Daily Picks

Albuquerque Picks & Predictions — May 22, 2026

Friday, May 22, 202613 racesAlbuquerque

It's a blue-sky Friday at Albuquerque — 77°F, clear conditions, and a fast dirt strip that should have these Quarter Horses absolutely flying. With 13 trials on the card, today is all about identifying which horses punch their tickets and do it impressively enough to matter when the big dances come around.

Every race goes 350 yards, which means we're talking about explosiveness out of the gate, raw speed figures, and razor-thin margins. In a trial format, finding the horse that wins and wins with something left in the tank is the real handicapping challenge — and that's exactly where TrackWiz analysis earns its keep.

Three races are free for everyone today, giving you a strong foundation to start the card. The full 13-race breakdown — including pace projections and multi-race ticket construction — is waiting for subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

6:00 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

A wide-open 350-yard trial with no prior speed figures to lean on — this one comes down to TrackWiz ratings and morning-line positioning, with the top three in the ratings clustered closely together.

win9Dashing CowboyML 5/2

Dashing Cowboy draws the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 57.5 and gets the nod at 5/2 on the morning line, which is the shortest price in the race for good reason. Trainer Michael G. Valenzuela sends him out with jockey Esgar Ramirez, a capable pairing for a short sprint trial. In a 350-yard dash, fractions of a second separate the field — and our analysis puts this horse at the top of the class right now.

place8Jess LoadedML 7/2

Jess Loaded slots in right behind at a 55.83 rating and draws a solid 7/2 morning line under Sergio Becerra Jr. for trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez. Becerra is an experienced hand in these short sprints, and the rating gap between Jess Loaded and the rest of the field outside the top two is meaningful. He's a logical place play and worth including in exacta combinations.

show2Sumoke N MirrorsML 9/2

Sumoke N Mirrors rounds out the top three on the TrackWiz board with a 54.17 rating and goes off at 9/2 for trainer Zackary Stinebaugh with Gilberto Linares up. A 350-yard trial is a blink-and-miss-it affair, and Linares is a jockey who keeps horses honest out of the gate. Use Sumoke N Mirrors as your show anchor and as the third leg in any trifecta tickets.

Race 2

6:25 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Two horses enter with proven winning records in a field otherwise full of unknowns — Whatdyathinkofmenow brings a 50% career win rate and the top rating, making this one of the more defined short-sprint trials on the card.

win2WhatdyathinkofmenowML 9/5

Whatdyathinkofmenow is the most intriguing horse in this race on paper, carrying a 58.67 TrackWiz rating — the highest in the field — along with a 50% career win percentage. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh hands the reins to Gilberto Linares, a jockey who's been busy on this card and clearly has Stinebaugh's confidence. At 9/5 on the morning line, the public agrees: this one looks like the horse to beat in the trial.

place7One Famous CarmelitaML 7/2

One Famous Carmelita brings the other verifiable winning record in the race, sitting at 50% career wins with a solid 55.83 rating for trainer Eric Valenzuela and jockey Jose Enrique Ortiz. She slots in at 7/2, which looks fair given her credentials against a mostly unproven field. If the favorite gets caught napping in these short trials, Carmelita is right there to capitalize.

show9Rhynestone CowboyML 6/1

Rhynestone Cowboy earns the third spot on our board with a 51.67 rating at 6/1 for trainer S. Trey Wood with Ricky Ramirez riding. The 350 yards is brutally short, and anything can happen out of the gate — Rhynestone Cowboy offers show value and a shot at sneaking into the exacta if either of the top two horses break slowly.

