Unlock the other 9 races on today's card, plus AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet ticket construction.

The winner is in our top 4 picks 75% of the time, across 17 tracks.

Daily Picks

Albuquerque Picks & Predictions — September 18, 2026

September 18, 202612 racesAll Albuquerque picks

Trial day at Albuquerque — and if you love quarter horse racing, this is exactly the kind of card you circle on the calendar. All 12 races go 400 yards on the dirt, meaning every single heat is a blink-and-you-miss-it sprint where gate speed and raw ability are the only things that matter.

Conditions look near-perfect for fast times today. Partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 76°F should keep the surface consistent from the first race to the last — no heat-of-the-day track changes to worry about, which makes it a little easier to trust your figures across the full card.

With 12 trials on the slate, the name of the game is identifying which horses break cleanly and show the kind of early foot that translates to a finals berth. TrackWiz has rated every entrant, and there's some genuine separation at the top of the field worth paying attention to.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:30 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

A nine-horse trial at 400 yards with a clear class separation at the top — Toppa the Moon's TrackWiz rating of 86+ stands well above the middle of the pack, but Bigg Twist lurks as a live threat with a 69-point rating and prior race experience.

win8Toppa the MoonML 7/2

Toppa the Moon (No. 8) enters as the most impressive number in the field with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating — nearly 17 points clear of the next-best contender. Trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza puts him out at 7/2 on the morning line, and a 40% career win rate tells you this horse knows how to cross the wire first. Oscar Andrade, Jr. gets the call in the irons, a solid rider for a short-field quarter-horse sprint where gate speed is everything.

place9Bigg TwistML 5/2

Bigg Twist (No. 9) is the logical place play at 5/2 on the morning line, carrying a 69.69 rating and a 28% career win mark — the only other horse in the field with a meaningful win percentage. Luis Martinez rides for trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez, and Bigg Twist's profile suggests a horse that competes hard and hits the board consistently.

show3Dahlias DestinyML 9/2

Dahlias Destiny (No. 3) checks in at a 63.02 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field by a comfortable margin — and trainer Tony E. Sedillo sends her out at a 9/2 morning line that represents fair value for show purposes. With Christian Ramos up, she's a reasonable exotic anchor in what could be a chalky tri.

Race 2

7:55 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Big Ted is the overwhelming class of this trial field, coming in with a 66% career win rate and a rating that towers over the rest — the real question is whether Thats Amoree or Sand and Sea can run him down for the minor spots.

win10Big TedML 9/5

Big Ted (No. 10) is simply in a different league here. A 86.55 TrackWiz rating and a 66% career win percentage make him about as reliable a win play as you'll find in these trials. Sergio Becerra, Jr. — one of the sharpest riders on this circuit — gets the mount for trainer Omar Vargas, and that combination at 9/5 on the morning line is worth backing despite the short price.

place4Thats AmoreeML 6/1

Thats Amoree (No. 4) is the most interesting place prospect at 6/1 on the morning line. An 82.71 rating and a 33% career win rate suggest she's talented enough to be competitive, and Noe Garcia, Jr. gives her a capable pilot for trainer Wesley T. Giles. If Big Ted stumbles out of the gate — however unlikely — Thats Amoree has the raw numbers to capitalize.

show2Sand and SeaML 7/2

Sand and Sea (No. 2) carries a 75.59 rating with a 20% career win mark, sitting third in the field on pure TrackWiz numbers. Joseph Belloc, Jr. handles the mount for trainer Rodolfo G. Valles, and at 7/2 she's a reasonable show ticket for bettors looking to round out their exotics in this trial.

Race 3

8:20 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Baby Daddy Cartel dominates this trial on paper with a 66% win rate and the field's highest rating, but Royal Pour Tf and Sheza Fast Flash offer genuine competition in the middle of the card.

win7Baby Daddy CartelML 9/5

Baby Daddy Cartel (No. 7) is the standout of Race 3 with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — tops in the entire field — and an eye-catching 66% career win rate. Noe Garcia, Jr. pilots for Omar Vargas, a trainer-jockey combination that has shown up strong throughout this card. At 9/5 on the morning line, the price isn't generous, but the credentials back it up.

place8Royal Pour TfML 7/2

Royal Pour Tf (No. 8) earns the place slot with a solid 63.58 rating and a 33% career win percentage under trainer James J. Gonzales II. Joseph Belloc, Jr. rides, and at 7/2 morning line odds there's some legitimate value for a horse that profiles as a consistent money finisher in quarter-horse company.

show1Sheza Fast FlashML 8/1

Sheza Fast Flash (No. 1) posts the third-highest rating in the field at 60.04 for trainer Rodolfo G. Valles with Christian Cardenas up. She draws the rail, which in a 400-yard sprint is workable, and her number is clearly ahead of most of the competition lurking in the middle of this trial field.

