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Charles Town Picks & Predictions — June 18, 2026

June 18, 20268 racesAll Charles Town picks

This card ran on June 18, 2026.

Best bets at Charles Town, June 18, 2026

Race 17Stolen SecretsML 9/27:00 PM EDT

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 6 races are for members.

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Last 30 days at Charles Town: our top pick won 22 of 64 races (34%) and finished in the money in 47.

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Charles Town is rolling out an eight-race all-dirt card this Thursday evening under partly cloudy skies and a warm 83°F — solid conditions for a fast-playing strip. No weather excuses tonight; it's all about the horses.

The card leans heavily toward the claiming and allowance ranks, which is par for the course at CTW. What makes tonight interesting is the range of distances — from the short 4½-furlong sprints in Races 1, 6, and 8 to the slightly longer 7-furlong routes in Races 3 and 5. Pace scenarios are going to shift dramatically from race to race, so don't just autopilot your tickets.

Three races are fully open to all TrackWiz readers. The other five are reserved for subscribers — and on a card with this much claiming mischief and a few live longshots lurking in the allowance fields, those premium breakdowns are where the real money is made.

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Race 1

7:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Trainer Ronney W. Brown holds a stranglehold on this short 4.5-furlong dirt claimer, saddling the top two rated horses in the field — but his two runners could split support and create exotic value underneath.

win7Stolen SecretsML 9/2

Stolen Secrets (#7) carries the race's top TrackWiz rating at 84.9 and comes in at a very workable 9/2 on the morning line — solid value given the numbers. Trainer Ronney W. Brown is also behind Preshow Hype in this spot, but Stolen Secrets gets the nod with a career win rate of 11% and Nomar Arroyo Bueno in the irons, a jockey who knows how to navigate the tight 4.5-furlong sprint. The rating edge over the rest of the field is significant, and at this price, it's a pick worth centering your exotics around.

place6Preshow HypeML EVN

Preshow Hype (#6) is the morning-line favorite at even money and carries a TrackWiz rating of 84.2 — essentially a dead heat with stablemate Stolen Secrets at the top of the form book. Moises Santaella takes the mount, and the even-money price reflects genuine speed in this field. If Stolen Secrets and Preshow Hype set each other up in a pace duel, one of them figures to still be there at the wire, making Preshow Hype an excellent place ticket anchor.

show3Remy's Top GunML 4/1

Remy's Top Gun (#3) gives the rest of the field a real chance to make the board at 4/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 59.72 — well clear of the remaining horses. A career win rate of 14% is the strongest among the non-Brown runners, and Alexis Rios-Conde Jr. is a capable pilot for this spot. At 4/1, there's enough value to include Remy's Top Gun in the show slot of exactas and trifectas as your safety net against an upset.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

7:30 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Juba's Notion is a heavy favorite in this Starter Optional Claiming sprint, but the secondary tier is surprisingly bunched — Hurricane Alert, C R's Mandate, and Rocket Appeal are all within a few rating points of each other, which makes the exotics interesting.

win7Juba's NotionML 3/5

Juba's Notion (#7) opens at 3/5 and the data backs up the short price — a TrackWiz rating of 81.82, a 24% career win rate, and an average speed figure of 53 that tops the field. Trainer Vanessa Peltroche has this horse in a spot where the class looks manageable, and Maximo Chilo is a reliable handler. The favorite tag is justified; the key question is just whether the price offers enough to single on a ticket versus spreading.

place4Hurricane AlertML 6/1

Hurricane Alert (#4) is the one to target underneath at 6/1 morning line. Trainer Ronney W. Brown has been active all card, and this horse boasts a 25% career win rate — best among the non-favorite contenders. A TrackWiz rating of 78.11 and an average speed of 52 both check out for a 6.5-furlong dirt sprint, and Nomar Arroyo Bueno keeps the mount. At 6/1, Hurricane Alert is exactly the type of value play you want in your exacta underneath the chalk.

show6C R's MandateML 5/1

C R's Mandate (#6) rounds out the top three with a TrackWiz rating of 78.03 — essentially tied with Hurricane Alert — and a 16% career win rate at 5/1. Walter Cullum gets the assignment for trainer Sherry L. Jackson, and the average speed figure of 52 fits the distance well. In a race where the favorite likely gobbles up the win, C R's Mandate looks like a sneaky trifecta piece at a price that should hold reasonable shape.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Tonight's three free races give you a nice cross-section of the card. We open in Race 1 with Stolen Secrets (9/2 morning line, TrackWiz rating 84.9) in a 4½-furlong claiming sprint — a horse we like at a price that should offer genuine value at the windows. Race 2 stretches things out to 6½ furlongs for a Starter Optional Claiming affair, where Juba's Notion (3/5) comes in as the heavy chalk — a short price, but our 81.82 rating backs the public's confidence. Round out the free tier with Race 3 and Entitled Defense (9/5, 88.83 rating), our highest-rated pick among the free selections and one worth building tickets around.