Race 3

6:50 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Cowboy Genes stands apart here — a perfect career record in a field where nearly every other runner is winless — giving this trial a clearer favorite than most on tonight's card.

win3Cowboy GenesML 5/2

Cowboy Genes is the standout in Race 3, posting a 100% career win rate alongside the top TrackWiz rating of 57.5. Trainer Marc E. Jungers puts Edwin G. Escobedo in the irons, and at 5/2 on the morning line, this is one of the more confident plays of the evening. When a horse shows a perfect record and leads the field on ratings, you take notice — especially in a 350-yard trial where there's no time to recover from a slow start.

place4Cowboys First GinML 7/2

Cowboys First Gin checks in with a 55.83 rating at 7/2 for Xavier E. Rodriguez and Luis Martinez. The Rodriguez barn has multiple runners on the card today, showing the trainer is active and engaged. Cowboys First Gin may not have the winning pedigree on paper that Cowboy Genes brings, but the rating and morning line both support a solid place finish.

show8Good Can DML 9/2

Good Can D rounds out the top three with a 54.17 rating and a respectable 9/2 morning line for the Jason L. Olmstead-Ramiro Haro Garcia combination, which appears multiple times on tonight's card — suggesting this is a barn sending out horses in form. In a trial where the top three on ratings are closely bunched, Good Can D has enough upside to hit the board.

Our three free races kick off the card and give you a real taste of what's at stake today. In Race 1, Dashing Cowboy (5/2 morning line) headlines with a TrackWiz rating of 57.5 — solid for a trial opener on a surface that should play fast and fair all afternoon. Race 2 is where we get genuinely excited: Whatdyathinkofmenow comes in as the morning-line favorite at 9/5 and posts the highest TrackWiz rating among the free picks at 58.67. That's a horse that looks ready to make a statement. Round out the free card with Race 3's Cowboy Genes (5/2), another 57.5-rated contender who fits the profile of a horse built for this distance.

The common thread across these three? Clean, dry conditions favor pure speed — and all three of our top picks project as horses who can get out of the gate and not look back. In 350-yard racing, that's the whole ballgame.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

7:15 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Liionesss brings a perfect win record into a 350-yard trial that looks soft enough to exploit — but Heatseeker V and Shes a Cowboys Fire are live threats that should keep the exacta interesting.

win8LiionesssML 5/2

Liionesss tops the TrackWiz ratings at 57.5 with a 100% career win percentage — as strong a combination as you'll find in tonight's trials. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh and jockey Gilberto Linares are a partnership that has shown up all over this card, and that kind of familiarity matters in short sprints where execution out of the gate is everything. At 5/2, this is our top selection in Race 4.

place6Heatseeker VML 7/2

Heatseeker V sits just behind at 55.83 on the ratings board and is listed at 7/2 on the morning line for trainer Raymond G. Valerio with Francisco Calderon riding. While the horse doesn't carry a win percentage on file, the rating is strong enough to compete here, and 7/2 offers reasonable value for a place ticket alongside the favorite.

show4Shes a Cowboys FireML 9/2

Shes a Cowboys Fire rounds out the ticket at 54.17 and 9/2 for S. Trey Wood and Ricky Ramirez. The Wood-Ramirez combo also appears multiple times tonight, pointing to a stable sending horses to the post ready to run. As a show play or trifecta closer, Shes a Cowboys Fire represents solid value.

Race 5

7:40 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Three horses in this trial carry winning records, setting up a genuine pace battle where the rail post could be either an asset or a liability — Sixes Candy, Southern Looks, and Cr Favorite Tequila all have legitimate claims.

win1Sixes CandyML 5/2

Sixes Candy draws the top rating at 57.5 and a 50% career win percentage, earning our win pick at 5/2 from the inside post for trainer Justino Tarin Saenz with Jacob Enriquez in the saddle. In a 350-yard dash, the rail draw can be a huge advantage if the horse breaks cleanly — Enriquez has shown he can get horses away well in these short sprints. The combination of top rating and proven winning ability makes this our strongest play in the race.

place6Southern LooksML 7/2

Southern Looks also shows a 50% career win rate and a 55.83 rating at 7/2 for trainer Justin W. Joiner with Francisco Calderon aboard. Two horses in the same race with identical win percentages makes for a competitive exacta puzzle, and Southern Looks from the 6-hole has room to establish position. A place ticket here alongside Sixes Candy is a logical structure.

show9Cr Favorite TequilaML 9/2

Cr Favorite Tequila comes in at 54.17 on the TrackWiz board and 9/2 on the morning line for trainer Rolando Almanza with Jesse Lee Levario up. While the horse doesn't have a win rate on file, the rating puts this runner squarely in the mix for a piece of the purse, and Levario is an experienced rider in these short formats. A solid show option and trifecta inclusion.

