Daily Picks

Thistledown Picks & Predictions — June 9, 2026

Tuesday, June 9, 20268 racesThistledown

We're heading to Thistledown on Tuesday, June 9th for an eight-race all-dirt card under cloudy skies and warm 82-degree temperatures. Conditions look solid — no rain in the picture, so expect a consistent surface throughout the afternoon with no surprises for speed horses or closers.

All eight races are claiming events, which means we're squarely in the bread-and-butter territory of everyday handicapping: class drops, pace scenarios, and trainer angles that reward sharp attention. The distances split nicely between 5½-furlong sprints and two one-mile routes, giving us a variety of betting shapes to attack across the card.

Three races are open to all TrackWiz readers today, and five are locked for premium subscribers. Our top-rated horse on the card is Smash in Race 3, sitting at an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — more on that below.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Two horses dominate the TrackWiz ratings in this mile claiming opener, but the morning line favorite isn't either of them — setting up an interesting pace and value scenario around the post.

win7Scary PropositionML 5/1

Scary Proposition tops our ratings at 84.17 and leads all eight horses with an average speed figure of 54 — a clear edge in a field where most rivals are clustered around 51-52. Going postward at 5/1, trainer Justine Eder and jockey Angel I. Diaz combine on a horse whose numbers say he's underpriced. At a mile on the Thistledown dirt, that speed advantage should be sustainable around two turns, and the value relative to the morning line makes this our strongest win play of the race.

place5VodkatiniML 3/1

Vodkatini is no slouch here — an 82.35 TrackWiz rating and a 52 average speed figure match up well against most of this field. Trainer Michael L. Rone puts a horse in at 3/1 that figures to be competitive late if the pace gets contested up front. Even if Scary Proposition gets the better of him, Vodkatini's numbers make a top-two finish a realistic outcome worth covering.

show1Legally LuckyML 5/2

Legally Lucky is the morning line favorite at 5/2, and while our 61.08 rating doesn't put him at the top of the class, a 14% career win rate from a favorable post at No. 1 gives him relevance in the exotics. Trainer Saul M. Morales saddles a horse that Alexander Chavez will likely have forwardly placed at the top of the stretch, which means he should factor in at least a piece of the board.

Race 2

5:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A short 5.5-furlong sprint that shapes up with a dominant TrackWiz rating standout, though a pair of 25% career winners lurking in the field could complicate exacta construction.

win5Improbable FirstML 3/1

Improbable First carries the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.08 — a substantial gap over second-rated Stormin'unclejack at 68.44. Trainer Michael L. Rone is back with another well-rated horse today, and Luis Raul Rivera gets the call from post 5. The 54 average speed figure ties for the field's best, and in a short 5.5-furlong sprint on the dirt, a horse with this kind of rating separation typically converts at a solid clip.

place1Stormin'unclejackML 2/1

Stormin'unclejack is a logical underneath horse for several reasons — a 22% career win rate is the highest among horses rated in the top half of the field, and trainer Rodney C. Faulkner also saddles stablemate Mshindi, suggesting he's comfortable with the condition. Angel I. Diaz picks up the mount here, and at 2/1 on the morning line, he fits neatly as the main threat to Improbable First.

show7BrewingML 7/2

Brewing closes out our show slot at 7/2 with a 57.52 rating and a career win rate of 25% — tied for the field high despite a rating that undersells his upside. Trainer Ivan Calderon places Fernando Salazar Becerra aboard from post 7, and at 5.5 furlongs, Brewing's consistent speed numbers (53 avg) keep him in range of a piece without needing to beat the top two outright.

Race 3

5:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

This five-horse mile claimer is short on depth but loaded with intrigue — the favorite's TrackWiz rating dwarfs the field, yet the morning line has priced him quite short for a one-mile dirt test.

win5SmashML 9/5

Smash enters as a heavy 9/5 morning line choice and backs it up with the field's top TrackWiz rating of 88.83. Trainer Justine Eder teams up with Angel I. Diaz — a pairing that's been productive on the Thistledown dirt card today — and even at a short price, the data strongly supports Smash as the top selection. A career win rate of 17% in what appears to be a soft five-horse field means this horse should be tough to leave off any ticket.

place4Z BossML 7/2

Z Boss checks in at a 71.24 TrackWiz rating — second best in the field by a clear margin — and trainer Michael L. Rone has been a presence throughout today's card. Erik Barbaran takes the mount from post 4, and with a 15% career win rate, Z Boss has the profile of a horse that competes gamely without quite matching the top selection's ceiling. He's a natural underneath piece at 7/2.

show3LoonyML 4/1

Loony comes in rated 61.24 — third in the field — and while a career win rate of just 8% raises some flags, trainer Joseph P. Mahan's 4/1 morning line suggests confidence that this horse will factor. The 54 average speed figure ties the field's best, and Carlos Martinez has the experience to find a clean trip from post 3 in a short field. He rounds out the ticket as a serviceable show option.

