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Albuquerque Picks & Predictions — September 17, 2026

September 17, 20269 racesAll Albuquerque picks

Happy Thursday from Albuquerque, where conditions are about as good as it gets in the high desert — partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 77°F. The dirt should be playing fast and true, which matters a lot on a card loaded with quarter-horse sprints in the 330-to-870-yard range alongside a trio of longer six-furlong routes to close out the afternoon.

Nine races are on the board today, and the card is a genuine mixed bag — maiden runners looking for their first win, allowance horses stepping up in class, and some claiming action that could produce real overlay prices if the morning lines shift at the windows. There's something here for every style of handicapper.

TrackWiz has broken down the full card, and a few standout figures caught our eye right away. Franciscan posts an 87.81 TrackWiz rating in Race 2, and Unbridled Beauty comes in at 87.08 in the Race 8 allowance — two of the highest-rated horses we're looking at all day. Whether they hold those numbers at post time is the question, but they're worth building your card around.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:30 PM EDT

Maiden · 870 yd · Dirt

A maiden sprint at 870 yards with a field full of first-timers and limited experience — TrackWiz ratings create a clear pecking order at the top, but green horses can always surprise.

win4Steel RimesML 9/2

Steel Rimes draws our top rating in this maiden affair at 84.9, the highest mark in the field by a notable margin. Trainer Edgar Moreno sends him out with Francisco Amparan in the irons — a morning line of 9/2 that actually underestimates how much daylight there is between this horse and most of the field on our numbers. In a race where most entrants are posting zeros in the experience column, that rating edge is your best guide, and Steel Rimes sits comfortably on top.

place1By Golly AngelML 3/1

By Golly Angel checks in at a 75.28 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and goes postward as the 3/1 morning line favorite under Enrique Portillo Gomez for trainer Sherry Armstrong. The market clearly agrees this one belongs near the top, and in a wide-open maiden, landing on the board is a very realistic outcome.

show5Comfort CashML 7/2

Comfort Cash rounds out our top three with a rating of 67.67 and is one of only two horses in the field showing any recorded speed figure (54 average). That's a meaningful data point in a maiden race full of unknowns — any prior competitive experience can be a real edge. Christian Ramos has a live enough mount here at 7/2 on the morning line.

Race 2

7:55 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

Short and sharp at 330 yards in the maiden claiming ranks — two horses dominate the TrackWiz ratings and the market, setting up a likely top-two battle with the rest of the field just hoping to hang on.

win9FranciscanML 5/2

Franciscan is the clear top selection here, posting a field-best TrackWiz rating of 87.81 — a full seven points clear of the next rival. Edgar S. Martinez gets the call for trainer Gene C. Garcia, who also has Tres N Garters and fires two arrows in this race. The 5/2 morning line makes Franciscan the public choice as well, and when our numbers and the market are aligned this closely, there's real confidence behind the pick.

place2King of KiaML 4/1

King of Kia at 4/1 is the logical backup, carrying an 80.52 rating that ranks second in the field. Christian Ramos handles the riding duties for trainer Richard D. Sedillo, and at that morning line there's still decent value for exotics. In a race where the top two are separated from the rest of the field, King of Kia figures to be battling for real estate at the wire.

show6Patriots FireML 7/2

Patriots Fire slots in as our third choice with a 63.62 rating — a noticeable step below the top pair but clearly ahead of the pack. Gabriel Medrano rides for trainer Alvaro Hinojos, and the 7/2 morning line on a horse we've tabbed for show suggests the market may be grouping the top three tightly. Worth including in trifecta coverage.

Race 3

8:20 PM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

An allowance sprint at 350 yards where career win percentages tell an interesting story — several horses here have proven they know how to win, making this a competitive upper-condition test.

win4ThrillahML 9/2

Thrillah tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.9 and goes at 9/2 on the morning line with Noe Garcia, Jr. aboard for trainer Wesley T. Giles. What stands out here is the combination of the field's highest rating and a 21% career win rate — this horse has competed at a level where winning is expected. The price is fair for a horse with this kind of profile in an allowance spot.

place8Zooming DynastyML 5/2

Zooming Dynasty is our place pick at 5/2 — the morning line favorite — carrying a 71.3 rating and a 31% career win rate for trainer Armando Alamos. Brian Cobos Barraza gets the mount, and frankly, the market may have this one pegged as the win horse. With nearly a third of career starts converting to victories, Zooming Dynasty has serious credentials here.

show6TemptmeknottML 8/1

Temptmeknott is the value angle in our exotics at 8/1 on the morning line, rating 70.71 and sporting a strong 33% career win rate for trainer Omar Vargas. Jose Luis Enriquez takes the ride, and that win percentage is one of the higher marks in the field — this is a horse that knows how to finish. At 8/1, including Temptmeknott in trifecta and exacta coverage is a smart move.