Race 6

8:05 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Cowgirl Eats Fire leads the ratings, but Mr Roosevelt brings a perfect 100% win rate into this trial — making the top two on the morning line a genuine one-two battle that could go either way.

win1Cowgirl Eats FireML 5/2

Cowgirl Eats Fire earns the top TrackWiz rating at 57.5 and the shortest price at 5/2, with trainer S. Trey Wood turning to Ricky Ramirez from the rail. The Wood-Ramirez combination has been one of the more active partnerships on tonight's card, and getting the rail in a 350-yard sprint is always a factor. Our analysis puts Cowgirl Eats Fire at the top despite not having a winning percentage on record — ratings-based form often tells the fuller story in trials.

place2Mr RooseveltML 7/2

Mr Roosevelt is the value angle here: a 100% career win rate backing up a 55.83 rating, all at 7/2 on the morning line. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh keeps Gilberto Linares in the irons — a pairing that's looked sharp across multiple races tonight. The perfect record suggests this horse knows how to get to the wire first, and at 7/2, a place ticket offers terrific security.

show8Ask Her to FlyML 9/2

Ask Her to Fly brings a 50% career win rate and a 54.17 rating for trainer Jason L. Olmstead with Ramiro Haro Garcia riding from the 8-post. Olmstead and Haro Garcia have been a consistent partnership throughout this card, and a 50% win rate is no small thing in these short trials. Use Ask Her to Fly as your trifecta fill and show hedge.

Race 7

8:30 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Scif draws the lowest morning-line price in a loaded ten-horse trial and carries the field's top rating — but Double D 123 and Artic Cowboy 123 are both live to cause an upset in this wide-open affair.

win10ScifML 3/1

Scif comes in as the TrackWiz top-rated runner at 56.67 and earns a 3/1 morning line — the shortest price in the field — for trainer Clinton Crawford and jockey Jacob Enriquez. Enriquez has been one of the busier jockeys on tonight's card, giving him a rhythm and feel for the track condition. Our analysis marks Scif as the clear class of this field based on ratings, and 3/1 still represents a playable number for a win bet.

place2Double D 123ML 7/2

Double D 123 checks in at 55.83 and 7/2 on the morning line for Xavier E. Rodriguez — a trainer with multiple runners competing tonight, suggesting the barn is in top form. Jockey Luis Martinez is another rider who has been active and well-placed throughout the card. As the second-highest rated horse, Double D 123 is a natural place play and exacta partner with Scif.

show7Artic Cowboy 123ML 9/2

Artic Cowboy 123 rounds out the TrackWiz top three at 54.17 and 9/2 for the Jason L. Olmstead-Ramiro Haro Garcia partnership, which has been consistently represented across tonight's card. Olmstead sending another horse through this combination speaks to confidence, and 9/2 is a fair price for a show bet or trifecta inclusion in a ten-horse field.

Race 8

8:55 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Tymetogojoe is as clear a top selection as you'll find on this entire card — a 100% career win rate and the highest TrackWiz rating in the field, making this the race of the night for single-horse confidence plays.

win7TymetogojoeML 9/5

Tymetogojoe headlines Race 8 with a field-topping 58.67 TrackWiz rating and a perfect 100% career win percentage — that's as strong a profile as you'll see in a 350-yard trial. Trainer Jason L. Olmstead sends him out with Ramiro Haro Garcia, a jockey who has been clicking all night at Albuquerque. The 9/5 morning line is on the short side, but the credentials back it up fully — this is our top win selection of the night.

place5Catching Your DreamsML 7/2

Catching Your Dreams carries a 55.83 rating at 7/2 for trainer John A. Stinebaugh with Gilberto Linares up. Stinebaugh and Linares have been among the most visible partnerships on the card tonight, and this horse fits the profile of a steady place play in a race where the favorite looks dominant. Exacta tickets with Tymetogojoe on top and Catching Your Dreams underneath make plenty of sense.

