Daily Picks

Albuquerque Picks & Predictions — July 5, 2026

Sunday, July 5, 202610 racesAlbuquerque

Happy Fifth of July, track fans. The fireworks may be over, but Albuquerque is putting on its own show today with a full 10-race card under partly cloudy skies and temperatures hovering around 89°F. The heat is a factor worth watching — horses that have demonstrated they handle warm, fast conditions well get a quiet edge in our ratings today.

The dirt is the only surface on the menu, and with sunshine mixed in overhead, expect a quick, firm-riding track that should reward early speed in the shorter sprints. We've got a nice mix of conditions today: a couple of maiden openers to kick things off, a handful of allowance tests in the middle of the card, and a 7-furlong Stakes race in Race 9 that's the clear headliner.

Ten races, three free previews, and a Stakes closer worth circling on your program — let's break it down.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:30 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden special weight opener where two horses clearly separate themselves from the pack on ratings — but with all seven runners winless, anything can happen in a debut-heavy field.

win3Selective HearingML 5/2

Selective Hearing earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 87.81 — a meaningful gap over every other runner — and posts the field's best average speed figure at 56. Trainer Simon J. Buechler puts Oscar Andrade, Jr. in the irons, a quality jockey booking that suggests connections are serious about a sharp debut. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price reflects the talent, but there's no overlay concern when the rating edge is this significant. In a wide-open maiden field, quality tends to show.

place4GesaraML 3/1

Gesara (No. 4) slots in as the place pick with a strong 81.47 rating and draws trainer Gary W. Cross, who gives this one every chance from post 4. The morning line of 3/1 makes her one of the shorter prices in the race, suggesting the market also respects her. Her average speed of 53 trails Selective Hearing, but in a maiden race where fitness and class can trump raw figures, Gesara profiles as a deep-placed threat to hit the board.

show5GangsterML 7/2

Gangster (No. 5) sits third in the TrackWiz ratings at 67.16 and represents solid exotics value at 7/2 on the morning line. Trainer Jeff D. Hudson puts Miguel A. Perez aboard, and while the speed figure of 54 is middle-of-the-pack, Gangster's rating separates him from the bottom half of this field. In a maiden sprint where pace can get heated early, a horse with Gangster's profile can inherit a share of the purse late.

Race 2

7:55 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

An eleven-horse maiden claiming mile with a clear top two on paper — but a wide-open mid-tier creates real exotic opportunities if either frontrunner stumbles.

win3Attila StyleML 3/1

Attila Style (No. 3) leads all TrackWiz ratings in this field at 86.53, sitting comfortably above the rest of the board. Trainer Martin Manuel Valdez-Cabral hands the reins to Oscar Andrade, Jr. — one of the busiest and most capable riders on this circuit — and the 3/1 morning line confirms the market's respect. At 54 average speed in a maiden claiming sprint, the raw figure is fine, but it's the composite rating that makes Attila Style the standout. This is the horse to beat.

place8Dealin in CashML 4/1

Dealin in Cash (No. 8) is only a single rating point behind the top pick at 85.62, making this effectively a two-horse battle at the top of the form. Trainer Jeff D. Hudson sends out Miguel A. Perez, and at 4/1 morning line, Dealin in Cash offers slightly better value than the favorite while carrying nearly identical analytical credentials. The close rating gap suggests these two are closely matched — making Dealin in Cash an excellent place anchor in exacta and trifecta tickets.

show11Kayce's Gonna RideML 8/1

Kayce's Gonna Ride (No. 11) checks in third in the ratings at 71.71 — a notable jump above the rest of the mid-pack — and trainer Simon J. Buechler pairs with Enrique Portillo Gomez for the effort. At 8/1 on the morning line, this is genuine value for show tickets and trifecta construction. In a field this large with a cluster of horses bunched in the 40s, Kayce's Gonna Ride's rating separation from the mid-tier makes her a logical board contender.

Race 3

8:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A five-furlong claiming dash packed with experienced winners — the pace figures to be honest, and the horse with the cleanest class profile and best speed figure should get the job done.

win11American CherubML 4/1

American Cherub (No. 11) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 and carries a career win rate of 25% — one of the stronger records in this field. Trainer Greg Green deploys Oscar Andrade, Jr., a top booking that signals confidence, and the average speed of 56 is tied for the best in the race. At 4/1 on the morning line, American Cherub isn't a throwaway chalk play — there's genuine form here. For a claiming sprint with multiple experienced horses, this is a horse that knows how to finish.