The first three races on the card are fully unlocked for every TrackWiz reader, and they offer a nice cross-section of what today's card is about. Steel Rimes opens the day in a maiden sprint at 870 yards — the longer end of the quarter-horse distances — while Franciscan and Thrillah both come back at tighter distances of 330 and 350 yards respectively. All three go postward at morning-line odds of 5/2 or longer, meaning none of them are being handed anything on a silver platter.

With the track playing firm today, early speed is going to be at a premium in these short dashes — fractions come fast and there's almost no time to make up ground late. Franciscan's 87.81 rating leads the trio and makes that Race 2 maiden claimer our focal point among the free plays. Thrillah and Steel Rimes both rate similarly at 84.9, so lean on pace scenario and post position when separating them from their respective fields.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

8:45 PM EDT

Allowance · 870 yd · Dirt

A ten-horse allowance field going long at 870 yards — TrackWiz ratings separate a clear top tier from a deep mid-pack, but jockey assignments and class credentials add layers to this puzzle.

win1Holy Moli MitoleML 9/2

Holy Moli Mitole leads our ratings at 84.9 — tied for the field's top mark — and backs it up with a 25% career win rate, the best among the contenders. Luis A. Valenzuela takes the mount for trainer Terri Rust, and the 9/2 morning line gives some value on a horse with both the numbers and the winning pedigree. At 870 yards, stamina and class matter, and this one brings both.

place7Kj Wiskey RiverML 3/1

Kj Wiskey River at 3/1 is the morning line second-choice and rates 78.19 on our scale — a strong second in the field. Gabriel Medrano picks up the mount for Wesley T. Giles, the same trainer who sent out Thrillah as our top pick in Race 3. The 3/1 price makes this one less of a value and more of a quality play, but when a horse this well-rated is also the public's pick for place, leaning in makes sense.

show5Bumbu RumML 8/1

Bumbu Rum at 8/1 is the sleeper in this field with a 68.36 TrackWiz rating — good enough for third in our rankings. Christian Ramos rides for Tony E. Sedillo, and while the 7% career win rate isn't flashy, this is an allowance spot where the longer distance could help a horse that grinds. At 8/1, Bumbu Rum is a legitimate show horse and worth a spot in multi-race wagers.

Race 5

9:10 PM EDT

Claiming · 350 yd · Dirt

A sprawling 12-horse claiming field at 350 yards where Runaway Milkyway's eye-popping 50% career win rate is the most striking number on the page — but our ratings tell a different story at the top.

win1ZenificoML 7/2

Zenifico leads our picks with a 76.99 TrackWiz rating and goes at 7/2 on the morning line for Christian Ramos and trainer Tony E. Sedillo. The 10% career win rate is modest, but in a claiming field this size, the rating edge matters. Ramos knows this barn well, and the 350-yard sprint format is where sharp early speed pays dividends.

place5One Oh TooML 3/1

One Oh Too rates 75.85 — right on Zenifico's heels — and goes at 3/1 for Noe Garcia, Jr. under Wesley T. Giles. Giles keeps popping up on our tickets today, and with good reason — this barn is placing horses well across the card. One Oh Too's 7% career win rate is low, but the ratings say the horse belongs near the top of this field.

show6Kings Sweet MoneyML 6/1

Kings Sweet Money rates 68.91 and offers a touch of value at 6/1 on the morning line. Jorge Nieto-Saenz rides for trainer Edwin A. Martinez, and while a 6% career win rate isn't inspiring, the rating separates this one from the bottom half of a crowded field. In a race with 12 runners, identifying the third horse correctly in a trifecta is where the real money is made.

Race 6

9:35 PM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

Several horses in this allowance sprint carry identical 50% career win rates with limited starts, so raw win percentage is misleading here — TrackWiz ratings do the real separating work in this tricky 350-yard affair.

win8Mighty KvnML 10/1

Mighty Kvn is our top selection at 10/1 — a genuine overlay — posting a field-best TrackWiz rating of 76.88 alongside a 33% career win rate. Noe Garcia, Jr. gets the call for trainer Jose Angel Burciaga, and the disconnect between that 10/1 morning line and his position as our top-rated horse is exactly the kind of situation TrackWiz analysis is built to identify. If you're playing one race on this card for value, this is the spot.

place3It HoustonML 7/2

It Houston rates 72.8 and goes at 7/2 for James A. Flores under trainer Tammy Kay Johnson. The 16% career win rate is honest for this level, and the morning line suggests the public respects this one. In an allowance race where the top of the ratings are closely bunched, It Houston has the profile to run second and hit your exacta ticket.

show9Apollitical SlatesML 9/2

Apollitical Slates slots in third on our ratings at 71.34 with Edgar S. Martinez in the irons for trainer Angel E. Dominguez. The 25% career win rate is one of the stronger marks in this field, and at 9/2, this horse is priced like a contender. Layering Apollitical Slates into a trifecta underneath our top two makes sense given the rating support.