Our three free races give you a solid foundation to build on today. Baby Daddy Cartel leads the way with the highest TrackWiz rating among the free picks at 88.83 — that's a meaningful edge in a 400-yard trial where fractions of a second separate the field. Big Ted (86.55) and Toppa the Moon (86.35) round out the free trio, both posting strong numbers and both carrying morning lines that suggest the public respects them without hammering them to unplayable odds.

In short-distance trials like these, we lean heavily toward horses with clean gate records and consistent early fractions. All three of today's free top picks grade out well in those areas, and with a neutral, fast-playing surface expected, there's no reason to overthink it — trust the figures and stay disciplined.

Send me tomorrow's free Albuquerque card before post time.

Free picks in your inbox each morning. No card required, unsubscribe anytime.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

8:45 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Race 4 is the first locked-content race of the card and features a tight three-way battle at the top — Acrylic, Billbo Bagins, and Keenan all post strong ratings within a competitive spread that sets up a contentious trial.

win1AcrylicML 5/2

Acrylic (No. 1) leads our TrackWiz analysis with an 87.81 rating and a 50% career win rate that's genuinely impressive for a horse on the quarter-horse circuit. Trainer Renee K. Wilson and jockey Jacob Enriquez combine for a sharp-looking entry from the rail at 5/2 — a post that can be an advantage in a 400-yard bolt where early fractions decide everything.

place3Billbo BaginsML 4/1

Billbo Bagins (No. 3) posts an 84.77 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — making him a natural place alternative at 4/1 morning line odds. Trainer Rodolfo G. Valles sends him out with Christian Cardenas, and while his career win percentage isn't on file, his raw rating suggests he'll be close at the wire and worth including on your tickets.

show8KeenanML 7/2

Keenan (No. 8) rounds out our suggested trifecta with a 76.93 rating and a 33% career win mark for trainer Salvador R. Soto with Joseph Belloc, Jr. in the saddle. At 7/2 he offers slight overlay potential at the show position while his win percentage confirms he regularly finishes in the money.

Race 5

9:10 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Hestan is the class of this ten-horse trial with an 80% career win rate that screams confidence, but Perrys Alibi isn't far behind in the ratings and could make things interesting in a field that's otherwise quite thin at the top.

win6HestanML 5/2

Hestan (No. 6) is one of the most compelling win plays on the entire card. An 87.81 TrackWiz rating combined with an 80% career win percentage is a rare combination that practically demands action. Trainer Omar Vargas sends him out at just 5/2 on the morning line with Jose Enrique Ortiz up — the numbers strongly suggest this horse belongs at a shorter price.

place3Perrys AlibiML 7/2

Perrys Alibi (No. 3) posts an 81.73 rating with a 33% career win rate for trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza. Jaime Parga Leos picks up the mount at a 7/2 morning line, and this horse's rating puts him comfortably ahead of the rest of the field behind Hestan — making him the logical place play in what could be a two-horse race at the top.

show4HoldmyhailoML 8/1

Holdmyhailo (No. 4) draws the show slot with a 48.33 rating that, while below the top two, still ranks above the field's lower half. Trainer Wesley T. Giles and Gabriel Medrano team up at 8/1 on the morning line, giving this horse some overlay appeal as a show selection or exotic longball for bettors looking for a price.

Race 6

9:35 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Jessies in Court leads a surprisingly competitive Race 6 where four horses — including Bogarts Dreamgirl and Restart — all grade within a tight rating band, making this one of the more uncertain trials on the card.

win6Jessies in CourtML 7/2

Jessies in Court (No. 6) tops our TrackWiz leaderboard for this race at an 80.85 rating with a 33% career win percentage to back it up. Sergio Becerra, Jr. — one of the busiest and most effective riders on the card tonight — handles the mount for trainer Joel J. Gonzales at 7/2 morning line odds, which represents fair value for a horse with top numbers.

place1Bogarts DreamgirlML 9/2

Bogarts Dreamgirl (No. 1) is an intriguing place candidate at 9/2 on the morning line. Her 76.59 rating leads all horses with a listed zero career win rate, suggesting she's been close without breaking through — exactly the profile of a horse that hits the board regularly. Trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez has multiple entries on the card tonight, showing he's live in these conditions.

show3RestartML 8/1

Restart (No. 3) rounds out the trifecta suggestion with a solid 74.99 TrackWiz rating, third-best in the field. Trainer Omar Vargas fires Jose Enrique Ortiz aboard at 8/1 on the morning line, which makes Restart a legitimate value play in the show spot — his rating is comfortably ahead of the remaining field.