place10Shell GameML 9/2

Shell Game (No. 10) posts the field's highest average speed figure at 57, which in a five-furlong sprint carries real weight. Trainer Edgar Moreno saddles this one with Enrique Portillo Gomez aboard, and the 73.84 rating positions Shell Game firmly in contention. The career win rate of 11% is modest, but speed figures tend to matter more than win percentage in short sprints, and Shell Game's raw pace numbers suggest this horse will be in the thick of it through the lane.

show2Hotshot LukML 6/1

Hotshot Luk (No. 2) owns a 25% career win rate — matching American Cherub — and a 68.48 TrackWiz rating that places this horse third in the field. Trainer Jose R. Gonzalez, Jr. sends out Gabriel Medrano, and the 6/1 morning line makes Hotshot Luk a legitimate value option for the show spot and exotics. In a short five-furlong sprint where early speed can carry horses to the wire, Hotshot Luk's record suggests this is a consistent competitor who earns a spot on your ticket.

Our three free races cover the early part of the card and give you a solid foundation before the bigger money races heat up. In Race 1, Selective Hearing draws our top rating at 87.81 and goes off at a fair 5/2 morning line in the Maiden Special Weight opener — that's a number worth respecting in a field of first-timers and lightly-raced runners. Race 2's Maiden Claiming has Attila Style as our top selection at 3/1, a spot where class and pace figure to separate the contenders quickly over 6 furlongs. Then in Race 3, American Cherub catches our eye in a 5-furlong Claiming sprint at 4/1 — that's a touch of value for a horse our model rates at 85.62.

A consistent theme across all three free races: shorter sprints on fast dirt tend to favor horses that break cleanly and establish position early. On a warm afternoon like this one, don't sleep on the pace-setter angle — front-runners have a tactical edge before the field has had a chance to wear down the strip.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

8:45 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

An allowance sprint where one horse stands apart on our ratings, but a competitive mid-pack keeps the exacta and trifecta wide open for multi-race bettors.

win6Brazilian QueenML 5/2

Brazilian Queen (No. 6) tops the TrackWiz ratings in this allowance field at a commanding 87.81 and leads all starters with an average speed figure of 56. Trainer Lillian N. Silva pairs with Luis Ramon Rodriguez aboard, and the 5/2 morning line signals she's well-regarded by the market too. A 10% career win rate suggests she's been competitive at better levels, which makes a six-furlong allowance sprint at Albuquerque a reasonable spot to break through. This is the class of the race.

place7Ferrari MoneyML 9/2

Ferrari Money (No. 7) rates second in the field at 76.8 and checks in with a 9% career win rate in allowance company. Trainer Daniel Hernandez sends Jose Miguel Vazquez out, and the 9/2 morning line reflects a horse that's respected but not necessarily feared. What makes Ferrari Money interesting as a place pick is the rating gap between this horse and the rest of the mid-pack — at 76.8, there's real separation from Side Stage Jessica and below. Structuring exactas with Brazilian Queen on top and Ferrari Money underneath makes sense.

show1Side Stage JessicaML 3/1

Side Stage Jessica (No. 1) brings the field's best career win rate at 25% and a 70.53 TrackWiz rating — close enough to Ferrari Money to warrant a show look. Trainer Casey T. Lambert and jockey Enrique Portillo Gomez form a solid pairing, and the 3/1 morning line puts this one right in the mix. For trifecta players, Jessica is the right horse to slot into the third position — experienced enough to hit the board, consistent enough to trust in exotics.

Race 5

9:10 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

A six-furlong allowance sprint with a top-rated horse that's slightly underestimated at morning-line odds — and a secondary contender at 8/1 offering real value in the exotics.

win5Lady D DML 7/2

Lady D D (No. 5) leads all horses in this race on TrackWiz ratings at 86.35 and carries a 25% career win rate — a strong résumé for an allowance field. Trainer Alberto Amparan sends out his own rider in Francisco Amparan, a barn-jockey combination that often signals stable confidence. At 7/2 morning line, the price is fair for the top-rated horse in the field, and the average speed figure of 55 is middle-of-the-pack, suggesting the overall rating edge comes from consistency and form rather than raw early pace alone. Back this one confidently.

place4Pass the TestML 8/1

Pass the Test (No. 4) rates second in this field at 70.05 with an 8% career win rate — not flashy, but this is a horse with enough finish to find the board. Trainer Greg Green saddles Miguel A. Perez, and the 8/1 morning line makes Pass the Test a genuine value pick for the place slot. In a six-furlong race where Lady D D figures to attract most of the public money, the second choice in our analysis at double-digit odds is exactly the kind of play that builds exotic payouts.

show8Awesome GloryML 3/1

Awesome Glory (No. 8) rates third at 63.58 with a 25% career win rate — matching Lady D D's win percentage, which is noteworthy for a 3/1 morning-line horse. Trainer Daniel Hernandez and jockey Jose Miguel Vazquez are a frequent combination at this meet. For trifecta builders, Awesome Glory is an interesting inclusion because the win rate signals this is a horse that competes hard — even if the TrackWiz rating sits just outside the top two. Don't ignore a 25% career winner in any allowance sprint.

