Daily Picks

Albuquerque Picks & Predictions — July 3, 2026

Friday, July 3, 202611 racesAlbuquerque

Happy Independence Day eve, race fans. Albuquerque is serving up a full slate of 11 quarter horse trials today under partly cloudy skies and a sizzling 90°F — the kind of New Mexico summer heat that can tighten up a fast track and have these short horses flying. All 11 races go 400 yards on the dirt, so if you're a quarter horse junkie, today is your holiday weekend gift.

Trial days are always fascinating from a handicapping standpoint. These aren't just ordinary races — the results here determine who punches a ticket to the stakes final. That means connections are running to win, not to save a horse for another day. Effort is genuine, and the times matter. Every fraction counts when you're fighting for a finals berth.

Three races are open to all TrackWiz readers today, and our top-rated horse across the entire card is Big Ted in Race 8, who leads the field with a TrackWiz rating of 88.83. Baby Daddy Cartel matches that number in Race 11, making the back half of this card particularly compelling.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:30 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

A wide-open 400-yard trial with a genuine ratings gap at the top — Dark Passion carries the highest TrackWiz score in the field but opens at a generous 9/2, suggesting the morning line underestimates the horse's upside.

win8Dark PassionML 9/2

Dark Passion is the TrackWiz top-rated horse in this field with a rating of 68.76 — a clear step above the rest of the field — and yet the morning line has this one pegged at 9/2, which looks like real overlay territory. Trainer Jorge A. Morales-Flores sends this one out with jockey Raul Ortega in the irons, a combination worth watching in these short-format quarter-horse trials. In a 400-yard dash where every fraction counts, having the highest-rated horse in the field at a price is exactly the kind of spot TrackWiz analysis targets.

place1HestanML 9/5

Hestan comes in as the morning-line favorite at 9/5, backed by a solid TrackWiz rating of 58.67 and a career win percentage of 50% — meaning this horse has won half its career starts, which is a meaningful number in any format. Jose Enrique Ortiz gets the call for trainer Omar Vargas, a barn that knows how to prep a horse for trial conditions. If you're looking for a reliable place ticket, Hestan's win rate gives you confidence it knows how to finish at the front.

show3Twissted TeaML 3/1

Twissted Tea rounds out our top three with a 56.67 rating and a 50% career win rate of its own — two horses at 50% in the same race is unusual and makes the exacta and trifecta boxes worth constructing. Trainer Justin W. Joiner has James A. Flores up, and at 3/1 on the morning line, Twissted Tea should be well-represented in the wagering pools. As a show play this one offers solid coverage given the proven win record.

Race 2

7:55 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Restart lands at an intriguing 9/2 despite posting the highest rating in the field — the morning line gives Dahlias Destiny top billing at 3/1, setting up a scenario where our top pick could offer genuine overlay value.

win9RestartML 9/2

Restart holds the field's top TrackWiz rating at 78.09 — the only horse in this nine-horse trial to crack the upper 70s — and yet the morning line opens this one at 9/2, behind the 3/1 Dahlias Destiny. Trainer Omar Vargas saddles Restart with jockey Jose Luis Enriquez, and Vargas has been a consistent name on this card. In a 400-yard trial where rating separation matters, that 78.09 figure gives Restart a meaningful edge heading into the gate.

place8Dahlias DestinyML 3/1

Dahlias Destiny is the morning-line favorite at 3/1 and backs it up with a TrackWiz rating of 71.20, second-best in the field. Trainer Tony E. Sedillo puts Oscar Andrade, Jr. aboard — a pairing worth noting. This horse opens as the public's choice, and while our analysis prefers Restart at the top, Dahlias Destiny's rating clearly supports a place ticket in the exotics.

show3Kj Ace in the HoleML 6/1

Kj Ace in the Hole comes in at 6/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 67.58, third-highest in the field and not far behind Dahlias Destiny. Trainer Wesley T. Giles sends this one out with Noe Garcia, Jr. in the saddle. For trifecta players, Kj Ace in the Hole's rating alone justifies inclusion — the gap between this horse and the rest of the field below is significant.

