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Charles Town Picks & Predictions — June 26, 2026

June 26, 20269 racesAll Charles Town picks

This card ran on June 26, 2026.

Best bets at Charles Town, June 26, 2026

Race 17ToodleswasmynameML 5/27:00 PM EDT

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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 putting up a full 9-race Friday card under cloudy skies with temperatures sitting at a comfortable 80°F. No rain in the picture means we should see a consistent dirt surface all day — and at a track where surface conditions can swing results dramatically, that stability is something you can actually build a betting strategy around.

The card is loaded with dirt sprints, most coming in at seven furlongs — Charles Town's bread and butter. We've got a mix of Claiming races, a pair of Maiden Special Weights, and two Allowance-level spots that figure to draw some of the sharper horses on the grounds. Nine races, plenty of angles, and TrackWiz analysis on every single one.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

The morning line favorite isn't the top-rated horse here — Toodleswasmyname carries the highest TrackWiz rating in this 7-furlong claimer and looks poised to outrun her 5/2 price.

win7ToodleswasmynameML 5/2

Toodleswasmyname tops our ratings at 87.81, a meaningful gap over the rest of this field in what shapes up as a manageable claiming spot. Trainer Ronney W. Brown has the horse live with jockey Denis Vicente Araujo in the irons, and that 5/2 morning line may actually represent value given how clearly she stands above the competition on paper. With a 19% career win rate and the top speed figure in the field, she checks the boxes as our best bet in Race 1.

place1Mexicali MikeML 2/1

Mexicali Mike is the morning line choice at 2/1 under Jahnxander Raspaldo for trainer Jeff C. Runco, and his 77.47 rating makes him a legitimate threat to hit the board. His 21% career win percentage is the best among horses with meaningful starts in this field, suggesting he fires consistently. He's the logical spot to include in exactas underneath Toodleswasmyname.

show6Market WatchML 9/5

Market Watch opens as the second betting choice at 9/5 with J.D. Acosta up for trainer Anthony Farrior, and while the 60.03 rating trails the top two, this horse is wired into the market for a reason. A 14% career win rate is modest, but Acosta is one of the more active riders at Charles Town and can be counted on for a sharp trip. Worth including in trifecta coverage as a hedge.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

7:32 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden special weight sprint for younger runners with no career wins in the field — and the two biggest overlay plays by our ratings are sitting at 10/1 and 15/1, making this a prime exotic opportunity.

win6Gallant CreekML 10/1

Gallant Creek opens at 10/1 on the morning line but carries the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 75.47 — a significant gap over the 9/5 favorite. Trained by Kelly Lynn Deiter and piloted by Sunday Diaz Jr., this horse also shows the highest average speed figure among horses with established figures at 54. In a maiden race where the crowd will likely gravitate to shorter prices, this is a prime spot to take a stand with a legitimately top-rated runner at overlay odds.

place1Mille ParoleML 15/1

Mille Parole is another overlay worth noting — morning line 15/1 with a 69.58 TrackWiz rating that ranks second in the field. Trained by Joseph Pyke and breaking from the rail with Jose Y. Diaz, she has a solid speed figure of 51 to show for her efforts. If Gallant Creek draws significant action, Mille Parole could drift even further and become excellent place value in exactas.

show3Hobson's ChoiceML 9/5

Hobson's Choice is the 9/5 morning line choice for trainer Jeff C. Runco, one of Charles Town's most respected conditioners, and that connections angle alone justifies inclusion. The 58.67 rating is third-best in the field, and Runco regularly puts first-timers or lightly-raced maidens in strong positions right away. A solid show candidate even without a published speed figure to lean on.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Three races are unlocked for all readers today, and they make for a solid starting point. Toodleswasmyname opens the card in Race 1 — a 7-furlong Claiming sprint where our top rating of 87.81 makes this horse the highest-rated free pick of the day, a number that commands attention at a morning line of 5/2. Race 2 flips the script entirely: Gallant Creek goes to post at 10/1 in a 4½-furlong Maiden Special Weight, and that's the kind of price that gets our attention when the underlying data supports it. Don't fade the price just because the distance is short — sprinting maidens can be volatile, and value like that doesn't come around often. Slanderous rounds out the free trio in Race 3, another 7-furlong Claimer where the 9/2 morning line suggests a fair amount of public skepticism — skepticism our rating of 84.90 suggests may be misplaced.

