Daily Picks

Albuquerque Picks & Predictions — July 17, 2026

Friday, July 17, 202610 racesAlbuquerque

It's a warm Friday afternoon at Albuquerque — partly cloudy skies and 85°F — which means a fast, consistent dirt surface and horses that should be running true to form. Ten races are on the card today, all on the dirt, ranging from quick 350-yard dashes to the longer 1,000-yard route in Race 5. That variety makes for a genuinely interesting handicapping day.

The card leans heavily toward Quarter Horse-style short sprints, where early speed is everything and margins are razor-thin. With multiple allowance races stacked in the back half of the card, the quality picks up considerably as the afternoon rolls on. There's plenty to dig into whether you're betting the early claimers or circling the late-card allowance fields.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:05 AM EDT

Claiming · 870 yd · Dirt

A wide-open 870-yard claiming sprint with a clear TrackWiz rating leader at the top, but several live horses lurking in the middle of the pack — don't sleep on the exotics here.

win5YanelML 3/1

Yanel draws the morning line favorite's attention for good reason — a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 towers over this field and a 12% career win rate is the best among horses with meaningful starts here. Trainer Clinton Crawford sends this one out with Oscar Andrade, Jr. up, a capable combination at this level. At 3/1 on the morning line, the price is fair for the top-rated horse in the field, and in a 10-horse sprint at 870 yards, breaking alertly is everything — this horse profiles as one who can do exactly that.

place6Poquito LadyML 9/2

Poquito Lady carries a solid 71.71 TrackWiz rating and draws a 9/2 morning line that suggests the market respects her chances without making her an overlay. Trainer Ramon A. Alvarez keeps her competitive at this level, and with Christian Cardenas in the irons, she's well-piloted for a dirt sprint. She profiles as the type who can find the board even if Yanel dominates up front.

show2G B HarrisonML 7/2

G B Harrison is the only horse in this field sporting both a posted average speed figure (56) and an 11% career win rate — the strongest combination of raw speed and results among the non-favorites. Trainer Sherry Armstrong and jockey Enrique Portillo Gomez form a workmanlike partnership, and a 7/2 morning line reflects legitimate contention. Include this one in your trifectas as a horse that could easily beat out one of the top two.

Race 2

12:30 AM EDT

Maiden · 350 yd · Dirt

A wide maiden sprint at 350 yards with a full field of first-timers or horses still searching for win number one — TrackWiz ratings separate the contenders from the wishful thinkers in what could be a chaotic dash.

win8This Babes FlashnML 3/1

This Babes Flashn tops the TrackWiz ratings in Race 2 at 56.67 and draws the morning-line favoritism at 3/1, which tells you the market and our model are aligned. Trainer Salvador R. Soto puts Gabriel Medrano up — a jockey who gets plenty of action at Albuquerque and knows how to get a maiden positioned in a crowded short sprint. In a race where no horse has a career win to their name, any edge in preparation and rating matters enormously, and This Babes Flashn has both.

place2Cartel FishML 7/2

Cartel Fish checks in at a 55.83 rating — nearly identical to the top pick — and is handled by Clinton Crawford, one of the more active and winning trainers on this circuit. Jacob Enriquez gets the call, and at 7/2 on the morning line, this is a legitimate threat to steal the show. In a field this deep and unpredictable, having a second horse in this narrow rating cluster makes the exacta box very playable.

show6Fly Yulla YullaML 6/1

Fly Yulla Yulla at 6/1 and a 51.67 TrackWiz rating rounds out a natural top three that are actually clustered closely enough to finish in any order. Trainer Gene C. Garcia puts Alfredo Sigala on board — a combination that knows how to handle speed horses in short sprints. At a price slightly above the top two, Fly Yulla Yulla offers a touch of value for exotic players building trifecta tickets.