The thread connecting these three? All are dirt sprints or mid-distance races on a surface that should be playing honest tonight. Early pace figures to be at a premium in the shorter sprints, so watch for horses with clean gate speed or a stalking trip that sets up a strong late kick into the Charles Town stretch.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

7:57 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

Entitled Defense enters as a short-priced favorite with standout numbers, but Rare Ruby and Collecting Angels give this seven-furlong claimer enough depth to keep the exotics lively.

win5Entitled DefenseML 9/5

Entitled Defense (#5) is the class of this race by just about every measure — a TrackWiz rating of 88.83, a jaw-dropping 42% career win rate, and trainer Ronney W. Brown's familiar hand in the paddock. At 9/5, the price isn't generous, but those underlying numbers make it hard to argue against. Nomar Arroyo Bueno stays aboard, and the 7-furlong distance on dirt suits horses with a strong sustained pace — exactly the profile Entitled Defense projects.

place4Rare RubyML 7/2

Rare Ruby (#4) makes a compelling case to fill the place slot at 7/2. A 25% career win rate is second-best in the field, and the TrackWiz rating of 83.04 sits comfortably above the rest of the pack outside the top two. Trainer Timothy Shanley puts Joe Stokes in the saddle, a solid pairing for a horse who could find the front or stalk from just off the pace over this seven-furlong trip.

show1Collecting AngelsML 5/1

Collecting Angels (#1) breaks from the rail with a 20% career win rate and a TrackWiz rating of 74.69 — the third-best mark in the field. The average speed figure of 52 is in line with the competitive range here, and Jose Y. Diaz will be looking to get a good early position. At 5/1, this is a nice show-horse inclusion in trifecta plays if you're looking to round out a ticket without backing off the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 4

8:25 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

An allowance affair where the morning-line favorite Bella Italia gets a serious challenge from Princess Blame — this looks like a two-horse show at the top with the rest of the field playing supporting roles.

win7Princess BlameML 4/1

Princess Blame (#7) leads our analysis despite going off at 4/1 — a full two points higher than the favorite — because the TrackWiz rating of 85.62 actually shades Bella Italia's 81.8. Trainer Ronney W. Brown appears again with Moises Santaella aboard, a combination that's been profitable all card. A 20% career win rate at the allowance level speaks to consistency, and the 4/1 morning line makes this the value play of the top contenders in Race 4.

place1Bella ItaliaML 9/5

Bella Italia (#1) commands respect with the field's best career win rate at a remarkable 50% — half of her career starts have resulted in victories, which is eye-popping for any horse at any level. Trainer Brittany T. Russell sends out Arnaldo Bocachica, and the average speed figure of 53 is among the best in the field. Even if Princess Blame outperforms the morning line, Bella Italia's raw win rate and 9/5 favoritism suggest she'll be in the mix at the wire.

show3Wynsome CatML 7/2

Wynsome Cat (#3) offers a reasonable third option at 7/2, posting the race's third-best TrackWiz rating at 65.96. Justin M. Lewis takes the mount for trainer Stacey R. Viands, and a 6.5-furlong dirt allowance fits the profile. The career win rate of 11% is modest, but in a race where the top two figure to fight it out, Wynsome Cat's ability to slot in quietly and run her race makes her a sensible show inclusion in exotic wagers.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

8:53 PM EDT

Allowance · 7 fur · Dirt

Coronation Time tops the TrackWiz ratings but faces a legitimate challenge from White Series and the morning-line favorite Burlsworth — this nine-horse allowance at 7 furlongs has real depth and a pace scenario worth digging into.

win1Coronation TimeML 5/1

Coronation Time (#1) carries a TrackWiz rating of 84.17 — best in the field — and gets trainer Ronney W. Brown yet again, this time pairing with Nomar Arroyo Bueno. The 5/1 morning line is genuinely attractive given those numbers; the market seems to be leaning toward Burlsworth, which could mean some overlay value on the #1. An 18% career win rate is steady rather than spectacular, but the rating edge over a nine-horse field is meaningful at seven furlongs.

place3White SeriesML 4/1

White Series (#3) rates second overall at 80.95 and owns an average speed figure of 53 — a tick above the baseline for this field. Trainer Phillip Capuano sends out Reshawn Latchman, and the 4/1 morning line represents fair value for a horse with legitimate form. The seven-furlong distance tends to reward horses with a blend of early foot and stamina, and White Series's speed figures suggest she can stay the course.

show8BurlsworthML 2/1

Burlsworth (#8) is the public's choice at 2/1 and brings the field's top average speed figure at 55 — that's a meaningful edge in raw ability. Trainer Kevin J. Joy saddles Victor Rodriguez, and a 20% career win rate is solid. Our analysis prefers Coronation Time at the top, but Burlsworth's pure speed makes him extremely difficult to leave off the ticket entirely — he figures to be dangerous in the stretch and is the safest show play in the race.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 6