The common thread through all three free races? Distance consistency. Seven furlongs suits the Charles Town configuration, and on a stable, dry dirt surface, horses with clean pace profiles and solid back numbers at this trip are exactly what you want to be on. Toodleswasmyname and Slanderous both fit that profile.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

8:02 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

Slanderous sits near mid-card in the program but leads all comers in the ratings column, and at 9/2 morning line in a seven-furlong claiming race, there's a compelling case she's being underestimated.

win6SlanderousML 9/2

Slanderous tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.90 in Race 3, a strong edge in a competitive claiming field. Trainer Kevin J. Joy teams with Nomar Arroyo Bueno, and the 18% career win percentage from post 6 gives her a clean trip profile on the outside. At 9/2 on the morning line, she offers genuine value for a horse who rates out as the clear class of this spot.

place1ItzayanaML 7/2

Itzayana comes in with a 75.23 rating and a 21% career win percentage, the best among the non-top-rated runners in this field. Trained by Manolo Mangual and ridden by the sharp J.D. Acosta, she'll be hard to overlook at 7/2 as a horse who wins at a solid clip and figures to be close throughout the seven furlongs. A natural exacta pairing with Slanderous.

show5Corri FeliceML 6/1

Corri Felice has a 67.54 rating and comes in at a generous 6/1 morning line, making her an appealing trifecta inclusion. Trainer Busanda C. Armstrong sends her out with Reshawn Latchman, and a 15% career win rate says she hits the board often enough to merit coverage in the exotics. She may not be the flashiest option but fits well as a show hedge.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 4

8:32 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A starter optional claiming race at 6½ furlongs where the two Ronney W. Brown trainees dominate the ratings — this looks like a barn-deep affair with a clear top choice and a quality stablemate lurking underneath.

win1MasterworkML 3/1

Masterwork leads all horses with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and opens at 3/1 in a spot where trainer Ronney W. Brown has two strong runners. Jockey Moises Santaella gets the call here, and Masterwork's average speed figure of 53 matches up well for this 6½-furlong distance on dirt. With a 17% career win rate, he wins his share, and the rating edge over this field is significant enough to make him our top selection.

place7Wiley WillardML 7/2

Wiley Willard is the stablemate of Masterwork, also trained by Ronney W. Brown, and rates out second in the field at 68.65. His 30% career win percentage is the best in this entire field by a wide margin, which speaks to the consistency Brown has been able to get from this horse. Nomar Arroyo Bueno up is a quality rider, and at 7/2, Wiley Willard is a strong place play and exacta partner.

show5Heaven StreetML 2/1

Heaven Street is the second choice on the morning line at 2/1 with a 59.03 rating and Arnaldo Bocachica in the irons for Timothy C. Kreiser. The 26% career win rate ranks second in this field and shows a horse who genuinely competes, while the top speed figure of 54 is the best in the race. Even as a show selection, the 2/1 price may compress this horse's value a bit, but board presence seems likely.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

9:02 PM EDT

Allowance · 7 fur · Dirt

A seven-furlong allowance race where three horses are separated by just a razor-thin gap at the top of the ratings — this is a pace battle between closers, and the subtle edge may go to post position and trip.

win7LangleyswaterfallML 5/2

Langleyswaterfall tops the field at 85.98 on TrackWiz ratings and opens at a fair 5/2 morning line under Denis Vicente Araujo for trainer Christopher M. Keller. The 5% career win rate may look modest, but the rating says this horse has the ability — and in an allowance spot where class and form consistency matter more than win percentage, that figure carries weight. This is a horse that rates out above even the morning line choice and could go overlooked in the betting.