The three free races cover a nice cross-section of the card: a pair of one-mile routes in Races 1 and 3 bookend a 5½-furlong sprint in Race 2. In the routes, the pace scenario is going to be critical — mile races on a track like Thistledown can quickly turn into a wire-to-wire affair if the early fractions are honest, and our analysis flagged both Scary Proposition (Race 1, 84.17 rating, 5/1 morning line) and Smash (Race 3, 88.83 rating, 9/5 morning line) as horses whose figures justify confidence at their respective prices.

In between, Race 2 sends Improbable First out at 3/1 with an 87.08 rating in a 5½-furlong claiming sprint — a distance where early position and breaking clean from the gate matter enormously. With the track playing consistently today, horses that can establish early without burning themselves out are worth leaning on across the free portion of the card.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Remember Me looks like a class standout in this 5.5-furlong dirt claimer, but the morning line has her as a heavy 8/5 chalk — so finding value underneath is where the real game is played here.

win6Remember MeML 8/5

Remember Me tops the field with a 89.12 TrackWiz rating and leads all starters with a 54 average speed figure — the kind of edge in a six-horse claiming sprint that tends to hold up. Trainer Jevon D. Crumley sends out a 17% career winner with Chelsey Keiser in the irons at 8/5. At that price the value is limited, but the data is hard to argue with — this horse is clearly the most complete package in the race.

place5Opulent WaysML 7/2

Opulent Ways rates second in the field at 74.58 and comes in at a more appealing 7/2 on the morning line. Trainer Mikhail Carmichael gives Rocco Bowen the mount from post 5, and with a 16% career win rate and a 53 average speed figure, this horse has the tools to be competitive for second money. The gap between her and Remember Me is real, but the gap between her and the rest of the field is equally real.

show3CrackleML 2/1

Crackle holds a 64.99 TrackWiz rating — third best in the field — and trainer Khadeem Galloway sends him out at 2/1 on the morning line, which may be a touch short for a horse that trails two standouts. That said, a 17% career win rate and a clean post 3 draw suggest Luis Alberto Batista will have him in good position. He's a legitimate show option and deserves a spot in trifecta tickets.

Race 5

6:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A fascinating pace setup in this 5.5-furlong sprint — the top-rated Gapper goes postward at just 2/1 while Hidden Ransom brings an eye-catching 33% career win rate into the mix at 9/5.

win2GapperML 2/1

Gapper leads all six horses with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and goes to post at 2/1 with Angel I. Diaz up for trainer Justine Eder — a combo that has shown up in force throughout this card. A 52 average speed figure and an 11% career win rate may not scream dominance on the surface, but the rating separation here is the story — over 13 points clear of the second-rated Hidden Ransom. In sprint claiming races, that kind of gap at this level typically translates.

place5Hidden RansomML 9/5

Hidden Ransom is impossible to ignore with a 33% career win rate — the highest in today's entire card by a wide margin — and a 54 average speed figure that leads this field. Trainer David Wolochuk sends Mauro Cedillo out at 9/5 on the morning line, suggesting the connections think this horse is live. If the pace sets up favorably, Hidden Ransom could honestly threaten for the win, but factoring him as a strong place horse feels like the safe read.

show6MutinyML 7/2

Mutiny rounds out our ticket at 7/2 with a 54.49 TrackWiz rating and an 18% career win rate — solid fundamentals for a show play. T.D. Houghton takes the mount for trainer Ricardo Bailey, who also saddles Venture On in this race, and Mutiny's 53 average speed figure gives him the pace profile to sustain a run through the lane. He's not going to beat the top two on ratings, but he should compete for the third spot on most trips.

