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Albuquerque Picks & Predictions — October 23, 2026

October 23, 20269 racesAll Albuquerque picks

It's a beautiful Friday afternoon at Albuquerque Downs — partly cloudy, 68°F, and the kind of crisp fall weather that keeps the track surface consistent and the speed figures honest. Nine races are on the board today, all on dirt, with distances ranging from the lightning-quick 300-yard sprints all the way out to the 870-yard routes. That kind of variety makes for a genuinely interesting handicapping challenge.

Quarter horse racing is the name of the game here, and today's card mixes claimers and maiden runners in the early going before stepping up to three allowance spots that give the better horses a chance to separate themselves. TrackWiz analysis points to a handful of standout spots where the odds and the ratings line up nicely — including a couple of prices worth building tickets around.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:05 AM EDT

Claiming · 870 yd · Dirt

A wide-open 870-yard claiming opener with a clear ratings gap at the top, but enough overlays in the middle of the field to make the exotics interesting — don't sleep on the pace setup over this longer sprint distance.

win2DannybobML 9/2

Dannybob is the horse to beat here, posting the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 84.9 and backing it up with a 23% career win rate — that's the best strike rate among the contenders by a comfortable margin. He's one of only a handful of horses in this field showing an average speed figure (56), which matters a lot stretching out to 870 yards. Trainer Martin Manuel Valdez-Cabral puts him out at 9/2 on the morning line, which looks like underlay territory given how clearly he separates from the field on our numbers. Jockey Alejandro Medellin gets the call and should have him well-placed early.

place1Lota Dazzling EagleML 7/2

Lota Dazzling Eagle draws the rail for Edgar S. Martinez and checks in with a 75.32 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field and a solid buffer above the rest of the pack. At 7/2 on the morning line she's likely to be near the top of the board, but a place ticket here carries solid insurance value if Dannybob leads the way. Her 12% career win rate is modest, but the distance and post position set up a clean trip.

show4Billy de KidML 6/1

Billy de Kid rounds out our top three at a 73.33 rating and brings a respectable 20% career win rate to the gate — that's a horse who knows how to finish in the money. Jose Luis Enriquez rides at 6/1 morning line odds, making him a genuine value option in the exotics, especially in trifecta construction beneath the top two. At this distance, pace scenarios can shake up the order, and Billy de Kid's consistency makes him a safe show-ticket anchor.

Race 2

12:30 AM EDT

Maiden · 350 yd · Dirt

A full field of maiden first-timers over 350 yards — with no career wins to reference anywhere, this comes down entirely to TrackWiz ratings, morning-line confidence, and trainer patterns. Three horses cluster near the top and separate meaningfully from the rest.

win3I Make CandyML 3/1

I Make Candy tops our TrackWiz ratings in this maiden sprint at 84.52 and draws in at an attractive 3/1 morning line — trainer Tony E. Sedillo sends her out with Christian Ramos in the irons, a pairing worth tracking. In a field where no horse has ever won a race, the ratings edge becomes even more predictive, and the gap between I Make Candy and the third-rated horse is significant. This is as close to a confident play as you'll find in a maiden opener — she's our best bet in Race 2.

place1Eagle MountainML 6/1

Eagle Mountain comes in at a 82.71 rating — nearly neck-and-neck with the top pick at the top of the sheet — and Osman Iturralde sends him out at 6/1, which represents real value if the morning line holds. Jacob Enriquez gets the mount and will look to get a clean break from the inside post. In a tight-rated field, Eagle Mountain offers legitimate win upside and is a strong place inclusion for any exotic ticket.

show5Send the HeroML 4/1

Send the Hero slots in third on our ratings at 78.89 and lands at 4/1 morning line odds — trainer Jesus J Carrete and jockey Daniel Antonio Torres are a familiar combo at this meet. The gap between Send the Hero and the horses rated below him is notable, giving him a clear edge over the rest of the field outside the top two. He's a natural show anchor in the trifecta and a worth-while win dart if the top two stumble.