show9Favorite CanvasML 6/1

Favorite Canvas rounds out the ticket at 51.67 and 6/1 for trainer Alvaro Hinojos with Luis Alonso Gutierrez Jr. in the saddle. While the rating is a step below the top two, 6/1 is a generous price for a horse ranked third in the field, and a show wager or trifecta slot is well-justified here. In a race where the top two have clear form edges, Favorite Canvas offers the best odds-to-rating value of the trio.

Race 9

9:20 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Hendry enters as the class of the field with the top rating and a 50% win rate, but Lethal Ghost looms as a price play at 7/2 in a nine-horse trial that shapes up as one of the more competitive of the evening.

win4HendryML 5/2

Hendry earns the win spot with a 57.5 TrackWiz rating — tops in the field — and a 50% career win rate that shows this horse can get it done. Trainer Tony E. Sedillo sends him out with Oscar Andrade Jr., and at 5/2, the morning line is fair for a horse who clearly outclasses most of his rivals by the numbers. In a 350-yard trial, the combination of top rating and winning record is hard to beat.

place9Lethal GhostML 7/2

Lethal Ghost sits at 55.83 on the TrackWiz board and draws a 7/2 morning line for trainer Michael G. Valenzuela with Esgar Ramirez riding. Valenzuela and Ramirez have form ties throughout this meet, and a horse rated second in the field at a price just slightly off the favorite is a solid place value. The 7/2 on a horse with this strong a rating is worth attacking.

show2Mw Candy ShopML 9/2

Mw Candy Shop brings a 54.17 rating and 9/2 morning line for trainer Ramon Mendoza with Jose Enrique Ortiz piloting from the 2-hole. The inside draw in a short sprint is always a talking point, and Ortiz has been a competent presence on tonight's card. At 9/2, Mw Candy Shop is a reasonable show play and trifecta leg.

Race 10

9:45 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Rr Gotta Fly tops the ratings in Race 10, but this looks like a legitimate three-horse race between the top three on the board — Aj League and My Favorite Runaway are both live to hit the exacta.

win7Rr Gotta FlyML 5/2

Rr Gotta Fly earns the top TrackWiz rating at 57.5 and gets the shortest morning-line price at 5/2 for trainer Xavier E. Rodriguez with Luis Martinez up. Rodriguez has been one of the most active trainers on this card, and Martinez is one of his go-to riders — when a trainer doubles up a jockey across multiple races, it typically means something. The rating advantage and the connections make Rr Gotta Fly our top selection.

place8Aj LeagueML 7/2

Aj League is an interesting place play at 7/2 with a 55.83 rating for trainer Salvador R. Soto and jockey Noe Garcia Jr. Garcia Jr. has had a busy night on the card and should be dialed in to the surface. The rating gap between Aj League and the rest of the field outside the top two is meaningful, and 7/2 is a fair number to back.

show9My Favorite RunawayML 9/2

My Favorite Runaway comes in at 54.17 and 9/2 for trainer Jorge A. Morales-Flores with Jose Luis Enriquez aboard from the 9-post. Enriquez is another jockey with multiple mounts tonight, keeping him in a good rhythm. At 9/2 with the third-best rating in the field, My Favorite Runaway rounds out a logical win-place-show ticket nicely.

Race 11

10:10 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Unblemished V has the top rating, but A Political Assassin enters with a 100% win rate at a more attractive 7/2 price — making this one of the more interesting wagering puzzles of the night.

win6Unblemished VML 5/2

Unblemished V leads the field with a 57.5 TrackWiz rating and a 50% career win percentage, heading to the gate at 5/2 for trainer Raymond G. Valerio with Francisco Calderon in the irons. Calderon has been one of the more consistent riders on tonight's card, and getting the top-rated horse with a proven winning record is a strong combination. The 5/2 is a fair price given what Unblemished V brings to the table.