Race 6

9:35 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

An allowance optional claiming tilt where the top-rated horse comes in as a mild overlay against a field stacked with high career win percentages — pace scenario and late kick could be the deciding factor.

win7Jaime's CommitmentML 9/2

Jaime's Commitment (No. 7) earns the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 84.9 and posts the race's best average speed figure at 58 — a legitimate edge in a six-furlong sprint. Trainer Raymond G. Valerio puts Gabriel Medrano in the irons, and at 9/2 morning line, this represents mild value for the top-rated runner. A 19% career win rate is respectable in allowance optional claiming company. When you're getting the best speed figure AND the best composite rating at a price slightly above morning-line chalk, that's a spot to play confidently.

place3ByeML 5/2

Bye (No. 3) rates second in the field at 78.92 and brings an excellent 37% career win rate — one of the highest in the race. Trainer Greg Green teams with Oscar Andrade, Jr., and the 5/2 morning line makes Bye the public's choice. What's interesting is that our analysis bumps Jaime's Commitment above Bye based on speed figures, so bettors who go Bye/Jaime's Commitment in the exacta are getting solid coverage on both sides of this debate. Bye is too good to leave off your tickets entirely.

show4MickswaggerML 7/2

Mickswagger (No. 4) rounds out the top three with a 68.58 rating and an eye-catching 37% career win rate — matching Bye for the top win percentage in this field. Trainer Bart G. Hone saddles this one with Francisco Amparan, and at 7/2, Mickswagger is priced right for a show ticket or trifecta inclusion. The average speed figure of 53 is a tick below the top two, but that career win rate doesn't lie — this is a horse that finishes in the money regularly.

Race 7

10:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

The biggest field of the day — twelve runners going six and a half furlongs — with one standout on paper but enough pace fodder and mid-pack traffic to make this a chaotic affair.

win5CrossrighthandsML 7/2

Crossrighthands (No. 5) is the clear top selection here, rated 86.35 on TrackWiz — a wide margin over most of this twelve-horse field. Trainer Sherry Armstrong sends out Francisco Amparan, and the 7/2 morning line is a solid number for a horse with this kind of rating separation. A 23% career win rate gives Crossrighthands legitimate credibility in claiming company, not just inflated paper credentials. With the extra half-furlong at six and a half, a horse with this profile should have enough left in the tank to hold on.

place10Lewis BereML 5/1

Lewis Bere (No. 10) comes in as the second-rated runner at 63.64 with a 12% career win rate and an average speed figure of 55. Trainer Sebedeo R. Chacon saddles Aldo Arboleda aboard, and the 5/1 morning line offers reasonable value for a place ticket. In a sprawling twelve-horse field where pace can get complicated early, Lewis Bere's profile as a mid-range contender with decent figures makes this horse a logical secondary selection to pair with Crossrighthands in exactas.

show8Rio CutieML 4/1

Rio Cutie (No. 8) checks in third on TrackWiz ratings at 61.55 with a 6% career win rate — not flashy on the win side, but consistent enough to board. Trainer Jose A. Gonzalez sends Jose Miguel Vazquez out at 4/1, making this one of the shorter morning-line prices among our three picks. In a chaotic twelve-horse sprint, Rio Cutie's rating puts this horse in the conversation for third, and the fair price point means using this one in trifectas won't kill your cost on a wide ticket.

Race 8

10:25 PM EDT

Allowance · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A tight allowance field at five and a half furlongs where the top two on our ratings are separated by less than five points — this shapes up as a genuine two-horse battle with a price play lurking underneath.

win1Unbridled BeautyML 5/2

Unbridled Beauty (No. 1) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 and leads the field in average speed figure at 56 — both critical edges in a tight sprint. Trainer Clinton Crawford pairs with Francisco Amparan, and the 5/2 morning line is fair for a horse with this profile. A 20% career win rate confirms Unbridled Beauty is a proven performer, not just a paper horse. When you have the top rating AND the top speed figure in an allowance sprint, you need a compelling reason to look elsewhere — and this field doesn't provide one.

place2Day At a TimeML 3/1

Day At a Time (No. 2) is the closest challenger at 83.21 on our ratings and brings a 25% career win rate — actually better than the top pick in that category. Trainer Todd W. Fincher places Oscar Andrade, Jr. aboard, a high-quality jockey booking that keeps this horse firmly in the mix. The 3/1 morning line suggests the public agrees these two are closely matched, and the exacta of Unbridled Beauty over Day At a Time figures to be a popular ticket — for good reason.