Race 3

12:55 AM EDT

Claiming · 350 yd · Dirt

A deep 11-horse claiming field at 350 yards with a fascinating twist at the top — our two highest-rated horses are separated by just a tenth of a point, while the morning-line favorite comes in third on ratings. Pace figures to be contested early.

win5Dash FlashML 6/1

Dash Flash edges to the top of our TrackWiz ratings at 81.16 despite being posted at 6/1 on the morning line — that's a meaningful overlay against the 3/1 favorite Jo Boss. Trainer Tony E. Sedillo pairs him with Christian Ramos, a rider who's been active throughout the card. With a 13% career win rate, Dash Flash isn't a dominant closer, but in short-field sprints at 350 yards, gate speed and raw ability are what separate horses — and his rating says he has both.

place4EyeonagoodtimeML 5/1

Eyeonagoodtime is essentially a dead-heat on ratings with our win pick at 81.06, and his 25% career win rate is the best mark among any legitimate contender in this race. Trainer David M. Gomez-Barraza posts him at 5/1, which is fair value for a horse with this kind of win frequency. He's the type who gives you a legitimate shot at the top spot, and he's a must-include in any exotic underneath Dash Flash.

show9Jo BossML 3/1

Jo Boss is the morning-line favorite at 3/1 and carries a 78.55 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field — alongside a strong 25% career win rate. Trainer Victor H. Rodriguez-Flores hands the reins to Francisco Zamora, who has multiple mounts on today's card. If you're building trifecta boxes, Jo Boss is your insurance policy: respected enough by the oddsmakers to likely get bet down, and solid enough on our metrics to threaten the exacta.

The first three races are free for all TrackWiz readers, and there's some real meat on the bone. Dannybob opens the card in a claiming route at 870 yards — the longest trip of the day — and comes in with an 84.9 TrackWiz rating at a juicy 9/2 morning line. That's the kind of overlay we love to highlight. Race 2 shifts to the short stuff at 350 yards for a maiden sprint, where I Make Candy (84.52 rating, 3/1) looks like the class of the field. Then in Race 3, keep an eye on Dash Flash — sitting at 6/1 on the morning line with an 81.16 rating, that's a legitimate value play in a wide-open claiming sprint. On a consistent dirt surface like today's, horses with clean gate speed tend to get every advantage, and all three free picks fit that mold.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

1:20 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 400 yd · Dirt

Maiden claiming at 400 yards with an extremely compressed ratings field — the top-rated horse sits at just 56.67, and nobody in a 12-horse field has ever hit the winner's circle. Separating contenders here is about process, not certainty.

win3Jess Another HoneyML 3/1

Jess Another Honey leads our TrackWiz ratings in this maiden claimer at 56.67 and draws the 3/1 morning line tab — trainer Zafer Vurgun hands Francisco Zamora a horse that separates modestly but clearly from the pack on our model. In a race this wide open, a few points of ratings advantage can go a long way, and Jess Another Honey has that edge. She's our best bet in Race 4, but we'd recommend modest wager sizing given the maiden nature of the field.

place4Elmers StreakML 9/2

Elmers Streak rates second on our sheet at 54.17 and comes in at 9/2 morning line odds under jockey Raul Ortega for trainer Karina Aldavaz. The two-point gap between Elmers Streak and the win pick is slim enough that this horse has a genuine shot to reverse the order, which makes a place ticket here solid value. In maiden company, races regularly flip at the top, and Elmers Streak is well-positioned to cash.

show1MorgonML 4/1

Morgon slots third on our ratings at 48.97 and is another horse in contention at 4/1 morning line odds with Edgar S. Martinez aboard for trainer Angel E. Dominguez — a trainer who also has the top-rated horse in Race 1. The rating is a step below the top two, but not by so much that you'd leave him off a trifecta ticket. In unpredictable maiden fields, having a third live horse for the show slot is smart ticket-building.

