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Ajax Downs Picks & Predictions — May 20, 2026

May 20, 20267 racesAll Ajax Downs picks

This card ran on May 20, 2026.

Best bets at Ajax Downs, May 20, 2026

Race 13General SkywalkerML 8/53:31 PM EDT

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Ajax Downs is putting on a full 7-race card today under clear skies and a crisp 62°F — about as clean a racing day as you can ask for at this track. The fast, dry dirt should play true, which means speed figures will hold up and early quickness will be rewarded. No weather excuses today; the horses that are ready will show it.

The card spans distances from a lightning-quick 250 yards all the way out to 770 yards, so you've got everything from pure burst sprinters to horses that need a little more ground to find their best stride. There's variety here, and our TrackWiz models have strong opinions across all seven races.

The headliner is Race 6, a Derby going 300 yards — that's your prestige race of the afternoon. But don't sleep on Race 7, a Speed Index Race where Kissin Ella posted the highest TrackWiz rating on the entire card at 89.27. It's shaping up to be a sharp closer to the day.

Best Bets

Race 1

3:31 PM EDT

Allowance · 770 yd · Dirt

A clear class standout sits at the top of this allowance opener, but a live second choice and a sneaky show contender make the exotics worth building around.

win3General SkywalkerML 8/5

General Skywalker (3) tops our TrackWiz ratings at 89.12 — a meaningful gap above the rest of this field — and that edge is hard to ignore in a five-horse allowance over 770 yards. Trainer Bob Broadstock sends him out with Ramiro Sanchez Castillo in the irons, a solid combo at this level. The 8/5 morning line reflects public respect, but the rating separation suggests he's the right favorite here. Back him to win and build your exotics around him.

place5Sea to AirML 2/1

Sea to Air (5) posts a TrackWiz rating of 71.58 and an average speed figure of 51 — one of only two horses in the field with a recorded avg speed — giving her a measurable edge in the speed department over most rivals. A 23% career win rate is respectable, and trainer Jeff Voyce also conditions the field's other speed horse, which gives him a clear read on the pace scenario. At 2/1, she's a natural place play behind the top selection.

show2Tell Him No SecretsML 9/2

Tell Him No Secrets (2) checks in with a 49.97 rating and a 25% career win rate, making her a credible third wheel in this spot. J.B. Botello gets the call for trainer Joe Tavares, a barn that knows how to place horses. At 9/2 on the morning line, there's real value if she runs to her number in a race where the top two draw most of the betting action.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

4:01 PM EDT

Speed Index Race · 300 yd · Dirt

Favorite Interest looks like the class of this Speed Index dash at 300 yards, but Eye Spy My lurks just off the pace with a rating that could make this closer than the morning line suggests.

win4Favorite InterestML 8/5

Favorite Interest (4) carries the field's top TrackWiz rating at 89.12 and boasts a 37% career win percentage — by far the best winning record in this five-horse field. Trainer Jason Pascoe puts J.B. Botello up, a jockey who knows how to fire horses out of the gate in these short sprints. The 8/5 morning line is a fair reflection of her standing, and the rating gap over the next closest rival is substantial enough to make her a confident top selection.

place5Eye Spy MyML 5/2

Eye Spy My (5) sits second in the TrackWiz ratings at 79.52 — a solid score that puts her clearly ahead of the middle tier. Alexis Sanchez takes the mount for trainer Richard W. Kennedy, and at 5/2 on the morning line there's a touch of value here relative to her rating. In a 300-yard speed index race where fractions of a second decide everything, her figures suggest she belongs right in the mix for second money.

show3Ms Fixin to WinML 2/1

Ms Fixin to Win (3) rates out at 61.96 and carries a 16% career win percentage, which isn't flashy but is enough to land in the exotics at 2/1. Trainer Bob Broadstock saddles her with Ramiro Sanchez Castillo, a reliable combination at Ajax. She's third-best by the ratings, and if either of the top two has a gate miscue over this ultra-short 300-yard trip, she's right there to benefit.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

The first three races are unlocked for every reader, and they're a solid starting point for the afternoon. General Skywalker opens the card in an Allowance sprint at 770 yards — the longest race of the day — and sits as our top pick at 8/5 on the morning line with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating. At that distance on a firm, fast track, stamina and pace control are everything, and our analysis likes his profile. Race 2 brings a 300-yard Speed Index Race, where Favorite Interest also checks in at 89.12 — the same rating as General Skywalker but in a very different context. Speed Index Races reward pure acceleration, and the clean conditions today mean the surface won't take anything away from a horse's best number. Then in Race 3, maiden runners get their shot at 300 yards, with Oppy drawing our top call at 5/2 and an 87.81 rating — the lone free-race pick coming in at a price, which is exactly the kind of spot worth noting.