Race 3

8:20 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Vado Cat dominates the ratings column in this trial by a wide margin, making this one of the clearer top picks on the card — the question is whether the 7/2 morning line properly reflects that advantage.

win1Vado CatML 7/2

Vado Cat holds a TrackWiz rating of 84.55 — that's nearly 28 points clear of second-ranked Wheelz at 56.67, which is a substantial gap in any format, but especially in a straight 400-yard dash where there's no room to make up ground. Trainer Rodolfo G. Valles puts Joseph Belloc, Jr. in the irons, and Valles has multiple horses on this card, suggesting an active and engaged barn. Add in a 33% career win rate and you've got a horse with proven ability to close the deal at the wire.

place5WheelzML 3/1

Wheelz checks in at 56.67 on the TrackWiz scale and carries a 50% career win rate — meaning this horse wins half the time it runs. Trainer Wesley T. Giles gets Noe Garcia, Jr. up, and the 3/1 morning line reflects genuine public respect. While Vado Cat looks like the class of the field, Wheelz's consistent win record makes it a strong place play in exacta construction.

show9Kings WineML 9/2

Kings Wine opens at 9/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 54.17, third-best in a field that drops off quickly below that level. Trainer Omar Vargas puts Sergio Becerra, Jr. in the saddle — a jockey who appears multiple times on today's card. At 9/2 with a clear ratings advantage over much of the rest of the field, Kings Wine is a logical show ticket and trifecta piece.

Our three free previews cover Races 1 through 3, giving every reader a solid foundation to work with. Dark Passion opens the card in Race 1 at 9/2 on the morning line — a fair price if the rating of 68.76 holds up under race conditions. Race 2 is a step up in quality with Restart posting a 78.09 TrackWiz rating, and then Race 3 really gets interesting — Vado Cat comes in as the morning line favorite at 7/2 with a rating of 84.55, the strongest number among the free-preview trio.

On a hot, fast track like we expect today, watch for horses that can break cleanly and get to top speed in a hurry — at 400 yards, there's no time to make up ground. Any horse that stumbles out of the gate is essentially done. That early-break angle runs through all three of our free picks and is worth keeping top of mind as you watch the first few races unfold.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

8:45 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Perrys Alibi arrives with the highest TrackWiz rating in a ten-horse trial and carries the rare distinction of a verified career win percentage — making this look like one of the stronger class standouts on tonight's card.

win5Perrys AlibiML 3/1

Perrys Alibi leads all horses in this race with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 and owns a 20% career win rate — and while that number might seem modest, it's built on actual starts, unlike the majority of this field. Trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza sends this one out with Jaime Parga Leos in the irons at a 3/1 morning line that puts this horse as the betting public's top choice. In a 400-yard trial, that combination of high rating and proven record is hard to fade.

place3RenikoML 7/2

Reniko opens at 7/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 55.83, second-best in the field and a considerable step above the middle pack. Trainer Rodolfo G. Valles sends Joseph Belloc, Jr. to ride — Valles again showing up with a well-positioned runner. As a place play, Reniko offers solid exacta value underneath Perrys Alibi given the ratings gap between this horse and the rest of the field below 50.

show9BrigidML 9/2

Brigid checks in at 54.17 on the TrackWiz scale and gets Sergio Becerra, Jr. up for trainer Omar Vargas at a 9/2 morning line. The Vargas barn is active throughout tonight's card, and Brigid's rating gives the horse a clear separation from the bottom half of this ten-horse field. In trifecta construction, Brigid is a reasonable third leg when the top two hold form.

Race 5

9:10 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Race 5 is one of the tightest at the top all night — Pepa Jet, Rc a Flashn Comet, and Daddys China are separated by less than half a point in TrackWiz ratings, setting up a genuine three-way battle in the final strides.

win8Pepa JetML 7/2

Pepa Jet edges the field by the slimmest of margins with a TrackWiz rating of 82.75 and backs it up with a 33% career win rate — real numbers built on real starts. Trainer S. Trey Wood puts Ricky Ramirez aboard at a 7/2 morning line, and Ramirez has been a consistent presence in today's riding colony. When the top three horses are this close in ratings, the edge often goes to the horse with the verified record, and Pepa Jet's 33% win rate stands out in this cluster.

place6Rc a Flashn CometML 6/1

Rc a Flashn Comet comes in at 82.71 — just four-hundredths of a point behind Pepa Jet — and carries a 25% career win rate, adding another data point that this horse knows how to compete. Jesse Lee Levario gets the mount for trainer Jorge A. Morales-Flores at 6/1 on the morning line, which looks like a potential overlay given how close this horse is to the top selection. In a race this tight at the top, the place pool on Rc a Flashn Comet could offer real value.

show4Daddys ChinaML 3/1

Daddys China is separated by less than half a point from both top picks at 82.28, and adds a 33% career win rate to the equation with Jose Enrique Ortiz in the irons for trainer Omar Vargas. The morning line has this one at 3/1, reflecting appropriate respect from the bookmakers. In exotic wagers covering the top three, Daddys China is as logical a third leg as you'll find — the ratings clustering here is genuinely unusual.

