Daily Picks

Albuquerque Picks & Predictions — July 18, 2026

July 18, 202610 racesAll Albuquerque picks

This card ran on July 18, 2026.

Best bets at Albuquerque, July 18, 2026

Race 18Silver Spurs ArML 9/28:05 PM EDT

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 8 races are for members.

A free account opens race 2 too. Premium opens all 10, with AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet, which splits one bet across the horses you like.

Join Free See plans · from $9.99

Rain is falling at Albuquerque on Saturday and the temperature is sitting at a warm 84°F — a combination that can make the dirt surface play differently than a dry afternoon. Wet conditions at a quarter-horse-heavy track like this tend to compact the strip and can either speed it up or get it slick depending on how much water has accumulated. Keep that in mind when you're eyeing the fractions.

Ten races are on the board today, ranging from maiden sprints at 330 yards all the way out to the longest test on the card at 870 yards. The centerpiece is Race 9, a Derby, which always brings out the best of the barn and gives us plenty to dig into from a pace and class standpoint. There's also a Stakes race in Race 8 and three Allowance events filling out the back half of the card.

TrackWiz has ratings and picks locked in for all ten races. The first three are on the house — no subscription needed. Races 4 through 10 are part of our full premium breakdown. Let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

8:05 PM EDT

Maiden · 870 yd · Dirt

A wide-open maiden sprint at 870 yards where TrackWiz ratings separate two clear contenders from the field — but first-time starters at this distance always carry question marks.

win8Silver Spurs ArML 9/2

Silver Spurs Ar tops our TrackWiz ratings at 84.90 in a field of first-time starters, giving trainer Octavio Torres-Prieto's charge a measurable edge on paper. With jockey Gabriel Medrano in the irons, this runner has the connections to put a clean trip together over the 870-yard haul. In wide-open maiden company, rating separation like this is about as reliable a signal as you'll find — Silver Spurs Ar is our top selection at 9/2 on the morning line.

place7Ocean TenML 3/1

Ocean Ten sits just a tick below Silver Spurs Ar in the ratings at 83.21 and draws a dual-ride day for Oscar Andrade, Jr., who also pilots Jb Generation. Andrade is clearly the more live booking here, and the 3/1 morning line reflects public confidence in this runner. In a maiden field with no prior speed figures to lean on, Ocean Ten's rating edge over the rest of the field is substantial enough to warrant a place ticket.

show6Red JetML 7/2

Red Jet lands third in our ratings at 67.75 for trainer Justin W. Joiner, offering some value at 7/2 on the morning line for exotic players. While the rating gap between Red Jet and the top two is notable, in maiden company anything can happen — especially at an extended sprint distance. Use Red Jet underneath in trifectas as a solid third-place hedge.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

8:30 PM EDT

Maiden · 400 yd · Dirt

Twelve horses go postward in a short-field maiden dash at 400 yards, with three runners bunched tightly at the top of the ratings and no standout morning-line favorite to anchor the race.

win2Sonuva ButchML 3/1

Sonuva Butch earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 56.67 and draws the services of Oscar Andrade, Jr. — one of the busier and more productive riders on the Albuquerque circuit today. Trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza sends this runner out at 3/1, which is a fair price given the rating edge. In a 400-yard dash where there's no run-up time to make up ground, breaking clean with a capable jockey is paramount, and this duo checks both boxes.

place3Double Down VikeML 7/2

Double Down Vike comes in at a 55.83 TrackWiz rating under Larry Marquez for trainer Elliot Bachicha, and the 7/2 morning line keeps this one in play for exacta and quinella wagers. The slim rating difference between the top three runners here suggests a competitive pace scenario where any of them could get up. Double Down Vike's placement in the exacta is the smart value play underneath Sonuva Butch.

show4Dashing WoodyML 9/2

Dashing Woody grades third in the ratings at 54.17, a nearly identical band to the top two, which makes this a legitimate three-horse trifecta box race. Jesse James Gonzales picks up the mount for trainer Sebastian Gonzales, and the 9/2 ticket on the morning line is workable. In these bunched maiden sprints, rounding out your trifecta key with Dashing Woody at show is prudent insurance.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

The three free races today give you a nice taste of what this card has to offer. In the opener (870 yards, Maiden), Silver Spurs Ar comes in with an 84.9 TrackWiz rating at 9/2 morning line — that's the kind of overlay angle we love on a wet track where pace can get scrambled and the steadiest horse often prevails at a route. Race 2 is a 400-yard Maiden sprint, and Sonuva Butch draws our top spot at 3/1 with a 56.67 rating — the lowest-rated top pick of the day, which tells you this is a wide-open field where we're making our best guess in uncertain maiden company.