Race 7

10:00 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Shafer dominates Race 7 with a 75% career win rate that stands alone in this field — it's a question of whether Jess a Corona Dash or Super Patriot can hold off the rest for the minor awards.

win7ShaferML 5/2

Shafer (No. 7) comes in with the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.81 and backs it up with a 75% career win rate — a number that's nearly impossible to argue against in a trial. Trainer Rodolfo G. Valles sends him out with Christian Cardenas at 5/2 on the morning line, and in a 400-yard dash where pedigree and early speed dominate, Shafer's profile fits perfectly.

place8Jess a Corona DashML 7/2

Jess a Corona Dash (No. 8) earns the place slot with a 69.85 rating and a 40% career win percentage — the second-best win rate in the field by a wide margin. Sergio Becerra, Jr. rides for trainer Omar Vargas at 7/2 morning line odds, and a 40% win rate in quarter-horse racing is legitimately elite territory.

show2Super PatriotML 9/2

Super Patriot (No. 2) posts a 66.40 rating with a noteworthy 40% career win rate, matching Jess a Corona Dash on that metric. Jose Enrique Ortiz rides for trainer Marco A. Flores at 9/2 on the morning line — the win percentage and rating combination makes Super Patriot a credible show option and an interesting exotic ingredient.

Race 8

10:25 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

A clear one-two punch at the top of Race 8 — Imma Dandy and Daddys China are separated by just over two rating points, creating a genuine dual threat while the rest of the field sits well behind on TrackWiz numbers.

win1Imma DandyML 5/2

Imma Dandy (No. 1) posts an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and draws the rail for this 400-yard trial — in a dead sprint, the inside post is never a liability. Trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza teams with Oscar Andrade, Jr., and while the 33% career win rate is modest, the raw rating tells you this horse has the ability. At 5/2 on the morning line, the public is clearly on board.

place7Daddys ChinaML 7/2

Daddys China (No. 7) is the natural foil at an 85.55 TrackWiz rating — only 2.26 points behind the top selection, which in these close trials is essentially a coin flip. Trainer Omar Vargas taps Jose Enrique Ortiz, and a 20% career win rate may undersell a horse who has clearly been competitive at this level. At 7/2, there's slight value here relative to her numbers.

show5Cartel StarsML 9/2

Cartel Stars (No. 5) comes in with a 54.17 rating, which in most races would be mid-pack but here lands it squarely as the third-best number available. Joseph Belloc, Jr. rides for Rodolfo G. Valles at 9/2 on the morning line, and for bettors constructing exotic tickets, Cartel Stars provides a logical anchor at a manageable price.

Race 9

10:50 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Reniko is the surprise headliner of Race 9 — a morning line of 9/2 that doesn't quite match a rating in the mid-80s, making this one of the best potential overlay situations of the night.

win10RenikoML 9/2

Reniko (No. 10) carries an 84.90 TrackWiz rating into this trial — easily the class of the field — and is listed at 9/2 on the morning line, which feels generous for a horse whose numbers suggest co-favoritism at worst. Joseph Belloc, Jr. handles the mount for trainer Rodolfo G. Valles, a combination that has shown up consistently throughout this card. If the board holds near that number, this is a strong play.

place3First Flash BeautyML 5/2

First Flash Beauty (No. 3) earns the place spot at a 73.87 rating and a 20% career win rate, riding for trainer James J. Gonzales II with Christian Cardenas aboard. Listed at 5/2 on the morning line, she's expected to be well-backed, and her TrackWiz rating confirms she has the credentials to contend for second money.

show5Kings LandingML 7/2

Kings Landing (No. 5) posts a 73.61 rating — just a hair behind First Flash Beauty — which makes the show call between these two almost academic. Luis Martinez rides for trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez at 7/2 morning line odds, and while Kings Landing carries no career win percentage, the rating alone puts him firmly in exotic contention.