Race 6

7:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Two horses rated in the high 80s face off at fairly comparable morning line prices in this six-furlong dirt claimer, while the public money appears to be going elsewhere — that's a value gap worth exploiting.

win6Jenn Sweet JennML 5/2

Jenn Sweet Jenn tops our ratings at 87.81 and gets out of the gate at a playable 5/2 on the morning line with Ricardo Feliciano in the irons for trainer Anthony F. Rini. The 53 average speed figure ranks among the field's best, and while a 4% career win rate is admittedly modest, TrackWiz ratings account for the full performance profile — not just wins. This horse's underlying numbers suggest she's been running well in defeat, and this spot looks right for a breakthrough.

place4She GrinsML 3/1

She Grins rates 83.72 — a close second on our leaderboard — and brings a more encouraging 11% career win rate to the table at 3/1. Trainer Justine Eder pairs her with Angel I. Diaz, a jockey who is clearly the hot hand on today's Thistledown card. From post 4 in a six-horse field, She Grins figures to find a clean trip and will be a tough out for anyone looking to beat both top-rated horses.

show1Fall in LoveML 9/2

Fall in Love opens at 9/2 with a 72.7 TrackWiz rating — third best in the field — and trainer Justine Eder saddles a second horse in the race, which sometimes signals stable confidence across multiple runners. Joshua J. Radosevich takes the mount from the rail, and with a 51 average speed figure, Fall in Love may need a pace meltdown to get involved up front. The 9/2 price offers some cushion, and she's worth using in trifectas behind the top two.

Race 7

7:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The morning line public seems stuck on the wrong horse in this six-furlong claimer — Leo's Legacy is the 9/5 chalk, but two horses in the field carry meaningfully higher TrackWiz ratings at longer prices.

win6It's Last CallML 7/2

It's Last Call tops the field with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating and goes postward at 7/2 — a price that offers real value given the numbers. Trainer Rey Juarez-Mendoza teams with Victor R. Fernandez from post 6, and while a 3% career win rate will concern casual bettors, the underlying speed profile (52 avg) tells a story of a horse that has run competitive races without converting. At 7/2, this is a legitimate overlay situation, and TrackWiz analysis puts him clearly ahead of the 9/5 public choice.

place4Game PerformerML 2/1

Game Performer is the second-best-rated horse in the race at 80.93 and comes in at 2/1 on the morning line — making him the people's pick despite not being our top selection. Trainer Michael L. Rone puts Luis Raul Rivera aboard from post 4, and a 12% career win rate with a 53 average speed figure gives Game Performer a solid, conventional profile. He's the type who figures in the finish regardless of how the pace scenario unfolds.

show3Affair to RememberML 6/1

Affair to Remember checks in at 77.17 — third on our leaderboard — and presents some genuine value at 6/1 for trainer Richard L. Genovese. Noel Vigil picks up the mount from post 3, and in a six-furlong sprint with a compressed pace, this horse's 53 average speed figure should have him within striking distance late. He makes for an attractive trifecta piece if the top two run their races.

Race 8

8:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The nightcap is a 5.5-furlong dirt sprint with a clear top two on TrackWiz ratings — but at tight morning line prices, the real play might be finding value underneath with a live 8/1 shot on the show end.

win7SiofraML 2/1

Siofra leads all seven horses with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and brings a field-best 21% career win rate into the race — the most compelling combination of rating and win percentage on the entire card today. Trainer David Wolochuk sends out Mauro Cedillo at 2/1 on the morning line, and a 53 average speed figure is comfortably competitive for this level. This horse has won before and rates to win again; the only question is whether the 2/1 price offers enough return.

place3Angel I'm NotML 3/1

Angel I'm Not comes in just a tick below the top at 87.08 on our ratings and carries a strong 17% career win rate to post. Trainer Robert C. Cline pairs with Victor R. Fernandez from post 3, and a 53 average speed figure slots in neatly alongside the pace scenario in a 5.5-furlong sprint. The 3/1 morning line is fair — this horse could easily flip the result with Siofra and deserves to be included on top and underneath in exacta tickets.

show6Shes a StormML 8/1

Shes a Storm is where the value lives in this race — 8/1 on the morning line with a 60.57 TrackWiz rating and a 17% career win rate that speaks to a horse who knows how to get to the wire. Erik Barbaran takes the mount for trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich, and the 51 average speed figure suggests this horse will need things to set up favorably, but in a competitive sprint that collapses into the lane, a strong closer at a double-digit morning line price is exactly the type you want in your trifecta.

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Thistledown's Tuesday card is a clean, manageable eight-race slate with some genuinely playable spots. Smash is the horse we're highest on among the free picks, and Remember Me leads the premium tier with the best TrackWiz rating on the card at 89.12. Whether you're playing a few win bets or constructing exotic tickets across the full card, there's plenty to work with today — good luck at the windows.

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