Race 6

9:35 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Bogarts Brown Sugar carries the highest rating in the field and opens as the 3/1 morning-line choice — but the real intrigue is the place and show picks at double-digit and mid-tier odds that could deliver serious exotic returns.

win10Bogarts Brown SugarML 3/1

Bogarts Brown Sugar tops this field with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 and comes in with a 33% career win rate — the only horse in this ten-runner trial with a verified winning record. Luis Martinez gets the call for trainer Daniel R. Ruiz Amaya at 3/1 on the morning line, and Ruiz Amaya has multiple runners on tonight's card. The rating lead here is substantial — the next closest horse, Cartels Girl, is more than 20 points back at 66.65 — making Bogarts Brown Sugar the clear class of the field.

place9Cartels GirlML 10/1

Cartels Girl opens at 10/1 on the morning line but holds the second-best TrackWiz rating in the field at 66.65 — that 20-plus point gap between the odds and the rating suggests the morning line may be undervaluing this runner. James A. Flores gets the mount for trainer Jesus Rondan Jr., and at those odds, the place ticket on Cartels Girl in the exacta offers genuine value. If Bogarts Brown Sugar handles business up front, Cartels Girl's rating says it should be in the mix for second.

show2Jms TejanaML 15/1

Jms Tejana comes in at 15/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 59.36, third-best in the field despite the long price. Gabriel Medrano rides for trainer Salvador R. Soto, and while the odds reflect the public's skepticism, the rating gap between Jms Tejana and the horses below 55 is meaningful. As a trifecta piece at a price, Jms Tejana is worth including in wider exotics.

Race 7

10:00 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Imma Dandy and Jess a Corona Dash headline a well-matched top two, but the separation in ratings between those horses and the rest of the field is sharp — this race has a genuine one-two punch at the top with a big dropoff below.

win8Imma DandyML 3/1

Imma Dandy tops this field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and owns a 50% career win rate — winning half your races is a credential that demands respect in any format. Oscar Andrade, Jr. gets the mount for trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza at 3/1 on the morning line, making this the public's top choice as well. The 50% win rate in particular is a standout figure tonight, and the rating confirms Imma Dandy as the class of this nine-horse trial.

place1Jess a Corona DashML 9/2

Jess a Corona Dash runs a close second in the ratings at 84.90 and matches Imma Dandy with a 50% career win rate of its own — two horses with identical win rates at the top of the same field is a genuinely rare setup. Jose Luis Enriquez rides for trainer Omar Vargas at 9/2 on the morning line, which looks like a fair price for a horse this close to the top pick. Jess a Corona Dash is the most logical place play on the card tonight.

show9Bigg TwistML 7/2

Bigg Twist checks in at 68.02 on the TrackWiz scale and carries a 25% career win rate — the only other horse in this field with a verified record. Luis Martinez rides for Daniel R. Ruiz Amaya at 7/2, and that win percentage adds credibility to a horse priced attractively enough to include in trifectas. There's a significant ratings drop after these top three, making Bigg Twist a logical third for exotic players.

Race 8

10:25 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Big Ted arrives as a deserving morning-line favorite and the clear ratings leader, but Super Patriot's 50% win rate and legitimate price make Race 8 one of the better exacta opportunities on the card.

win3Big TedML 9/5

Big Ted leads all horses tonight in Race 8 with a TrackWiz rating of 88.83 — the joint-highest mark of any horse on tonight's entire card — and backs it up with a 50% career win rate. Sergio Becerra, Jr. gets the call for trainer Omar Vargas at a 9/5 morning line, and at that price, the public has clearly done its homework. When you've got the top-rated horse in the field with a 50% win rate and a proven rider, this is about as confident as a handicapper can be.

place6Super PatriotML 3/1

Super Patriot opens at 3/1 and carries a 50% career win rate to match the win pick — two horses with 50% career win rates in the same field makes the exacta here particularly compelling. Jose Luis Enriquez rides for trainer Marco A. Flores, and the 3/1 morning line reflects the public's awareness of Super Patriot's credentials. The 74.47 TrackWiz rating is well clear of the rest of the field below, solidifying this horse as the most logical place play.

show9Tempered DaddyML 9/2

Tempered Daddy opens at 9/2 with a 63.03 TrackWiz rating, third-best in the field and a step above the midfield pack. Gabriel Medrano takes the mount for trainer John A. Stinebaugh, and while there's no career win percentage on record, the rating alone separates Tempered Daddy from the lower half of the nine-horse field. In trifecta coverage, this is the most defensible third leg available.