Race 3 might be the sharpest free play on the card. Suspicious Splashbac tops our Claiming sprint at 330 yards with an 87.08 rating and a 3/1 morning line — that's real value for a horse rated that highly. Short sprints on a rain-affected dirt track can be tricky, but horses with strong ratings at this distance tend to overcome surface variables better than longer-distance runners. Suspicious Splashbac is the kind of horse you circle before the card starts.

Free with an account

Open the next race free

A free account opens the first 2 races at every track, and every race at our Track of the Day. No credit card needed.

Create a free account Sign in

Full Card Analysis

Race 3

8:55 PM EDT

Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

The card's first claiming race over 330 yards features horses with actual race records to evaluate — and one runner's TrackWiz rating towers over the competition by a wide margin.

win1Suspicious SplashbacML 3/1

Suspicious Splashbac is the standout of this field with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 — the highest in Race 3 by more than 25 points — and has converted 14% of career starts, a solid baseline in this claiming class. Trainer Luis Daniel Iturralde sends this runner out from the rail with Jose Luis Enriquez aboard, a combination that should allow a clean, efficient trip at 330 yards. At 3/1 on the morning line, this is a fair price for what our analysis suggests is a class edge in a claiming field. This is our most confident win selection of the early card.

place2CancunML 7/2

Cancun checks in at 61.55 on the TrackWiz scale with a 13% career win rate, giving trainer Luis C. Rojero a legitimate contender for the exacta spot at 7/2. Jacob Enriquez takes the ride, and at this sprint distance where the race is essentially over in under 18 seconds, gate speed and rating edge matter most. Cancun's profile fits the place slot neatly alongside the heavy top selection.

show5NazareML 10/1

Nazare is an interesting show-price play at 10/1 on the morning line despite a respectable 60.89 TrackWiz rating — barely a sliver behind Cancun. Trainer Leovigildo Hernandez, Jr. saddles this runner with a 10% career win rate in the books, and Joseph Belloc, Jr. takes the call. The morning-line price feels generous given the rating, making Nazare a strong trifecta inclusion and potentially a live show bet if the board drifts upward.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 11 runners

Race 4

9:20 PM EDT

Maiden · 400 yd · Dirt

This 12-horse maiden sprint at 400 yards is defined by a razor-thin rating gap at the top and a longshot lurking at 15/1 that our model rates almost identically to the morning-line favorite.

win1WhatatemptingdynastyML 9/2

Whatatemptingdynasty leads the field with a 69.90 TrackWiz rating for trainer Jaime Dominguez, drawing the rail post and Jose Luis Enriquez in the irons — a pairing that's been active throughout this card. The 9/2 morning line is a touch generous considering this horse sits atop a 12-runner maiden field in a race where we see a clear two-horse tier at the top. Dominguez is a trainer to watch on this card, and this runner gets the prime assignment.

place11Lonestar JessML 15/1

Here's where it gets interesting: Lonestar Jess carries a 69.58 TrackWiz rating — virtually identical to the top selection — yet is sent off at 15/1 on the morning line. Trainer Jason L. Olmstead puts Jhaciel Soto in the saddle, and if this horse breaks alertly, it has the raw rating to challenge the top two. The morning-line price discrepancy makes Lonestar Jess a standout value in exacta and trifecta exotics — don't let the odds fool you.

show3Aj PrestigeML 7/2

Aj Prestige slots in at 57.43 for trainer Wesley T. Giles with Gabriel Medrano riding, and the 7/2 morning line reflects public backing. The rating gap between Aj Prestige and the top two is meaningful, but in a 400-yard maiden sprint, a clean break can put any horse in the photo. Use Aj Prestige as a trifecta anchor for the show position.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Race 5

9:45 PM EDT

Allowance · 400 yd · Dirt

The allowance ranks at 400 yards, and one horse dominates both the TrackWiz ratings and the career win percentage column — but there's genuine depth here that makes the exotics appealing.

win2EnforceML 5/2

Enforce is the standout of this allowance field with a 87.81 TrackWiz rating and an eye-popping 42% career win rate — numbers that don't lie in a nine-horse field. Trainer Christopher G. O'Dell has two runners in this race, and Enforce is clearly the stable's primary bullet with Jesus Rios Ayala piloting. The 5/2 morning line is short but justified — this is a legitimate class-above runner, and at 400 yards the race won't last long enough for pace scenario concerns to muddy the waters.