Race 10

11:15 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Race 10 is a bit of a puzzle — Kj She Is Long Gone leads on our ratings but morning line favorite Bigg Cartel has a perfect career win record, setting up an interesting clash between form and momentum.

win7Kj She Is Long GoneML 9/2

Kj She Is Long Gone (No. 7) tops our TrackWiz ratings for this race at 81.07 and carries a 25% career win rate under trainer Joel Iturralde with Gabriel Medrano up. The morning line of 9/2 gives this horse overlay potential given the rating advantage over the rest of the field. In a trial, we trust the numbers, and Kj She Is Long Gone's profile says she belongs at the front of this ticket.

place5Big AveryML 7/2

Big Avery (No. 5) posts a 71.05 rating for trainer Renee K. Wilson with Jacob Enriquez in the irons at 7/2 on the morning line. No career win percentage is on file, but the raw rating lands her second in the field on TrackWiz numbers, and at that price, she's a natural complement to our top selection in the place spot.

show3Je American DreamML 4/1

Je American Dream (No. 3) rounds out the trifecta with a 70.27 rating — third-best in Race 10 — for trainer Tony P. Lello with Sergio Becerra, Jr. aboard at 4/1 on the morning line. Becerra is one of the highest-demand riders on the card tonight, and his presence here is an encouraging sign for a horse whose rating justifies a show ticket.

Race 11

11:40 PM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Bridger is the heavy class standout in Race 11 with a 75% career win rate and a top-of-field rating, but Big Morning Breeze offers a legitimate 8/1 overlay angle that makes this a must-play trifecta race.

win4BridgerML 5/2

Bridger (No. 4) is as close to a lock as you'll find in these trials — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating paired with a 75% career win rate for trainer Omar Vargas is an elite combination. Jose Enrique Ortiz climbs aboard at 5/2 on the morning line, and Vargas has shown throughout tonight's card that his horses are live. This is a confident top selection.

place1Big Morning BreezeML 8/1

Big Morning Breeze (No. 1) is a fascinating overlay play at 8/1 on the morning line. A 73.44 TrackWiz rating and a 33% career win percentage show genuine competence, and trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza has been active all evening with competitive entries. Oscar Andrade, Jr. gets the mount — a jockey who has been riding with confidence on this card — and the morning line price likely underestimates this horse's chances.

show10Bogarts Brown SugarML 7/2

Bogarts Brown Sugar (No. 10) brings a 63.06 rating and a solid 40% career win rate to the table for trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez at 7/2 on the morning line. Luis Martinez rides, and a 40% career win mark in quarter-horse racing is genuinely impressive — this horse consistently finds the wire in a money position and is a smart show ticket.

Race 12

12:05 AM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Royal Dynasty Mrb closes the card as a commanding favorite-in-waiting with a 60% career win rate, but Elmer Azul's 8/1 morning line against a 79-point rating stands out as one of the better value angles of the evening.

win9Royal Dynasty MrbML 5/2

Royal Dynasty Mrb (No. 9) wraps up the card with the best overall profile in Race 12 — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and a 60% career win rate that speaks for itself. Luis Martinez rides for trainer Jorge Luis Sanchez, Jr. at 5/2 on the morning line, and while the price is short, the credentials are the real deal. In a trial format, backing horses with proven win rates and elite ratings is the smart play.

place8Elmer AzulML 8/1

Elmer Azul (No. 8) is the most intriguing value play of the race at 8/1 on the morning line. A 79.32 TrackWiz rating puts him second in this field by a comfortable margin, and trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza — one of the most active conditioners on tonight's card — sends him out with Oscar Andrade, Jr. The morning line price doesn't reflect the rating, making this a potential overlay in both the place spot and exotics.

show6Miss Desirio 16ML 9/2

Miss Desirio 16 (No. 6) carries a 69.43 TrackWiz rating and a 33% career win percentage into the nightcap for trainer Omar Vargas with Jose Enrique Ortiz aboard. At 9/2 on the morning line, she's the third-best number in the field and completes a logical trifecta underneath the top two selections — a solid capper to a full evening of quarter-horse trials.

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

Bottom line: this is a fun, fast card with legitimate opportunities in both the free and premium races. Baby Daddy Cartel is the marquee name to watch, but the full 12-race trial slate rewards preparation — and that's exactly what subscribers get. Grab the complete breakdown, lock in your tickets early, and enjoy trial day at Albuquerque.

← All Albuquerque picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 12 races free

Best Bets

Race 1↗

Race 2↗

Race 3↗

Send me tomorrow's free Albuquerque card before post time.

Full Card Analysis

Get the Full Card Analysis

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3