Race 5

1:45 AM EDT

Allowance · 870 yd · Dirt

An allowance field at 870 yards features a standout on ratings that also carries the morning-line chalk, but pace dynamics over this longer trip could create opportunity for closers with proven speed figures — a rare race where the favorite might actually be underbet.

win1DragonessaML 3/1

Dragonessa is the clear top choice here, posting the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 87.08 and backing it with an average speed figure of 54 — one of only a few horses in this race to show any speed figure at all. Trainer Jose R. Gonzalez Jr. sends her out at 3/1 morning line under Luis A. Valenzuela, a rider who also appears later in the card. Her 7% career win rate is modest, but that number can be deceiving in allowance company where fields are more competitive — the raw ability numbers tell a stronger story.

place3Hold My ScotchML 6/1

Hold My Scotch checks in with a 58.18 TrackWiz rating and an average speed figure of 55 — actually the top speed figure in the field by a tick. Trainer Casey T. Lambert has him set at 6/1 morning line, which represents legitimate value for a horse who has demonstrated measurable closing kick at this distance. Christian Ramos picks up the mount and will look to get him into a comfortable spot early before unleashing him at the top of the stretch.

show6Special PolkaML 9/2

Special Polka draws in at 9/2 morning line odds with a 53.0 TrackWiz rating and gets the call from Oscar Andrade Jr. for trainer Renee K. Wilson. While she doesn't show a speed figure in our data, her morning-line positioning suggests the condition book suits her, and at 9/2 she's an overlay relative to her ratings rank among the top three. She's a legitimate show-ticket inclusion and worth considering in exacta wheels beneath Dragonessa.

Race 6

2:10 AM EDT

Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

A 12-horse claiming sprint at 300 yards where two horses separate themselves significantly from the field on ratings, and a third lurks at a juicy price — the value play in Race 6 could be the most attractive of the afternoon card.

win7Sw Glorious SongML 3/1

Sw Glorious Song leads the field with a 79.87 TrackWiz rating and comes in as the morning-line favorite at 3/1 — trainer Salvador R. Soto, who saddles multiple horses today, clearly likes this one's chances. Francisco Zamora, one of the busiest riders on the card, picks up the mount. A 15% career win rate in claiming company is respectable, and at 300 yards there's no margin for error — Sw Glorious Song's ratings edge should show up in the first few strides.

place2Lil Miss Harper TaML 10/1

Lil Miss Harper Ta is our best value play on the entire card — a 76.88 TrackWiz rating at 10/1 morning-line odds represents a significant disconnect that sharp bettors will want to exploit. Trainer Jesus J Carrete puts Daniel Antonio Torres up, and with a 20% career win rate, this horse is well-acquainted with the winner's circle. She's capable of winning outright at this price, and a place ticket here is essentially free money if the ratings hold true.

show5Jess a Fast PrizeML 8/1

Jess a Fast Prize slots third on our ratings at 68.57 and draws in at 8/1 for trainer Salvador R. Soto — the same barn as our win pick, which gives Soto two live shots in this race. Jose Enrique Ortiz handles the riding duties. A 6% career win rate is on the lower end, but short sprints at 300 yards can produce unexpected results when the gate opens perfectly, and this horse's rating separates him clearly from the rest of the field.

Race 7

2:35 AM EDT

Allowance · 400 yd · Dirt

A loaded allowance field at 400 yards anchored by a dominant ratings leader at a fair price, but with genuine mid-field intrigue — a pair of horses rated in the low 60s could make this exacta interesting if the top pick faces any traffic trouble.

win7Jd Dance MonkeyML 3/1

Jd Dance Monkey is the standout of Race 7, posting a 87.08 TrackWiz rating — tied for the top mark on the entire card today — while coming in at a very reasonable 3/1 morning line. Trainer Mario Dominguez-Garcia puts Christian Ramos up, and with a 16% career win rate in allowance company, this horse knows how to compete at this level. The 400-yard trip is ideal for a horse with his ratings profile, and we'd consider this among the best win bets of the day.