show5Hush's GhostML 8/1

Hush's Ghost (No. 5) rates third in the field at 76.31 with a 14% career win rate and an average speed figure of 55. Trainer Simon J. Buechler sends out Enrique Portillo Gomez, and the 8/1 morning line makes this a legitimate value option for the show slot and trifecta tickets. With La Jolla Beach (75.71) breathing down Hush's Ghost's neck in the ratings, there's genuine competition for the third spot — but the jockey booking and trainer quality give Hush's Ghost the edge in our analysis.

Race 9

10:50 PM EDT

Stakes · 7 fur · Dirt

The stakes race on the card draws eight runners over seven furlongs, with a loaded top tier — three horses rated above 70 and a clear favorite that faces legitimate challenges from two strong contenders.

win2Marking CanyonML 5/2

Marking Canyon (No. 2) earns the top TrackWiz rating in this stakes field at 87.81 and brings the race's best career win rate at 33% — a standout number in stakes company. Trainer Leroy A. Fincher saddles Aldo Arboleda for the effort, and the 5/2 morning line reflects Marking Canyon's status as the market favorite. The average speed figure of 55 is solid for seven furlongs, and at one-third wins across a career, this horse clearly knows how to get to the wire first. In stakes races, class tends to sort itself out.

place5Dave's EnchantmentML 7/2

Dave's Enchantment (No. 5) is the most well-rounded runner in this field — a 82.44 rating, a 28% career win rate, and the race's second-best average speed figure at 57. Trainer Alberto Amparan puts his own rider Francisco Amparan aboard, and the 7/2 morning line reflects justified respect. The speed figure of 57 actually edges out Marking Canyon's 55, which means if Dave's Enchantment can get into a pace scenario that suits a speedier profile, an upset isn't out of the question. For exacta players, this is the horse to use underneath — and potentially on top.

show1AdielML 9/2

Adiel (No. 1) rounds out our top three with a 70.42 rating, an 18% career win rate, and a solid 56 average speed figure. Trainer Joy I. Marlin teams with Oscar Andrade, Jr. for the ride — one of the meet's top jockey bookings — and the 9/2 morning line puts Adiel at fair value for a stakes runner. This is a horse that can compete at this level without embarrassing itself, and in a field where the top two attract most of the public money, Adiel could deliver a nice trifecta payout.

Race 10

11:15 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A twelve-horse maiden claiming closer to wrap up the card — two horses clearly top the field on our ratings, and the gap between them and the rest is wide enough to make the exacta a high-confidence play.

win8Gimme a WhoML 7/2

Gimme a Who (No. 8) leads the field with an 86.03 TrackWiz rating and posts an average speed figure of 55 — tied for the best in the race. Trainer Joel H. Marr sends out Luis Ramon Rodriguez, a pairing worth noting in maiden claiming company where trainer intent matters. At 7/2 morning line in a field this deep, Gimme a Who isn't getting bet down to chalk, which means there's still some value attached to the top-rated runner. In a twelve-horse maiden sprint, a horse that grades out this clearly above the pack deserves to be your primary ticket anchor.

place9Low RollinML 4/1

Low Rollin (No. 9) is nearly inseparable from the top pick at 85.62 — just 0.41 rating points behind Gimme a Who — and also posts a 55 average speed figure. Trainer Greg Green saddles Aldo Arboleda, and the 4/1 morning line is a touch higher than the win pick, making Low Rollin an attractive place option. In maiden claiming races, races between two horses this closely rated often come down to racing luck and pace position — using both in an exacta box is a sensible play that covers the potential reversal of fortune.

show7Air Sport OneML 5/1

Air Sport One (No. 7) sits third in the field at 59.66 on our ratings — a meaningful gap below the top two, but also a clear separation from the rest of the twelve-horse pack. Trainer Roberto Fournier sends out Oscar Ceballos, and the 5/1 morning line gives Air Sport One some board appeal for show tickets and trifecta construction. An average speed figure of 54 is respectable in a maiden claiming sprint, and in a field where the bottom half rates below 52, this horse has enough going for it to justify a third-slot inclusion.

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Bottom line: Selective Hearing, Attila Style, and American Cherub are your free best bets to get started, and the Stakes closer featuring Marking Canyon is the race of the day. It's a quality Sunday card at Albuquerque and there's real money to be made if you come in prepared. Unlock the full 10-race breakdown — including pace projections, exotic tickets, and longshot angles — with a TrackWiz subscription at /pricing. Good luck out there.

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