Race 7

10:00 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The switch to six furlongs brings a different pace test — and Lucky Vegas's combination of a field-high rating and an eye-catching 44% career win rate makes this one of the most compelling top selections of the evening.

win6Lucky VegasML 6/1

Lucky Vegas is a standout here — 82.71 TrackWiz rating, tops in the field, and a career win rate of 44% that is frankly remarkable for any horse at any level. Enrique Portillo Gomez rides for trainer Sherry Armstrong, and with an average speed figure of 56, this horse is also running some of the fastest times in the race. The 6/1 morning line represents genuine value on a horse with dominant credentials across multiple metrics.

place4La Jolla BeachML 5/2

La Jolla Beach rates 74.79 and is the morning line favorite at 5/2 with Christian Ramos for trainer Lonnie H. Vaughn. An average speed figure of 56 — tied for the field's best — and a 20% career win rate make this horse a legitimate contender. The market may have La Jolla Beach pegged as the top selection, but our ratings say Lucky Vegas has the edge, making the place slot a natural fit.

show5Whimsical HeirML 3/1

Whimsical Heir checks in at 3/1 on the morning line with a 61.45 rating and a 22% career win rate for trainer Martin Manuel Valdez-Cabral. Alfredo J. Juarez, Jr. gets the ride, and while Whimsical Heir's average speed figure of 54 trails the top two, the career numbers suggest a horse that competes consistently. At 3/1 for show, the price is thin, but the profile warrants inclusion in exotics.

Race 8

10:25 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

A seven-horse allowance at six furlongs where two horses clearly separate from the pack on TrackWiz ratings — this sets up as a top-pair battle with real separation from the rest of the field.

win2Unbridled BeautyML 3/1

Unbridled Beauty is our top selection with an 87.08 rating — the field's highest mark — and goes at 3/1 on the morning line for Francisco Amparan under trainer Renee K. Wilson. An average speed figure of 56 and an 18% career win rate round out the profile of a horse that belongs at this level and has the raw ability to dominate. When our rating and the speed figures both point the same direction, that's a sign worth following.

place4Day At a TimeML 5/2

Day At a Time rates 80.85 and is posted at 5/2 — making this the morning line favorite — under Oscar Andrade, Jr. for trainer Todd W. Fincher. An average speed figure of 56 matches the top two horses in raw pace, and a 22% career win rate says this one converts at a solid clip. This horse is legitimately live for the win but slots perfectly as our place pick given the ratings hierarchy.

show3Hoodwinked KateML 7/2

Hoodwinked Kate at 7/2 on the morning line rates 55.74 for Miguel A. Perez and trainer Bennie L. Woolley, Jr. The 9% career win rate is modest, but in a seven-horse field where the top two are clear, identifying the third horse at 7/2 in a trifecta is where you can generate real return. Hoodwinked Kate has enough rating support to be that horse.

Race 9

10:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The closing six-furlong claiming race features a fascinating three-way battle near the top of the ratings — Competitive Idea, Golden Greek, and Ten Figures all figure prominently, with each carrying a legitimate case.

win6Competitive IdeaML 9/2

Competitive Idea tops our TrackWiz ratings at 84.9 for Miguel A. Perez under trainer Dick Cappellucci — who also saddles Stage Left in this race, giving the barn two bites at the apple. A 25% career win rate and an average speed figure of 55 support the rating, and at 9/2, there's still value here relative to the horse's position as our top-rated contender. Cappellucci clearly likes this spot.

place4Golden GreekML 7/2

Golden Greek is right there at 82.84 — barely a whisker behind our top pick — and goes at 7/2 for Alejandro Medellin under trainer Bart G. Hone. The 15% career win rate is honest for a claiming horse, and with a 53 average speed figure, Golden Greek may actually be a horse that closes rather than leads, giving it a different running style than Competitive Idea. That kind of contrast is valuable in exacta construction.

show8Ten FiguresML 4/1

Ten Figures rounds out our picks at 4/1 on the morning line with a 77.19 rating and a 22% career win rate for Kelsi Purcell and trainer Danny Morales. An average speed figure of 55 puts Ten Figures right in the mix on raw numbers, and that career win rate is among the better marks in this field. At 4/1, this is not a throwaway show pick — it's a legitimate contender who fits nicely in the third slot of a trifecta.

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Albuquerque is serving up a clean, fast, nine-race dirt card today, and there are legitimate angles from the first race all the way through the closer. Franciscan is the horse we'd build around in the free races, and Unbridled Beauty is the premium headliner worth watching closely in Race 8. For pace projections, exotic tickets, and the full analysis on every race — including that Mighty Kvn longshot angle — it's all available to TrackWiz subscribers. Good luck at the windows.

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