place7A Political AssassinML 7/2

A Political Assassin is the horse that keeps you honest here — a 100% career win rate is not something you ignore, even at 7/2. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh and jockey Gilberto Linares have been arguably the most consistent pairing across tonight's entire card, and a horse that has never lost demands respect. A place ticket on A Political Assassin alongside Unblemished V makes for a smart structure.

show2Sashay My Life AwayML 9/2

Sashay My Life Away earns the show slot with a 54.17 rating and 9/2 morning line for trainer S. Trey Wood with Ricky Ramirez up. Wood and Ramirez have had multiple live runners tonight, and Sashay My Life Away fits the profile of a horse ready to contribute. As the third-rated horse in the field at a fair price, she rounds out the trifecta ticket well.

Race 12

10:35 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

Two horses with perfect winning records collide in the penultimate trial of the night — Mr Dragon Rider and Moonstone V both enter unbeaten, setting up the most intriguing matchup on tonight's card.

win7Mr Dragon RiderML 5/2

Mr Dragon Rider gets the top spot on our board with a field-best 57.5 TrackWiz rating and a 100% career win percentage, going at 5/2 for trainer Marc E. Jungers and jockey Edwin G. Escobedo. Jungers is an experienced hand and Escobedo has had a productive night at Albuquerque — this pairing knows what it takes to get a short sprinter out of the gate clean. When you combine the top rating with an unbeaten record, you ride that horse.

place1Moonstone VML 7/2

Moonstone V is the counter-punch at 7/2 — another horse with a 100% win rate, landing a 55.83 rating for trainer Raymond G. Valerio with Francisco Calderon riding from the rail. The inside post in a 350-yard sprint is one of the most coveted draws on the track, and Calderon has been razor-sharp tonight. Don't let 7/2 fool you — this horse is legitimate and the exacta combining both unbeaten runners is worth playing both ways.

show4Callme JakeML 9/2

Callme Jake rounds out the top three at 54.17 and 9/2 for trainer John A. Stinebaugh with Gilberto Linares in the irons. Stinebaugh and Linares have been the signature partnership of this entire card, appearing in race after race with runners that hit the board. Callme Jake benefits from that hot barn energy and offers solid value as a trifecta anchor in a race that should have two clear horses at the top.

Race 13

11:00 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

The finale features a genuinely stacked top three — Bandido 123, Tell a Scout, and Rings of Power all bring winning records into a nine-horse trial, setting up an exciting close to the card.

win2Bandido 123ML 5/2

Bandido 123 tops the field with a 57.5 TrackWiz rating and a 50% career win rate at 5/2 for trainer Eric Valenzuela and jockey Jordy Soto Muniz. Valenzuela has been active throughout tonight's card and clearly has horses ready to fire, and Soto Muniz brings energy and quickness out of the gate that suits the 350-yard format. This is our top win selection to close the night.

place5Tell a ScoutML 7/2

Tell a Scout earns the place spot with a 55.83 rating and a 50% career win percentage at 7/2 for trainer S. Trey Wood and Ricky Ramirez. Wood and Ramirez have been a consistent and productive partnership throughout tonight's entire program — finishing the card with another live runner from this barn is right on script. A place ticket here is a strong play.

show4Rings of PowerML 9/2

Rings of Power brings the most impressive win record of any show pick on the card — a perfect 100% career win rate — combined with a 54.17 rating and a 9/2 price for trainer Wesley T. Giles with Noe Garcia Jr. Giles and Garcia Jr. are a pairing worth tracking, and a horse that has never been beaten deserves a place on your trifecta ticket regardless of morning-line position. A 9/2 unbeaten closer to round out the night is excellent value.

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Thirteen trials, clear skies, and a fast Albuquerque strip — today's card is a handicapper's puzzle worth solving. Start with Whatdyathinkofmenow in Race 2 as your free-card anchor, and don't sleep on Dashing Cowboy and Cowboy Genes in the openers. For the full 13-race breakdown, pace angles, and exotic ticket strategies, the complete TrackWiz analysis is live for subscribers now.

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