place5Brigid ThorntonML 5/1

Brigid Thornton rates at 61.46 and draws the 5/1 morning line tab under Luis A. Valenzuela for trainer Donna McArthur — a combination that shows up multiple times today. Her 7% career win rate in allowance sprints is modest, but she profiles as a closer who can benefit if the pace heats up between the higher-rated horses early. At 5/1, the place ticket offers genuine value in what could be a two-horse exotics race at the top.

show6Aj Golden CashML 4/1

Aj Golden Cash comes in at 59.55 on our ratings — just a shade behind Brigid Thornton — and draws the 4/1 tab for trainer Marco A. Flores and jockey Jose Enrique Ortiz. His 9% career win rate is comparable to the place pick, and with those two horses rated so closely, the show slot is genuinely competitive between them. He's your trifecta safety valve beneath the dominant top pick.

Race 8

3:00 AM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

A 12-horse allowance sprint at 350 yards where one horse towers above the field on our ratings — but a cluster of horses in the 52-62 range makes the bottom half of the trifecta genuinely competitive and worth spreading in exotics.

win5Prime Time EagleML 3/1

Prime Time Eagle posts an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — matching the top mark on today's full card — and comes in at a very fair 3/1 morning line under jockey Joseph Belloc Jr. for trainer James J. Gonzales II. A 16% career win rate in allowance competition is solid, and at 350 yards the race is over in a blink — horses with top-end raw ability tend to dominate at this distance. This is a confident best-bet selection and worth stepping up your unit size on.

place8Jet Black DreamML 9/2

Jet Black Dream rates second in the field at 61.28 and draws the 9/2 morning line tab for trainer Efrain Bueno with Christian Ramos aboard. A 6% career win rate is modest, but this horse's ratings profile in the context of the field gives him clear second-best status on our sheet, and the place price at 9/2 is workable. Include him on the top of exacta tickets and in any trifecta below Prime Time Eagle.

show6Wilson McML 7/2

Wilson Mc slots third on our TrackWiz sheet at 58.2 and draws a 7/2 morning line — that's the third-lowest price in the race for the third-ranked horse on ratings, which is about as tidy an alignment as you'll find. Trainer Gilberto Canales puts Edgar S. Martinez up, who is active throughout the afternoon card. He's your show anchor and trifecta key if you're building around the top two.

Race 9

3:25 AM EDT

Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

The finale goes 300 yards in a 12-horse claiming field with a dominant ratings leader at the top, but a legitimate cluster of horses in the 52-62 range creates real exacta and trifecta intrigue — the race shape at 300 yards rewards speed and gate precision above all else.

win9Eagle Dash CoronaML 3/1

Eagle Dash Corona is the horse of the race in the finale, topping our TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 — the highest mark on today's card shared by just a couple of standouts — while coming in at a fair 3/1 morning line under Jose Enrique Ortiz for trainer Ismael Villalobos. The 300-yard distance leaves zero room for error, and Eagle Dash Corona's ratings advantage is the kind you want heading into a sprint this short. We consider this one of our top win plays of the day.

place2Mr PapyML 9/2

Mr Papy draws in at 9/2 morning line odds with a 61.84 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and trainer Paul Sedillo puts Christian Ramos up for the mount. His 8% career win rate is modest, but at 300 yards the margins are razor-thin, and Mr Papy's ratings position him clearly as the second-best horse on paper. A place ticket here at probable 4/1 or better is solid value in what figures to be a fast-run finale.

show6First Watchful EyeML 6/1

First Watchful Eye brings the best career win percentage among the realistic contenders at 20% and posts a 59.58 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field — for trainer Alejandro Garcia with Cerapio Figueroa up at 6/1. That win rate is genuinely impressive in claiming company and suggests this is a horse who competes consistently when conditions suit. He's a natural trifecta anchor at a price that reflects his morning-line odds more than his actual form profile.

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Bottom line: today's Albuquerque card offers genuine value across the board, from Dannybob's 9/2 morning line in the opener to a stacked allowance trio that should produce some of the day's sharpest finishes. The free races give every reader a strong starting point, and subscribers can unlock the full-card analysis — pace scenarios, exotic plays, and all — over at TrackWiz Premium. Good luck out there, and may your gates break clean.

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