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Canterbury Park Picks & Predictions — May 23, 2026

May 23, 20267 racesAll Canterbury Park picks

This card ran on May 23, 2026.

Best bets at Canterbury Park, May 23, 2026

Race 13Raven's QuestML 9/56:10 PM EDT

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Happy Saturday from Canterbury Park, where a crisp 68-degree afternoon under partly cloudy skies sets the stage for a full 7-race card. Conditions are about as good as you'll find in Minnesota in late May — comfortable temps, no rain in the picture, and what figures to be a consistent, fair surface both on the main track and the turf course.

Today's card runs the gamut: a pair of maiden sprints to kick things off, a couple of turf routes in the middle of the card, and a maiden claiming closer to wrap it up. There's plenty to dig into whether you're betting the first race or grinding the whole card. Three races are open to everyone, and we've got four premium races behind the paywall for subscribers who want the full picture.

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Race 1

6:10 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A clear class standout tops this Starter Optional Claiming sprint, but there's enough form to make the exotics interesting — the pace could set up nicely for closers.

win3Raven's QuestML 9/5

Raven's Quest is the horse to beat in this six-furlong dirt opener, and it's not particularly close. Our TrackWiz rating of 88.83 towers over the field, and a 22% career win rate is genuinely elite for this company. Alonso Quinonez gets the call, and he's a reliable partner in short sprints like this. At 9/5 on the morning line, the price won't be generous, but this is the kind of dominant profile that justifies being the chalk.

place5SoundtrackML 9/2

Soundtrack at 9/2 represents a sneaky value in the exacta. Trainer Nik G. Goodwin puts out a horse with a 76.84 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and an average speed figure of 55 that shows she can compete at this level. Betty Jo Williams in the irons adds a steady hand, and if Raven's Quest draws heat on the front end, Soundtrack could be stalking and ready to pounce for the runner-up spot.

show1Bella MendyML 6/1

Bella Mendy offers nice show value at 6/1 and gives trainer Goodwin a two-horse entry to root for in the bottom of the ticket. She shares a 15% career win rate with stablemate Soundtrack, and her 56.51 rating is third in this field. Manuel Americano picks up the mount, and the rail draw (No. 1) could help her get a clean trip if the pace opens up in the stretch.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

6:40 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

Wide-open maiden special weight on the dirt, with a morning-line longshot carrying a TrackWiz rating that blows the field away — fade the chalk and follow the numbers.

win6Heavenly CaptiveML 5/2

Heavenly Captive is the standout here despite a 5/2 morning line that doesn't look scary — her 87.81 TrackWiz rating is by far the highest in this maiden field. Trainer McLean Robertson conditions her well, and Manuel Americano is a savvy pick-up for what figures to be a front-running or stalking effort over six furlongs of dirt. In a race full of first-time starters with minimal data, leaning on the horse with the strongest analytical profile makes a lot of sense.

place1Add to CartML 4/1

Add to Cart gives us a small speed figure edge with a 52 average and a 59.72 TrackWiz rating that puts him second in the field. Alonso Quinonez is one of the sharper riders on the Canterbury circuit, and trainer Bruce L. Riecken's horse shows enough prior work to be live at 4/1. If Heavenly Captive gets challenged early, Add to Cart could be sitting in a perfect stalking spot to grab the place.

show2Instant LoveML 7/2

Instant Love rounds out the ticket at 7/2 under Jose Riquelme, trained by McLean Robertson — the same barn that saddles our top pick, giving them a strong two-pronged attack. A 55.83 rating is respectable in this field, and in a maiden race where things can get chaotic, having Robertson's second runner in the show slot is a logical hedge for exacta and trifecta players.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Our free coverage kicks off with Raven's Quest in Race 1 — a Starter Optional Claiming sprint going 6 furlongs on the dirt. At 9/5 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 88.83, this one shapes up as the strongest top-pick confidence score among the free races, and the 6-furlong distance on a fair dirt track is exactly the kind of setup where we love to anchor a card. Stick around for Races 2 and 3 as well — both are Maiden Special Weight events, and our top picks Heavenly Captive (5/2 ML) and The Other One (5/1 ML) offer a nice contrast between a morning-line favorite and a legitimate overlay worth watching in early wagering.