9:21 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Coal Country stands out as a legitimate class horse in this 4.5-furlong allowance optional claimer, but Last Gift's elite win rate and Julita's 6/1 price give the exotics real intrigue.

win3Coal CountryML 3/1

Coal Country (#3) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 — a sizable margin over the next group — and posts a 29% career win rate that speaks to consistent class. Trainer Tyler S. Shanley keeps Joe Stokes in the irons, an in-barn booking that signals confidence. At 3/1, the price is fair for a horse with this profile, and 4.5 furlongs on dirt plays to early speed types who can gun for the front from the gate.

place4JulitaML 6/1

Julita (#4) merits a place slot at 6/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 72.95 and a 23% career win rate that compares favorably to most of this field. Gerald Almodovar rides for trainer Ruben D. Reyes, and an average speed figure of 51 fits the short-field sprint distance. The price is generous enough that Julita enhances the exacta value significantly if Coal Country runs to her rating.

show6JlodiamondML 9/2

Jlodiamond (#6) rounds out the top three for trainer Ronney W. Brown, who continues to have multiple live horses across the card. A TrackWiz rating of 71.88 and a 9/2 morning line put this one squarely in the exotics conversation, with Moises Santaella in the saddle — one of the more consistent riders on the Charles Town circuit today. The 15% career win rate is modest, but the combination of trainer form and rating support makes Jlodiamond a reasonable show anchor.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 7

9:49 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A fascinating allowance where the morning-line favorite At a Premium carries a perfect 100% career win rate but a TrackWiz rating that trails three other horses — this is not a race to blindly follow the chalk.

win8Grand IntentionsML 5/1

Grand Intentions (#8) leads our picks at 5/1 with the race's top TrackWiz rating at 83.68 and a 13% career win rate across what figures to be a deeper career sample. Trainer Timothy C. Grams puts Larry C. Reynolds aboard, and an average speed figure of 53 is right in the mix for 6.5 furlongs on dirt. The fact that the market has Grand Intentions at 5/1 while rating the horse first in our model creates the kind of overlay that serious bettors look for — this is our best value play of the race.

place3God's PrideML 6/1

God's Pride (#3) makes a strong case with a TrackWiz rating of 82.71 and a 50% career win rate — though the sample size behind that figure matters. Trainer Timothy M. Collins sends Joe Stokes out at 6/1, and an average speed figure of 52 is workable. This horse projects as a closer or mid-pack stalker who could run down tiring leaders in the stretch — a natural complement if Grand Intentions gets caught in traffic or breaks slow.

show6Our MemoriesML 6/1

Our Memories (#6) adds depth at 6/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 74.22 and a 13% career win rate under trainer Timothy C. Grams — the same barn as Grand Intentions. Warren Ebow III takes the mount, and an average speed figure of 53 matches the top contenders. The Grams stable having two horses in the top group here is worth noting; in-barn competition can sometimes mean one horse sets a fast pace that sets up the other, making Our Memories worth including in third-slot exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 8

10:17 PM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Ruby Bay and Whatarewedoing look far above the rest of this short 4.5-furlong dirt claimer on paper, setting up a potential two-horse showdown — the question is whether the public-choice Whatarewedoing can overcome the TrackWiz edge held by Ruby Bay.

win6Ruby BayML 5/1

Ruby Bay (#6) carries the race's highest TrackWiz rating at 84.17 while going off at 5/1 morning line — a meaningful price advantage over the 6/5 Whatarewedoing. Trainer Tyler S. Shanley assigns Moises Santaella, a top-tier booking that signals the barn means business. A 16% career win rate is workable for a claiming horse at this level, and the rating gap over the field's third-best horse is significant enough to make Ruby Bay the clear top selection in our model.

place3WhatarewedoingML 6/5

Whatarewedoing (#3) is the public's favorite at 6/5 for a reason — a TrackWiz rating of 80.66 and an average speed figure of 57, which is the best in the entire race by a comfortable margin. Trainer Anthony Farrior sends Jeiron Barbosa out at a price that suggests a horse who can get to the front early and dare the field to catch her over 4.5 furlongs. Even with Ruby Bay rated higher overall, the raw speed figure here is hard to ignore, making Whatarewedoing a near-lock for the place slot.

show4Chelsea's DreamML 6/1

Chelsea's Dream (#4) offers show value at 6/1 with a 20% career win rate — solid for a claimer — and trainer Timothy Shanley returning to the win column after Race 3's Rare Ruby. Joe Stokes is back aboard, a comfortable pairing that should get Chelsea's Dream into a good position early. While the average speed data is absent for this one, the career win percentage and price make her worth a spot in trifecta plays behind the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

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Eight races, warm weather, fast dirt, and a handful of live prices scattered across the card — Charles Town is serving up a solid Thursday night. Start with Stolen Secrets, Juba's Notion, and Entitled Defense in the free races, and let TrackWiz Premium handle the rest. Full analysis, pace projections, and exotic tickets are waiting for you at /pricing. Good luck out there — and as always, bet smart.

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