The through-line on today's free picks: fast dirt, honest pace scenarios, and horses whose TrackWiz ratings suggest they belong at the top of their respective fields. No exotic bias on the surface today — just good horses in straightforward spots.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

4:28 PM EDT

Maiden · 300 yd · Dirt

With Drouillard scratched, this maiden 300-yarder gets a little thinner, but Oppy towers over the remaining field on ratings and shapes up as a straightforward top choice in a race where nobody has broken their maiden yet.

win5OppyML 5/2

Oppy (5) leads all remaining runners with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — a significant margin over the field in a five-horse maiden sprint. Trainer Ruth Barbour sends her out with Cristian Benitez, and the 5/2 morning line actually offers mild value given how dominant the rating is relative to the competition. Every horse in this race is winless, so past results are limited, but Oppy's underlying figures give her the clearest edge on paper.

place4Trip CoronaML 7/2

Trip Corona (4) slots in second on the TrackWiz ratings at 72.53 and draws a manageable 7/2 morning line. Trainer Jason Pascoe has two runners in this race, which suggests he's confident about his barn's form right now. In a maiden sprint where gate speed is everything, Trip Corona's rating puts her in a strong position to be the second horse home.

show1Royal ZanboML 5/1

Royal Zanbo (1) rates at 53.33 — third-best in the field after the scratch — and gets Jose Nabor Cruz aboard from the inside post for trainer Brooke Sisson. The 5/1 morning line means there's genuine value if she runs to her TrackWiz number. In a short maiden dash with no clear pace pressure concerns, the inside post could be an asset, and she's a logical show inclusion in any exotic ticket.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 4

4:56 PM EDT

Maiden · 250 yd · Dirt

This 250-yard maiden affair is locked up at the top, but the race shape makes exactas and trifectas worth constructing — a clear top choice with a trio of credible runners chasing.

win4Magic GuitarML 8/5

Magic Guitar (4) checks in with the field's ceiling rating of 89.12, putting her in a familiar spot atop the TrackWiz leaderboard for this maiden sprint. Trainer Chantelle Bourgeois hands the reins to Cassandra Jeschke, and together they're sending out the most highly rated horse in the field with good reason. At 8/5 on the morning line, she's not giving away much value, but in a 250-yard dash — the shortest trip on the card — raw ratings matter most and she has a clear edge.

place1Shake Em AliceML 2/1

Shake Em Alice (1) rates 69.64 and draws the coveted inside post, which in a 250-yard bullet can be a legitimate advantage. Trainer Joe Tavares puts J.B. Botello up — one of the more active jockey-trainer combinations working the Ajax card tonight. At 2/1 she's a natural spot for place money, and her rating is far enough ahead of the rest of the field to feel confident about second-place chances.

show3Rushn ValentineML 5/2

Rushn Valentine (3) posts a 58.65 rating for trainer Paul Garrison, who sends out Max Badal. The 5/2 morning line is competitive for a horse that rates third in the field, suggesting some public support is already flowing her way. In a maiden sprint this short, the margin for error is tiny, and she has enough figure to land in the money if the top two have any issues breaking clean.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 5

5:23 PM EDT

Allowance · 300 yd · Dirt

Trainer Scott Reid doubles up in this 300-yard allowance and his top runner looks like the one to beat, but Elvis the Famous from a rival barn sets up as the most dangerous threat in what shapes up as a two-horse battle at the top.

win2The BatmannML 8/5

The Batmann (2) tops the field with a 89.12 TrackWiz rating and a 25% career win rate — matching Elvis the Famous win-for-win but holding the edge on overall ratings. Trainer Scott Reid puts Helen Marie Vanek up, and this barn has two runners in the race, signaling confidence. At 8/5, the morning line makes him the deserved chalk, and that big rating number in a five-horse allowance sprint makes him a clear win pick.

place1Elvis the FamousML 2/1

Elvis the Famous (1) comes in with a 77.12 rating and also owns a 25% career win percentage — nearly identical record to the top pick but a step behind on the figures. Trainer Bryn Robertson puts Ismael Eluid Mosqueira up from the rail, and inside post position in a 300-yard sprint is never a bad thing. At 2/1, he's a natural place play and the most likely horse to beat The Batmann if the favorite stumbles out of the gate.