One thing to keep an eye on across the free races: the dirt looks to be in solid shape under these conditions, which typically favors horses that can sustain pace rather than those who need a hot pace to fall apart in front of them. All three of our free picks profile well in that kind of scenario.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

7:10 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The morning-line favorite draws our skepticism here — The Other One carries a massive rating edge and offers real overlay value at 5/1 in a wide-open maiden sprint.

win3The Other OneML 5/1

The Other One is one of those situations where the TrackWiz number (84.17) and the morning line (5/1) tell completely different stories — and we're siding with the number. Betty Jo Williams rides for the Nik G. Goodwin barn, which has been sending out live horses all card long. An average speed figure of 56 is the top mark in this field alongside Stillwater Falls, and The Other One's overall profile projects as the most complete runner going 5½ furlongs on the dirt. Don't let the odds fool you — this horse deserves to be favored.

place7Music LeaderML 3/1

Music Leader at 3/1 is the morning-line second choice, and Eduardo Gallardo is a trustworthy rider who should have this horse in a prime spot stalking the pace. Trainer Coty W. Rosin has solid form at Canterbury, and while Music Leader lacks an average speed figure on record suggesting limited prior starts, the 56.67 rating is strong enough to suggest this horse projects well off workouts or initial tries. A pace collapse scenario sets Music Leader up perfectly for the place.

show5Ye Ole JokerML 9/5

Ye Ole Joker is the 9/5 favorite, and while we think the odds undervalue The Other One, the favorite's 54.22 rating and 54 average speed figure can't be dismissed entirely. Jose Riquelme has a solid book of mounts today and McLean Robertson trains him — the same barn that's shown plenty of life on the card. Using Ye Ole Joker underneath in trifectas makes sense even if we're fading him on top.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 4

7:40 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A turf mile claiming affair where two horses separate themselves from the field on the numbers, setting up a likely head-to-head battle in the stretch — the pace scenario should be honest and could favor the closers.

win3Commissioner OscarML 3/1

Commissioner Oscar is our top pick at 3/1, and the case is compelling: a 87.08 TrackWiz rating leads all horses in this turf mile, and a 28% career win rate is exceptional — nearly one in three starts ends in a win. Alonso Quinonez aboard should get him positioned beautifully in what figures to be a moderate pace setup on the turf. Trainer Joel Berndt has this horse in a spot where the conditions align, and that career win percentage tells you this horse knows how to finish.

place6Hot Legs RomoloML 8/5

Hot Legs Romolo is the morning-line favorite at 8/5 for a reason — a 84.08 TrackWiz rating is second only to our top pick. Manuel Americano pilots for trainer Jose Silva, Jr., and a 55 average speed figure is the highest in the field. The fact that we're placing him second rather than first is more about the value of Commissioner Oscar's price than any knock on this horse — he's live for the win too, and if the pace favors a front-runner, he might turn the tables.

show4StradivarianML 5/2

Stradivarian at 5/2 has the third-best rating in the field (68.42) and gives trainer Jose Silva, Jr. a second bite of the apple — same barn as Hot Legs Romolo. Fausto Henrique Da Silva takes the mount, and a 16% career win rate with a 54 average speed figure suggests a horse who consistently shows up without always closing the deal. He's a natural fit in the trifecta slot, especially in a turf race where traffic and pace can scramble the order at the top of the stretch.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

8:10 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A loaded allowance optional claiming mile on the dirt with three horses rated in the 77-plus range — this one figures to be genuinely competitive deep into the stretch.

win2Mr in PersonalML 5/1

Mr in Personal is our top pick at 5/1 despite being off the morning-line chalk, and the 83.57 TrackWiz rating backs up the selection. Trainer Tim P. Padilla puts Alonso Quinonez in the irons — a booking that signals confidence — and a 55 average speed figure shows this horse can motor over a flat mile of dirt. A 14% career win rate is modest, but in this competitive allowance spot, consistency and raw ability matter more, and Mr in Personal projects as the most balanced runner going a mile.

