Unlock the other 5 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

Canterbury Park Picks & Predictions — August 20, 2026

August 20, 20268 racesAll Canterbury Park picks

Canterbury Park is serving up a varied 8-race card this Thursday afternoon under partly cloudy skies with temperatures sitting at a comfortable 81°F. Conditions look favorable across both surfaces — the dirt should be fast and the turf firm enough to reward horses that can settle and kick, which makes pace reading especially important today.

The headline action comes early, with three consecutive quarter-horse sprints kicking off the card — a Maiden, a Futurity, and a Derby — before the Thoroughbred routes take over on the turf and dirt. It's a genuinely fun mix of disciplines that rewards bettors who can shift gears between the lightning-quick world of quarter-horse racing and the more tactical turf mile game.

Three races are fully open to all TrackWiz readers. The remaining five are part of our premium breakdown — and with a pair of 8/1 morning-line value plays flagged in that group, today's card has some real upside for exotic players willing to dig in.

Best Bets

Race 1

10:10 PM EDT

Maiden · 300 yd · Dirt

A wide-open maiden sprint over 300 yards where TrackWiz ratings reveal a sharp top-end separation — one horse stands out significantly, but the middle of the pack is bunched enough to make exotics tricky.

win5Iza B SlickML 5/2

Iza B Slick (5) tops our TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 — a full 23 points clear of the second-ranked horse in the field, which is a substantial gap in a maiden sprint this short. Trainer Victor Hanson saddles this one alongside stablemate Yep Yep, suggesting a confident barn sending out their best arrow here. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price is fair for a horse this dominant in our model, and the 300-yard format rewards horses who break cleanly and show raw ability — exactly what the ratings project.

place4Pure RelentlessML 5/1

Pure Relentless (4) checks in second among the Jason L. Olmstead entries with a rating of 64.93, and Olmstead has three horses in this race, giving his barn multiple bullets. The 5/1 morning line offers a touch of value for a horse our model grades well above the lower half of the field, and in a short sprint where chaos is common, getting a well-rated horse to place is a smart exotic anchor.

show8Yep YepML 4/1

Yep Yep (8) rates 55.00 under jockey Kelsi Harr for trainer Victor Hanson, making this the second Hanson runner in the field. Hanson clearly has a strong book in this race, and Yep Yep's 4/1 morning line gives you a decent price on a horse sitting in the middle-upper tier of ratings. In short-field quarter-horse sprints, having a second barn runner to show in trifectas is a legitimate hedging strategy.

Race 2

10:38 PM EDT

Futurity · 350 yd · Dirt

The Futurity at 350 yards is loaded with Jason L. Olmstead stock — he saddles six of ten runners — but a pair of horses with 50% career win rates rise to the top and make this a tighter battle than the morning line suggests.

win5Sheza a Sugar MommaML 5/2

Sheza a Sugar Momma (5) carries a 50% career win rate and a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 — matching the highest mark we've seen in the first two races. Jockey Ryder Olmstead gets the call here, which is notable given the trainer-jockey family connection and the fact that six horses share the same barn; when Olmstead puts his main rider on a horse, that tells you something about the barn's confidence. The 5/2 morning line is reasonable, and this filly's win percentage is the strongest trust signal in the field.

place4Livin D DreamML 6/1

Livin D Dream (4) also posts a 20% career win rate and a solid 78.71 rating — third-best in the field behind only the top two picks. Trainer Jason L. Olmstead runs a big barn today and jockey Jose Alonzo Lopez takes this one, which suggests it's firmly in the second tier of Olmstead's pecking order. At 6/1, there's real value here if the morning line holds, making this an excellent exotic piece to pair with the top selection.

show6Why So PoliticalML 2/1

Why So Political (6) owns a 33% career win rate and rates 69.21 — that combination of consistent winning and a solid model grade makes this horse a dependable show contender. The 2/1 morning line is short for a show pick, but in a 10-horse field with multiple Olmstead runners splitting the pool, the actual board price may drift. Gonzalo R. Valles Jr. handles the mount for Olmstead, keeping this one firmly in the barn's orbit.

Race 3

11:06 PM EDT

Derby · 400 yd · Dirt

The Derby at 400 yards features a legitimate standout at the top with a razor-thin gap between the second and third choices — pace and gate break will matter enormously over this distance.

win3Uncle RedheadsML 2/1

Uncle Redheads (3) is the class of this field by nearly every measure — an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and a 50% career win rate are elite credentials for a quarter-horse Derby. Armando Alvidrez, one of the busiest and most productive jockeys on this card, gets the mount for Jason L. Olmstead, and that trainer-jockey combo is firing on all cylinders throughout today's program. The 2/1 morning line makes this a short-priced favorite, but the data backs the chalk hard here — a half-win rate is nearly unheard of in a field this competitive.

place9Wf Tuff as DiamondsML 7/2

Wf Tuff as Diamonds (9) rates 73.54 with a 16% career win rate, and while the win percentage looks modest, the rating gap between this horse and the rest of the non-Uncle Redheads field is comfortable. Trainer Haley N. Hobbs sends this one out with Angel O. Ramirez in the irons, and at 7/2, there's a fair return on a horse our model grades clearly second-best. In a Derby where one horse is dominant, backing the best of the rest to hit the board is a sensible approach.

show6Ding Dang DulceML 3/1

Ding Dang Dulce (6) brings a 46% career win rate — second only to Uncle Redheads in this field — and a 72.48 rating that sits right alongside the place pick. Fernando Fonseca-Soto rides for trainer Haley N. Hobbs, giving Hobbs two solid representatives in this race. The 3/1 price in the show position makes Ding Dang Dulce a natural trifecta leg, especially given how reliably this horse has hit the board based on career history.