Race 3

12:55 AM EDT

Claiming · 870 yd · Dirt

Race 3 features a dominant TrackWiz rating standout at the top of the claiming ranks, but the mid-tier is tight enough — several horses in the 60s — that the exacta and trifecta could get interesting if the top pick hits any traffic at 870 yards.

win6Flasin CourageML 3/1

Flasin Courage is the class of this field on the TrackWiz model, posting an 87.08 rating that is more than 24 points clear of the next horse. A 16% career win rate is strong for a claiming runner at this level, and trainer Oscar V. Carrete sends him out with Jose Luis Enriquez, a jockey who handles distance sprints well. At 3/1 morning line, this is a horse worth playing confidently — the ratings gap is too large to ignore.

place8La TraviesaML 7/2

La Traviesa sits at a 62.65 TrackWiz rating and gets Larry Marquez in the irons for trainer Joel J. Gonzales — a pairing that has shown they can get horses to fire in claiming company. At 7/2 on the morning line, she's attractively priced for a place bet and her 9% career win rate means she knows how to compete without always being the one crossing first. She's the natural second horse to back in exotics.

show7Sapello SicarioML 9/2

Sapello Sicario (62.40 rating) is essentially a dead-heat with La Traviesa on the model and brings a posted average speed figure of 54 — real, measurable data in a field where most runners don't have one. Gabriel Medrano takes the mount for trainer Martin Manuel Valdez-Cabral, and at 9/2, there's solid value threading this one into trifectas as a hedge behind the top two.

TrackWiz is opening up the first three races for everyone today. Race 1 sets the tone with Yanel drawing our top rating on the card at 87.08 — a strong number for a claiming sprint at 870 yards, and the 3/1 morning line makes this a legitimate best bet rather than a chalk play. Race 2 brings maiden uncertainty at 350 yards, where This Babes Flashn tops our ratings despite a lower confidence score — maiden races are always a puzzle, so manage your exposure accordingly. Race 3 echoes Race 1 in both distance and conditions, and Flasin Courage matches Yanel's 87.08 rating almost exactly, suggesting a well-defined pace scenario at this distance on today's surface.

The thread connecting these three free races is straightforward: early speed on a dry, fast Albuquerque dirt track is a premium commodity. Horses that break clean and get to the rail tend to be very difficult to pass in these short sprints. Keep that bias in mind even as you shop your own opinions against ours.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

1:20 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 400 yd · Dirt

This Maiden Claiming 400-yarder is a two-horse show at the top of the ratings, with a significant drop-off to the rest of the field — but in a 12-horse sprint at 400 yards, chaos is always one break away.

win2Simpli FliML 3/1

Simpli Fli is the top-rated horse in Race 4 at 86.03 and draws the morning-line favorite role at 3/1, making this the TrackWiz top selection with good reason. Trainer Bernard B. Baca puts Edgar S. Martinez up — a veteran rider who understands how to get a maiden out of the gate cleanly in a sprint. In a Maiden Claiming field with no career wins on the board for anyone, the horse with the highest model rating and a competent connections package is the right play.

place5Diamond CrownML 6/1

Diamond Crown sits at 82.71 on the TrackWiz model — only 3.3 points behind Simpli Fli — and gets Francisco Zamora aboard for trainer Gerardo Quinonez. The 6/1 morning line represents genuine value for a horse this close in ratings to the top pick, and in a crowded 12-horse field, the price could stay up even as the money flows. This is a strong exotic play and a live place bet.

show6Legal SeparationML 9/2

Legal Separation at 62.60 represents the only other horse above 60 on the TrackWiz model and is trained by Jacob Renteria with Jaime Parga Leos in the irons. The 9/2 morning line is a bit short for a show-tier horse, but the ratings justify it — there's a meaningful gap between Legal Separation and everything else in the bottom two-thirds of this field. Use this one as your third leg in trifectas.

Race 5

1:45 AM EDT

Allowance · 1000 yd · Dirt

Race 5 is a nine-horse Allowance going long at 1,000 yards — one of the day's most interesting pace scenarios, with speed figures in the 55-57 range scattered throughout and a hidden value horse sitting above the morning-line chalk.

win6ApuroML 6/1

Apuro comes in with the highest TrackWiz rating in this field at 82.71 and a 17% career win rate that underlines real ability, not just model noise. Trainer Clinton Crawford pairs with Oscar Andrade, Jr. — one of the more dependable connections on the Albuquerque circuit — and this horse posts an average speed figure of 57, tied for the top mark in the field. At 6/1 on the morning line, Apuro is actually an overlay compared to the model standing, which is the kind of value play that TrackWiz is built to surface.

place1Bart Sip SomeML 5/2

Bart Sip Some draws the morning-line favoritism at 5/2 for good reason — a 20% career win rate is the joint-highest in this field and a 78.71 TrackWiz rating puts him firmly in the conversation. Trainer Jeffrey J. Trujillo sends Enrique Portillo Gomez out at 1,000 yards, where stamina matters more than a quick first step, and this horse's win percentage suggests he knows how to close the deal when it counts. A solid place play even if Apuro gets the edge on ratings.

show8Ultimate DecisionML 7/2

Ultimate Decision brings a 22% career win rate — the best in the field outright — and a 67.07 TrackWiz rating that makes him a legitimate contender despite a 7/2 morning line. Trainer Danny E. Martinez and jockey Victor M. Castro team up on a horse that clearly wins races; the question is whether the longer 1,000-yard trip suits him today. In exotics, his win pedigree makes him a must-include in trifectas as the horse most likely to surge late.