place4Pacific StandardML 6/1

Pacific Standard at 6/1 is a horse we really like in the exotics, and the 82.71 TrackWiz rating nearly matches our top pick. Betty Jo Williams rides for trainer Nik G. Goodwin, who continues to fire live runners throughout this card. A 55 average speed figure ties for tops in the field, and while a 7% career win rate suggests he runs close more often than he wins, that's exactly the profile you want in the place spot.

show5Sir ExtonML 4/1

Sir Exton at 4/1 is the third piece of what could be a very profitable trifecta. A 77.65 TrackWiz rating is third-best in the field, and trainer Robert N. Cline puts Kelsi Harr aboard — an underrated booking that shouldn't be overlooked. A 54 average speed figure and 13% career win rate give Sir Exton enough upside to threaten the top two while projecting him as an excellent show-bet and trifecta anchor.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 6

8:40 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 1/2 fur · Turf

On the turf at 7½ furlongs, the top-rated horse is sitting at 5/1 on the morning line — a potential overlay in a field where no single horse has a stranglehold on the pace.

win8Dutton Street GirlML 5/1

Dutton Street Girl is our play at 5/1, carrying an 84.17 TrackWiz rating that is the clear top number in this eight-horse turf field. Manuel Americano picks up the mount for trainer Jose Silva, Jr., who also saddles a legitimate win contender today in Race 4 — the barn is clearly live at Canterbury. An 11% career win rate with a 53 average speed figure on a course that rewards tactical runners sets Dutton Street Girl up well, and at morning-line odds of 5/1, this looks like a legitimate value play.

place7Northern AngelML 5/2

Northern Angel is the 5/2 morning-line second choice, and the 70.39 TrackWiz rating and 23% career win rate make her a deserving price leader. Luis A. Fuentes rides for trainer Coty W. Rosin, and that 23% win percentage is the best in the field — this is a horse who gets to the winner's circle regularly. If anything goes sideways with our top pick, Northern Angel has every reason to be collecting a place check.

show1Morgs WorldML 9/2

Morgs World at 9/2 is an interesting show play coming out of the Nik G. Goodwin barn with Betty Jo Williams in the saddle — a combination that has shown up all afternoon. The 68.93 TrackWiz rating puts her third in this group, and while a 5% career win rate is low, that profile often translates to horses who hang around the top of the field and hit the board consistently. In a wide-open turf sprint like this, she's a solid trifecta inclusion.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 7

9:10 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint on the dirt where two horses separate cleanly from the pack on the numbers — and a double-digit longshot lurking in the show spot offers genuine trifecta value.

win4Lemon SohnML 2/1

Lemon Sohn is the horse of this race, full stop. An 88.54 TrackWiz rating — the highest of any horse on today's card in a contested field — combined with a 2/1 morning line makes him the right favorite in this seven-furlong maiden claimer. Eduardo Gallardo rides for trainer Coty W. Rosin, and despite an average speed figure of 52 that's modest, Lemon Sohn's overall profile projects as a horse ready to break through at this level. Back him with confidence.

place3Road RulesML 3/1

Road Rules at 3/1 is a legitimate threat to Lemon Sohn and carries an 82.83 TrackWiz rating that would top most maiden fields on its own. Manuel Americano rides for trainer Bennie L. Woolley, Jr. — interesting that Woolley also trains Smile Smile Smile in this race, giving the barn a two-pronged approach. A 54 average speed figure gives Road Rules a clear edge over most rivals, and if Lemon Sohn meets any trouble, Road Rules is primed to capitalize.

show2Grandpa's AceML 10/1

Grandpa's Ace at 10/1 is our show value play in what could be a profitable trifecta. A 48.90 TrackWiz rating lands third in this field once you sort out the contenders from the pretenders, and Alonso Quinonez's presence aboard for trainer Tim P. Padilla is an encouraging rider booking at a double-digit price. In a seven-furlong dirt route for maiden claimers, pace can get wild early and leave room for a stalker like Grandpa's Ace to sneak into the frame at a big number.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

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Bottom line: this is a well-rounded Saturday card with real opportunities from Race 1 all the way to the nightcap. Raven's Quest is our top free play, Lemon Sohn is the premium headliner, and the turf races in the middle of the card offer the best exotic leverage on the board. Full card analysis — pace projections, ticket breakdowns, and all seven races — is available to TrackWiz subscribers. Good luck out there, and as always, bet smart.

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