show4NiigaaniiML 5/2

Niigaanii (4) brings the second-best career win rate in the field at 35% — actually ahead of both top picks on that metric — and rates at 62.29, good for third in the field. Trainer Scott Reid also conditions this one, giving the barn a two-pronged attack. D.I. Benitez takes the mount and at 5/2 on the morning line, Niigaanii is a logical show anchor in trifectas given that career win record.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 6

5:57 PM EDT

Derby · 300 yd · Dirt

The Ajax Derby is the marquee event of the night and it comes with two scratches thinning the field, but what's left is a competitive group headlined by a horse carrying a massive career win percentage and a solid longshot angle worth exploring deep in the trifecta.

win8Lights DynastyML 3/1

Lights Dynasty (8) is the horse to beat on every metric that matters — an 87.08 TrackWiz rating combined with a jaw-dropping 66% career win percentage. That win rate stands alone in this field and speaks to a horse that converts when asked. Trainer Joe Tavares sends out Cristian Benitez, and at 3/1 on the morning line, you're getting a fair price on the most accomplished runner in the Derby field. This is our top play of the night.

place3CopilotML 4/1

Copilot (3) rates at 77.25 and carries a 33% career win percentage — solid credentials for a Derby contender. Trainer Scott Reid puts D.I. Benitez up, and the Reid barn has multiple runners in tonight's card showing good activity. At 4/1, Copilot offers some value relative to his rating, and he looks like a natural place play to complement Lights Dynasty in exactas and trifectas.

show2Especially TemptingML 6/1

Especially Tempting (2) checks in at 66.66 on the TrackWiz scale with a 20% career win rate, and trainer Scott Reid fields yet another contender here — this barn is clearly live tonight. Ismael Eluid Mosqueira gets the mount, one of the busiest riders on the Ajax card. At 6/1 on the morning line, she's a value-priced show play in a Derby that lost two runners to scratches, tightening the competition.

⚡ Longshot7Lil PhylerML 10/1

Lil Phyler (7) opens at 10/1 on the morning line and carries a 65.01 TrackWiz rating — actually fifth-best in the field among non-scratched horses, which means the public may be underestimating this one slightly. Trainer Jason Pascoe has been active throughout the card tonight, and Jesus Ambrocio Medina takes the reins. In a Derby field where two horses were scratched and the pace scenario is uncertain, Phyler could find a clean trip and fire a career-best. Longshots in short sprints are always speculative, but the rating and trainer activity make this one worth a small inclusion on wide tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 7

6:27 PM EDT

Speed Index Race · 300 yd · Dirt

Kissin Ella stands out as a dominant top choice on TrackWiz ratings in this Speed Index closer, but the morning line makes her short enough that finding value underneath is the real puzzle to solve.

win7Kissin EllaML 3/2

Kissin Ella (7) leads the entire eight-horse field with a 89.27 TrackWiz rating — the highest figure on the card tonight — and trainer Jason Pascoe puts J.B. Botello up, one of the most active and productive jockey-trainer duos working Ajax tonight. The 3/2 morning line reflects that she's the clear public choice, and honestly, the rating justifies it. In a Speed Index race over 300 yards, elite figures translate directly and she's got them.

place1Politics N LightsML 4/1

Politics N Lights (1) rates at 61.80 and gets the inside post for trainer Bob Broadstock with Ramiro Sanchez Castillo aboard. The 4/1 morning line puts her at an appealing price considering she's third on the TrackWiz ratings and holds a 6% career win rate in what's been a tough racing environment. In a speed index race where gate position counts, the rail draw could be a meaningful factor if the favorite draws eyes.

show3Stolin SecretsML 2/1

Stolin Secrets (3) rates 60.18 — virtually neck-and-neck with Politics N Lights on the figures — and carries a 10% career win rate for trainer Chantelle Bourgeois. Cassandra Jeschke takes the mount, and at 2/1 on the morning line there's clearly some public interest here. She's a reasonable show anchor in the trifecta: the ratings support her being in the top three, and the morning line suggests she won't pay much but she's a reliable piece in multi-race exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

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Clear skies, fast dirt, and a Derby on the card — Ajax Downs is set up for a quality Wednesday afternoon. General Skywalker, Favorite Interest, and Oppy headline the free picks in Races 1–3, and Kissin Ella's card-best 89.27 rating makes Race 7 the most compelling race of the day. Full pace projections, exotic breakdowns, and premium picks for Races 4–7 are available to TrackWiz subscribers at /pricing. Good luck out there — let's make it a profitable one.

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