option in trifecta tickets.

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A nine-race card, blazing Texas heat, and several races where our TrackWiz ratings are pointing clearly at horses overlooked by the morning line — today has value written all over it. Wild Senorita, Jet Black Viper, and Jess Sissy Cartel are your free best bets to kick off the afternoon. For the full card — including pace scenarios, exotic plays, and our thoughts on Mitoles Princess in the Allowance closer — subscribers get it all. Good luck out there, and stay hydrated.

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