Race 9

10:50 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Kings Landing carries the top TrackWiz rating by a wide margin but opens as the 3/1 second choice on the morning line — a potential overlay situation that makes this race one of tonight's more interesting betting spots.

win8Kings LandingML 3/1

Kings Landing packs an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — the clear best in this nine-horse field — but the morning line slots this horse in at 3/1, behind some implied public action that doesn't quite match the ratings picture. Luis Martinez rides for trainer Daniel R. Ruiz Amaya, a barn active across tonight's card. For a horse carrying that kind of ratings advantage, 3/1 may understate the edge — Kings Landing looks like TrackWiz's strongest selection in Race 9.

place1Start BigML 6/1

Start Big comes in at 6/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 71.76 and a 33% career win rate — the only horse in this field with a verified record aside from Toppa the Moon at 50%. Ricky Ramirez rides for S. Trey Wood, and the Trey Wood barn has been well-represented throughout tonight's card. At 6/1 with a real win rate, Start Big offers genuine place value in exacta construction.

show5Cartel StarsML 7/2

Cartel Stars opens at 7/2 and holds a TrackWiz rating of 55.83, third-best in this field and a comfortable step above the midpack. Trainer Rodolfo G. Valles gets Joseph Belloc, Jr. up, and Valles has a pattern of placing horses competitively throughout this card. As a show play and trifecta piece, Cartel Stars provides solid ratings-based coverage.

Race 10

11:15 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Bogarts Dreamgirl carries the card's joint-highest TrackWiz rating but opens at 3/1 as a morning-line co-favorite — and with a field that drops off sharply below the top pick, the question is which horse can legitimately challenge for second.

win2Bogarts DreamgirlML 3/1

Bogarts Dreamgirl posts an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — tied for the highest mark on tonight's entire card — and Luis Martinez gets the mount for trainer Daniel R. Ruiz Amaya at a 3/1 morning-line price. Ruiz Amaya has runners throughout this card and is clearly one of the more active outfits in tonight's program. With a ratings advantage of more than 31 points over third-place Miss Desirio 16, Bogarts Dreamgirl looks like a dominant class standout in this ten-horse trial.

place9Jessies in CourtML 7/2

Jessies in Court comes in at 7/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 55.83 and — critically — a 50% career win rate, the only horse in this field with a verified record. Jose Luis Enriquez rides for trainer Jorge A. Morales-Flores, and that 50% career win percentage is a meaningful differentiator in a field where most runners have zero recorded wins. At 7/2, Jessies in Court is a logical and well-priced exacta partner.

show7Miss Desirio 16ML 9/2

Miss Desirio 16 opens at 9/2 with a 54.17 TrackWiz rating, third-best in this ten-horse field after Bogarts Dreamgirl and Jessies in Court. Jose Enrique Ortiz rides for trainer Omar Vargas, a barn that has been consistently placed throughout tonight's program. For trifecta players, Miss Desirio 16 holds a clear ratings edge over the lower half of the field and is the natural third leg.

Race 11

11:40 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Baby Daddy Cartel closes out the night with the highest TrackWiz rating on the card and a jaw-dropping 75% career win rate — if there's a horse to anchor your final-race ticket, it's hard to look past this one.

win6Baby Daddy CartelML 9/5

Baby Daddy Cartel is the standout of the night's final race — an 88.83 TrackWiz rating paired with a 75% career win rate is a combination you simply don't see often. Noe Garcia, Jr. rides for trainer Omar Vargas at a 9/5 morning-line price, meaning the public recognizes this horse's credentials even if the odds aren't exactly generous. Three wins in four career tries is a statement of intent, and in a 400-yard trial where reaction time and raw ability matter most, Baby Daddy Cartel looks like the clear horse to beat.

place8Jd Heart StringsML 3/1

Jd Heart Strings opens at 3/1 with a 56.67 TrackWiz rating, but the headline figure here is a 100% career win rate — this horse has never lost in its career. Luis Martinez rides for Daniel R. Ruiz Amaya, and while a perfect record likely means a short career history, perfection is perfection. In an exacta pairing with Baby Daddy Cartel, Jd Heart Strings's unbeaten record makes it a compelling second leg.

show2Jingle BelleML 9/2

Jingle Belle rounds out the top three with a 54.17 TrackWiz rating and gets Christian Cardenas in the saddle for trainer Rodolfo G. Valles at 9/2 on the morning line. While there's no career win percentage on record, the rating places Jingle Belle clearly above the bottom half of this nine-horse field. As a trifecta piece closing out the night's card, Jingle Belle offers solid ratings-based justification at a fair price.

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Bottom line: this is a loaded trial card with legitimate stakes implications, hot and fast conditions, and two horses — Big Ted and Baby Daddy Cartel — sitting at the top of our ratings board. Get your free looks at Races 1–3 right here, and head to TrackWiz Premium for the complete eight-race breakdown, exotic strategies, and everything else you need to make today count. Good luck, and enjoy the holiday weekend racing.

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