Our three free races cover the opening quarter-horse sprint trilogy, and TrackWiz analysis likes what it sees across the board. Uncle Redheads is the marquee name — posted our highest rating among the free picks at 88.54 and draws in at 2/1 in the 400-yard Derby, the longest of the three sprint distances. That extra forty yards matters, and our numbers suggest he's the right horse for it. Iza B Slick (Race 1) and Sheza a Sugar Momma (Race 2) both share an 87.81 rating and identical 5/2 morning lines, making the opener and the Futurity genuinely competitive — which is exactly where sharp bettors can find an edge if the pools move in their favor.

One angle worth noting across all three sprints: in quarter-horse racing, gate speed and early reaction time are everything. With a dry, fast-playing dirt surface expected today, any horse that's shown clean gate efficiency in past lines deserves a bump in your confidence level. Keep that in mind as you build your tickets.

Send me tomorrow's free Canterbury Park card before post time.

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

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

11:36 PM EDT

Allowance · 7 1/2 fur · Turf

Shifting to the turf for a 7.5-furlong allowance, this is a genuine value race where the top TrackWiz-rated horse opens at 8/1 — the morning line favorite doesn't match the analytics, setting up a potential overlay situation.

win3I'll Make BankML 8/1

I'll Make Bank (3) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 79.79 despite opening at 8/1 on the morning line — that's a significant gap between price and model grade, and it's exactly the kind of overlay we look for. Trainer Patrick Fields sends this one out with Kelsi Harr in the irons, and the horse posts an average speed figure of 52 in turf routes, which aligns well with this 7.5-furlong trip. A 7% career win rate may look modest, but in an allowance field where the chalk has a 5% win rate, raw percentages don't tell the whole story — the model rating is the differentiator here.

place1RynotograceML 9/2

Rynotograce (1) rates 69.38 for trainer Bruce L. Riecken, who also runs Ramblingamblinman in this race — and when a barn doubles up, the horse with the higher rating is usually the stable's top hope. Jockey Sachin Parris gets the call on Rynotograce, and an average speed figure of 51 on turf gives this horse a solid baseline. The 9/2 morning line is fair value for a place bet, especially as the second-rated horse in the field.

show7It's MilesML 8/1

It's Miles (7) posts the highest average speed figure in the race at 54, which stands out in a field where most runners cluster around 51-53. Trainer Joel Berndt hands the reins to Constantino Roman, and at 8/1, there's real show value in a horse that has been running faster than the field on average. The 63.03 TrackWiz rating puts this one comfortably in the middle tier but the speed number is a legitimate differentiator worth playing in exotics.

Race 5

12:06 AM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A one-mile turf claimer with a clear top choice whose rating dominates the field, but a well-priced second option at short odds makes this a chalk-heavy race where the value might sit in the exacta rather than the win pool.

win2WhatsyourobjectiveML 5/2

Whatsyourobjective (2) is the standout in this field — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and a 22% career win rate are comfortably the best numbers in this claiming company. Manuel Americano picks up the mount for trainer Joel Berndt, and the horse's average speed figure of 53 fits the pace profile of a one-mile turf route perfectly. At 5/2, this isn't a value bomb, but the combination of dominant model grade and a strong win percentage makes this as confident a play as you'll find in a claimer.

place5Ky Do DeclareML 9/5

Ky Do Declare (5) is the morning-line favorite at 9/5 with a 73.96 rating and a 6% career win rate — the price says one thing, but a 6% win rate in a field where our top pick posts 22% suggests the morning line may be overweighting something our model isn't seeing. Trainer Tony Rengstorf keeps this one competitive, and Eduardo Gallardo is a capable pilot, but at 9/5, the place position is actually the most sensible way to use this horse — you're not giving up much by taking the safety.

show4Latin ForceML 9/2

Latin Force (4) rates 66.9 with an average speed figure of 54 — the second-highest in the field — and trainer Nik G. Goodwin sends this one out with Fausto Henrique Da Silva. A 5% career win rate is light, but the speed figure tells a story of a horse who runs fast enough to be competitive at this level. At 9/2, Latin Force is a legitimate exotics piece, especially in a race where the top two picks may shorten significantly at post time.