Race 6

2:10 AM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

A tight Allowance sprint at 350 yards headlined by two horses with TrackWiz ratings in the mid-80s, but the intriguing subplot is a 7 horse with a 40% career win rate sitting at 8/1 — this race has multiple betting angles.

win9Merlot Arrives in 25ML 5/2

Merlot Arrives in 25 is the cream of this field on the TrackWiz model at 86.01, and a 50% career win rate is simply eye-popping for an Allowance runner — this horse wins half the time it steps on the track. Trainer Marco A. Flores sends Jose Enrique Ortiz up in what looks like a live combination in short sprints. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price is tight but the horse's dominant win percentage makes this a confident top selection.

place3Czar CatrinaML 9/2

Czar Catrina slots in at 84.90 on the TrackWiz model — barely a point behind the top pick — and trained by Wesley T. Giles with Noe Garcia, Jr. in the irons. An 18% career win rate is respectable, but it's the closeness of the model ratings that makes this horse the natural place play: if anything bumps Merlot Arrives in 25 out of the win slot, Czar Catrina is right there. The 9/2 morning line is fair value for this caliber of horse.

show4Flashn MilagroML 6/1

Flashn Milagro at 6/1 checks in with a 55.71 TrackWiz rating and a 9% career win rate, modest on its own — but in a sprint where the top two are closely matched, a clean trip could propel this horse to third. Gabriel Medrano gets the call for trainer Heber Deyta-Melendez, a partnership that has shown up competitively throughout this card. Use Flashn Milagro as your trifecta anchor at a workable price.

Race 7

2:35 AM EDT

Allowance · 400 yd · Dirt

A 12-horse Allowance at 400 yards with the top-rated horse sitting at 7/2 — not a heavy chalk scenario — meaning the place and show spots are genuinely up for grabs among a competitive mid-tier.

win1Racy 123ML 7/2

Racy 123 leads this field with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating, the highest of any horse in Race 7, and Francisco Zamora gets the call for trainer Arnulfo Cardenas. A 9% career win rate is modest, but in a competitive Allowance field this large, it takes more than raw winning percentage — the model rating is where we find the edge here, and that number is clear. At 7/2, this is the right horse to put on top of your tickets.

place6ExemploryML 6/1

Exemplory posts a 64.32 TrackWiz rating and draws a 6/1 morning line that offers genuine value — especially noteworthy is that trainer Marco A. Flores gets Jose Enrique Ortiz aboard, the same combination that took the top spot in Race 6 analysis. In a 12-horse field at 400 yards, having a horse with solid ratings and a live jockey-trainer connection makes Exemplory a smart place play in exotics.

show7PhilippeML 9/2

Philippe sits at a 61.83 TrackWiz rating and draws a 9/2 morning line, with Sergio Becerra, Jr. in the irons for trainer Jaime Dominguez. An 11% career win rate is steady for Allowance company, and his position in the gate gives him a chance to break cleanly in a big field. Include Philippe as the natural third leg in trifectas — he's close enough to Exemplory in the ratings to finish in either order.

Race 8

3:00 AM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

A loaded 12-horse Allowance sprint at 350 yards where the top three TrackWiz horses are tightly stacked between 75 and 80 — this is the most competitive race on the card for exacta and trifecta bettors.

win7Daddys BulletML 8/1

Daddys Bullet leads the Race 8 TrackWiz ratings at 79.79 and draws an 8/1 morning line, which makes this the best value play among the top-rated horses on today's card. A 14% career win rate is solid, and trainer Guillermo Valdivia sends out Noe Garcia, Jr. — a jockey with plenty of Albuquerque experience in short sprints. The fact that this horse sits at 8/1 despite topping our model is the kind of overlay angle TrackWiz subscribers look for.