place4Tempting ChadML 7/2

Tempting Chad rates second in this field at 75.38 with a 16% career win rate, giving trainer Mario Dominguez-Garcia a horse that fits the place profile well at 7/2. Jacob Enriquez gets the ride, and while the rating gap behind Enforce is noticeable, Tempting Chad is comfortably clear of the rest of the field. Structure your exacta around Enforce on top with Tempting Chad underneath as the logical second.

show7Jo Cash RunML 6/1

Jo Cash Run is worth adding to trifectas at 6/1 on the morning line, sitting third in the TrackWiz ratings at 73.32 with a 23% career win rate for trainer Tammy Kay Johnson. Jorge Nieto-Saenz takes the mount, and the rating is only modestly behind the top two — enough separation to slot cleanly in the show position. The 6/1 price adds a layer of value if you can land the trifecta.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 6

10:10 PM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

A full 12-horse allowance field at 350 yards, and our top two selections carry nearly identical ratings despite a significant gap in their morning lines — value hunters, take note.

win7B a DynastyML 9/2

B a Dynasty tops our TrackWiz ratings at 84.90 with an 11% career win rate and gets Gabriel Medrano back in the saddle for trainer Jaime Dominguez — a trainer who's fielding live horses throughout this card. The 9/2 morning line is generous given this horse leads the field in ratings, suggesting the public may be overweighting the 3/1 favorite. In a 350-yard dash where fractions of a second separate the field, rating dominance at the top is the most reliable predictor we have.

place1BeauxnanzaML 3/1

Beauxnanza draws the morning-line favoritism at 3/1 with an 82.46 TrackWiz rating and a 14% career win rate for trainer Clinton Crawford. Jacob Enriquez rides, and there's no question this is a legitimate contender — our analysis just edges B a Dynasty ahead by a hair. Beauxnanza is the right horse to back in the place spot, and if the board flips at post time, don't be shocked.

show4Ole Slew FootML 8/1

Ole Slew Foot comes in third in the ratings at 76.01 and posts a 9% career win rate for trainer Monse Melendez-Chavez, with Joseph Belloc, Jr. handling the riding assignment at 8/1. The morning-line price is workable, and a rating of 76 in allowance company at 350 yards is nothing to dismiss. Ole Slew Foot rounds out the trifecta nicely as a show play, especially at a price that gives you some return if the top three fire.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Race 7

10:35 PM EDT

Allowance · 400 yd · Dirt

A competitive 10-horse allowance at 400 yards where four runners cluster above a 74 rating — this race could produce a tight finish, and our top two selections are separated by less than seven points.

win8Agent BobML 7/2

Agent Bob leads this allowance field with an 85.45 TrackWiz rating and a 16% career win rate, drawing the #8 post with Ricardo Anchondo up for trainer Roberto Fournier. While the outside post in a 400-yard dash requires a clean start, Agent Bob's rating advantage over a talented field is the key factor here. At 7/2 on the morning line, this is a fair price for the top-rated horse in a race where the top four are genuinely bunched — we'll take the highest number at a reasonable number.

place6Angels in the CloudsML 9/2

Angels in the Clouds rates third in the field at 79.05 with an 18% career win rate for trainer Emilio Cadena, Jr. — Brian Cobos Barraza gets the call. At 9/2 on the morning line, this runner fits cleanly in the place slot, and the career win percentage suggests a horse that runs consistently well. Structure your exacta with Agent Bob on top and Angels in the Clouds underneath.

show4King Leonardo DML 10/1

King Leonardo D is the value angle in this race at 10/1 on the morning line despite posting a 76.88 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field. Trainer Juan Meraz sends this runner out with Christian Cardenas aboard, and the 18% career win rate adds credibility to a horse that seems underestimated by the morning line. At double-digit odds with a top-three rating, King Leonardo D deserves a spot in your trifecta key.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 8

11:00 PM EDT

Stakes · 400 yd · Dirt

The stakes race is the showcase event of the card — a seven-horse 400-yard dash with a heavily bet morning-line favorite and our top selection coming in at a more generous price with the highest rating.

win6Kj Bad Moon RisingML 9/2

Kj Bad Moon Rising leads the stakes field with a 84.90 TrackWiz rating and an impressive 47% career win rate — a number that stands out even at this elevated class level. Trainer Wesley T. Giles sends this horse out with Noe Garcia, Jr. up, and the 9/2 morning line represents a meaningful overlay against Harken's 7/5 favoritism. The career win percentage here is the story — nearly half of all career starts have ended in victory, and that kind of consistency in stakes company is rare.