Race 6

12:36 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

An allowance optional claiming mile on turf with a genuine value angle at the top — the highest-rated horse opens at 8/1, suggesting the market is underestimating a horse our model likes significantly.

win5Gottotry MischiefML 8/1

Gottotry Mischief (5) rates 79.79 — tops in this field — yet opens at 8/1 on the morning line, making this one of the more glaring overlays on today's card. Trainer Nancy Sheehan puts Manuel Americano up, one of the more active jockeys on the program, and the horse's 20% career win rate is right in line with the other competitive runners here. An average speed figure of 53 fits the one-mile turf distance, and when our model's top grade comes with a high morning-line price, that's a value play worth pressing.

place1Everything Bugs MeML 9/2

Everything Bugs Me (1) checks in at 74.38 with an 18% career win rate — both the second-best rating and a solid win percentage in this field. Jermaine V. Bridgmohan gets the mount for trainer Jose Silva Jr., and an average speed figure of 54 is the highest in the race, suggesting this horse has the tactical speed to sit in a good position through a one-mile trip. The 9/2 price for a place bet on the second-highest-rated runner is fair value.

show8Morgs WorldML 5/1

Morgs World (8) rates 74.23 — nearly identical to Everything Bugs Me — with an average speed figure of 54 as well, giving trainer Nik G. Goodwin a horse that profiles as a legitimate threat to hit the board. The 5% career win rate is the one blemish, but in a race where several runners are bunched in the mid-60s to mid-70s range, a horse rated that high doesn't need to win to be a profitable exotic inclusion. Betty Jo Williams takes the mount, and at 5/1, Morgs World is worth slotting into trifectas and superfectas.

Race 7

1:06 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A compact five-horse maiden special weight at six furlongs on dirt, with the top two horses separated by less than two points in our model — this shapes up as a genuine two-horse battle at the top, with a clear gap to the rest.

win3Shances RML 2/1

Shances R (3) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 with an average speed figure of 54 — both the highest grade and the fastest raw number in this field. Kelsi Harr gets the mount for trainer Coty W. Rosin, and the 2/1 morning line reflects the market's awareness of this horse's ability. In a five-horse maiden field, that speed figure advantage is meaningful — this horse has shown the ability to run faster than any rival in the race.

place4Mor Tiger PawML 8/5

Mor Tiger Paw (4) rates 86.72 — barely a point and a half behind Shances R — and is actually the morning-line favorite at 8/5, which tells you the track oddsmaker likes this horse slightly more than our model does. Trainer Troy A. Bethke puts his daughter Olivia Bethke in the irons, a combination that suggests real confidence in this runner. With an average speed figure of 53, the gap to Shances R is narrow, and this horse is a strong play to fill the exacta.

show2Tangos MischiefML 3/1

Tangos Mischief (2) rates 56.67 with an average speed figure of 51 for trainer Troy A. Bethke — yes, the same barn as Mor Tiger Paw, which means Bethke sends two horses into this five-horse field. Manuel Americano takes this mount, and while the rating drop from the top two is noticeable, in a five-horse maiden race the show position can be very affordable. At 3/1, Tangos Mischief is the clear best of the remaining three and worth including in trifectas as the show leg.

Race 8

1:36 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The nightcap is a six-furlong dirt claimer headlined by a dominant favorite whose rating dwarfs the field — but a pair of value horses at solid prices make the exacta and trifecta worth constructing carefully.

win1Mr FabricatorML 9/5

Mr Fabricator (1) is the class of the race on every metric — an 88.83 TrackWiz rating, a 24% career win rate, and an average speed figure of 54 all point to a horse operating at a higher level than these rivals. Manuel Americano gets the call for trainer Jose Silva Jr., who doubles up with Secret Potion in the same race but clearly reserves his top jock for the main shot. The 9/5 morning line is short, but a 24% career win rate in claiming company is legitimately strong — this is a confident top selection.

place2Laws of ManML 5/1

Laws of Man (2) rates 59.78 with a 17% career win rate and an average speed figure of 54 — matching Mr Fabricator on the speed number, which is encouraging at this distance. Trainer Ronald L. Westermann sends this one out with Constantino Roman, and the 5/1 morning line offers solid value for a horse that has won nearly one in five starts. If Mr Fabricator has any trouble early in a six-furlong sprint, Laws of Man is positioned to be right there at the top of the stretch.

show4Pass LineML 5/2

Pass Line (4) rates 57.58 with a 16% career win rate and the highest average speed figure in the field at 55, which stands out even against Mr Fabricator's 54. Trainer Stacey Rushton gives the mount to Leslie Mawing, and while the TrackWiz rating sits in the middle of the pack, that speed figure suggests this horse can motor on the front end and make life interesting. At 5/2 on the morning line, this might be the most attractively priced show bet on the card for an exacta/trifecta builder.

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: Uncle Redheads is the horse to beat in the free-to-view Derby, and the quarter-horse sprint card opens the day with genuine competitive intrigue. On the premium side, a pair of double-digit longshot angles on the turf make this a card worth a closer look. Full pace analysis, exotic breakdowns, and our complete 8-race card are waiting for TrackWiz subscribers — see you at the windows.

← All Canterbury Park picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 8 races free