place9Daddy TungstenML 9/2

Daddy Tungsten checks in at 77.14 on the TrackWiz model and is handled by Marco A. Flores — one of the busiest and most effective trainers on today's card — with Jose Enrique Ortiz up. A 12% career win rate and a 9/2 morning line make this a serious place contender, and the Flores-Ortiz combination has already shown up as a top play in Race 6. Expect this one to be right there in the thick of it at the wire.

show3Batomacho RonacoronaML 7/2

Batomacho Ronacorona sits at 75.44 on the model — only 4.35 points behind the top pick — and draws a 7/2 morning line that makes him the most backed horse in the race. Trainer Daniel A. Cano gets James A. Flores in the irons, and while the 10% career win rate isn't flashy, in a tight 350-yard sprint it only takes a perfect break to overachieve. In a race this competitive, boxing the top three in exactas is genuinely defensible.

Race 9

3:25 AM EDT

Allowance · 400 yd · Dirt

Race 9 has a heavy favorite at the top with a 51% career win rate and a 6/5 morning line — the question isn't whether Kj Desparado can win, but whether the price makes the win bet worthwhile and who fills out the exotics.

win3Kj DesparadoML 6/5

Kj Desparado is simply the class of this field — a 89.71 TrackWiz rating is the highest of any horse on today's card, and a 51% career win rate means this horse wins more often than not when it lines up. Trainer Wesley T. Giles and jockey Noe Garcia, Jr. are a confident pairing, and the 6/5 morning line reflects the market's consensus. The win bet may not be the play at this price, but in multi-race wagers and vertical exotics, this horse has to be your anchor.

place5Zooming DynastyML 6/1

Zooming Dynasty at 6/1 brings a 55.44 TrackWiz rating and a 33% career win rate — the second-best win percentage among the top contenders, which signals this horse genuinely knows how to compete. Trainer Ashlee Wolf puts Alfredo Sigala up in a spot where the heavy favorite will compress place payouts, making a straight place bet marginal — but in exactas and trifectas, Zooming Dynasty is the right choice as the main backup. The win percentage alone earns inclusion here.

show4Big Bang RocketML 4/1

Big Bang Rocket at 4/1 rates at 49.83 on the TrackWiz model and shows a 17% career win rate for trainer Justin W. Joiner with Edwin G. Escobedo in the irons. This is a horse that could easily move up if the pace scenario sets up correctly in a 400-yard sprint, and the 4/1 morning line means the payouts in trifectas would be meaningful with Kj Desparado on top. A solid third wheel in multi-horse exotic tickets.

Race 10

3:50 AM EDT

Maiden · 400 yd · Dirt

The finale is a wide-open 400-yard Maiden at 12 horses deep, where the top-rated horse sits at 9/2 and nothing is guaranteed — exactly the kind of race where a properly structured trifecta can pay handsomely.

win6Apollitical DuchessML 9/2

Apollitical Duchess tops this field with an 84.90 TrackWiz rating — clear separation from the rest of the pack — and draws a 9/2 morning line that leaves a little value on the table. Trainer Marco A. Flores, one of today's most active connections, sends out Sergio Becerra, Jr. in what figures to be a well-prepared debut in Maiden company. In a field where every horse is still looking for win number one, the model rating advantage and quality of connections make Apollitical Duchess the most logical top selection.

place7Send the HeroML 7/2

Send the Hero rates 69.12 on the TrackWiz model — second in this field by a clear margin — and draws Alfredo Sigala for trainer Jesus J Carrete. The 7/2 morning line makes this horse nearly as well-backed as the top pick, which reflects genuine connections respect; this isn't a market error. As a place play, Send the Hero offers the kind of reliability you want when capping a full card of racing.

show1Aj MissmerizingML 8/1

Aj Missmerizing comes in at a 58.73 TrackWiz rating, which ranks third in this field, and gets Jose Alonzo Lopez for trainer Alejandro Garcia. An 8/1 morning line means there's real value here as a show bet and as the third leg in exotic tickets — a modest overlay that the model supports. In a 12-horse maiden sprint where anything can happen at the break, having a properly priced third option makes good handicapping sense.

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Albuquerque is giving us ten races of pure dirt sprinting action under pleasant Friday skies — a great day to be at the track or watching from home with a ticket in hand. Yanel and Flasin Courage are the free-card standouts, but Kj Desparado and the premium allowance fields are where serious players should focus their attention. Full analysis, pace scenarios, and exotic ticket breakdowns are all waiting for subscribers — see everything at TrackWiz Premium. Good luck out there, and as always, bet smart.

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