place3HarkenML 7/5

Harken comes in as the morning-line favorite at 7/5 with a 78.29 TrackWiz rating and a remarkable 64% career win rate — the highest conversion number on today's entire card by a wide margin. Trainer Salvador R. Soto gives Gabriel Medrano the mount, and while our ratings put Harken second to Kj Bad Moon Rising, a 64% career win rate demands respect in the place position. Harken is the kind of horse you never leave completely off your tickets.

show2AlamosML 6/1

Alamos rates third in the stakes field at 67.03 with a 38% career win rate for trainer Tony E. Sedillo, with Oscar Andrade, Jr. aboard at 6/1 on the morning line. The rating gap behind the top two is real, but Alamos' career numbers suggest a horse that competes consistently at a high level. In a seven-horse stakes field, third place is a realistic outcome, and 6/1 on the show ticket is a workable return.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 9

11:25 PM EDT

Derby · 400 yd · Dirt

The Derby is the marquee race of the evening — a loaded 10-horse field at 400 yards with elite career win percentages throughout and a legitimate battle between our top selection and two other high-percentage runners.

win5LuxurieML 3/1

Luxurie is our Derby top selection with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — the top mark in the race — backed by a stunning 75% career win rate that is genuinely elite by any standard. Trainer Rodolfo G. Valles puts Joseph Belloc, Jr. in the irons, and at 3/1 on the morning line the price is fair for a horse converting three of every four starts. In a derby field this competitive, rating leadership plus that kind of win rate is the clearest signal we have — Luxurie is the best bet on the card's showcase races.

place4Cq Coyame JessyML 6/1

Cq Coyame Jessy rates second in our Derby analysis at 79.76 with a 33% career win rate for trainer Wesley T. Giles — Noe Garcia, Jr. rides at 6/1 on the morning line. The rating gap between Luxurie and this runner is meaningful, but Cq Coyame Jessy's form numbers put this horse firmly in contention for the exacta. The 6/1 price makes this a genuine value play in the place position, and it rounds out a strong exacta key.

show7Pour Me a DrinkkML 7/2

Pour Me a Drinkk is a fascinating show play at 7/2 on the morning line with a 76.26 TrackWiz rating and a 54% career win rate for trainer Gerald E. Marr, James A. Flores aboard. The career conversion number is exceptional and argues that this runner belongs in the Derby frame more than the 7/2 price might suggest. Slot Pour Me a Drinkk into your trifecta across the board — a 54% career winner is too consistent to leave off the ticket.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 10

11:50 PM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

The closing allowance at 350 yards features a clear top-two in the ratings but hides a legitimate show value buried deep in the program at a morning line that makes even experienced players do a double-take.

win9EyofthecardML 3/1

Eyofthecard leads this 12-horse allowance field with a 75.60 TrackWiz rating and a 14% career win rate for trainer Gerald E. Marr, with James A. Flores — who's had a busy card today — taking the mount. The 3/1 morning line is right in line with the rating leadership, and in a 350-yard dash where there's no time for pace tactics to play out, the horse with the top rating and a capable pilot has a clean edge. Eyofthecard is our straight closer for the finale.

place5Nurse Hot LipsML 7/2

Nurse Hot Lips slots second in our analysis at 72.12 with an 8% career win rate for trainer Kenneth Durbin, Jose Luis Enriquez riding at 7/2 on the morning line. The rating is clearly a step below Eyofthecard but well clear of the rest of this field, making the place position a natural fit. The 7/2 morning-line price is fair, and Nurse Hot Lips is the right exacta partner to anchor underneath the top pick.

show12Ms Famous CoronaML 30/1

Ms Famous Corona is the standout value angle in this race — a 30/1 morning-line shot that carries a 55.00 TrackWiz rating and a 25% career win rate that is among the best in this field. Trainer Wesley T. Giles sends this runner out with Noe Garcia, Jr. aboard, and a horse converting a quarter of career starts should not be priced at 30/1 in an allowance closer. If this one fires, the trifecta payout could be substantial — Ms Famous Corona is the hidden gem of tonight's card.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Today's best free plays are Silver Spurs Ar in Race 1, Sonuva Butch in Race 2, and Suspicious Splashbac in Race 3 — with that last one standing out as the top free value play on the card. For the full picture, including Derby analysis on Luxurie and our exotic ticket strategy for the Stakes and back-end races, the complete breakdown is available to TrackWiz subscribers. Rain or shine, let's find some winners.

← All Albuquerque picks & predictions