place3AmendmentML 5/1

Amendment sits just behind at 84.17 with a 5/1 morning line, a number that looks generous given how close the top of this field is. Trained by Kevin J. Joy — one of Charles Town's most active conditioners — and ridden by Victor Rodriguez, Amendment's 5% win rate mirrors Langleyswaterfall's but the proximity in ratings makes this a logical secondary play. Strong candidate for the place in exactas.

show6Forever HustlinML 9/2

Forever Hustlin checks in at 79.84 and offers legitimate third-place value at 9/2 with Arnaldo Bocachica, one of the meet's premier riders. A 10% career win rate in allowance company isn't flashy, but trainer Angelo G. Jackson has this horse positioned competitively against a beatable field. Worth including as show insurance given the tight ratings cluster at the top.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 6

9:32 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

The race card's most intriguing matchup pits two horses — Emirates Honor and Bless America — separated by barely one point in the ratings, with the morning line slightly inverting what our numbers suggest.

win7Emirates HonorML 5/2

Emirates Honor rates highest in the field at 87.81 and opens at 5/2 for trainer Lela G. Hanagan, ridden by Sunday Diaz Jr. The 18% career win percentage is solid, and a 52 average speed figure fits the seven-furlong distance. Our numbers have this horse edging out the morning line favorite, and the 5/2 price represents fair value for what looks like the best horse in the race.

place5Bless AmericaML 2/1

Bless America is the public's top choice at 2/1 and it's easy to see why — an 86.23 TrackWiz rating, a top-in-the-field average speed figure of 54, and J.D. Acosta in the irons for Anthony Farrior. The 12% career win rate slightly tempers enthusiasm, but this horse's raw speed numbers are impressive, and trainer Farrior runs well at this level. A logical place selection and the key exacta partner with Emirates Honor.

show1WorkislifeML 9/2

Workislife opens at 9/2 with an 82.01 rating — third best in this field — for trainer Tyler S. Shanley with Joe Stokes riding. The 16% career win rate keeps this horse in the picture, and a double-digit morning line price for a horse with this rating says there's value in the show spot. A strong trifecta anchor given the competitive gap between the top three horses.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 7

10:02 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 7 fur · Dirt

Nine maiden runners go postward at seven furlongs with zero career wins among the entire field — the pace figures to be honest, and TrackWiz sees three horses bunched tightly at the top with the public ignoring at least two of them.

win5Miss Nine One OML 3/1

Miss Nine One O leads our ratings at 80.52 and opens at a fair 3/1 morning line — the sweet spot where she's neither overbet nor overlooked. Trainer James Dean Locklear sends her out with Nomar Arroyo Bueno, and her 52 average speed figure ties several rivals but the overall rating edge is real. In a maiden field this deep, having the top number while going off at a fair price makes her the clearest selection on the card.

place2LookingforahandoutML 8/1

Lookingforahandout is a genuine value play at 8/1 morning line, yet her 79.79 rating is just a sliver below the top pick — the gap between first and second in our ratings is essentially negligible here. Trainer Michael E. Jones Jr. gives the mount to J.D. Acosta, who regularly navigates maiden fields with precision at Charles Town. At 8/1, this horse is a must-use in exactas and is being underpriced by the morning line.

show1Saichi's GirlML 5/1

Saichi's Girl rounds out our top three at 71.51 and goes off at 5/1 for trainer M. Joanna Boggs with Christian Hiraldo aboard. The 52 average speed figure matches the leaders, and from the inside post, she figures to get a clean trip near the pace. She's the kind of consistent-profile maiden that fills out trifecta tickets reliably.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 8

10:32 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

A fascinating allowance optional claiming spot where the morning line odds are almost directly inverted from our ratings — the shortest-priced horse in the field is NOT our top pick, and there could be significant value in this race.

win5Drink This CupML 5/2

Drink This Cup tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 and opens at 5/2 — a price that offers genuine value against the heavily-backed High Paf. Trained by Michael Stidham, a conditioner who regularly ships in live horses, and ridden by Julio A. Hernandez, this horse shows a 25% career win percentage and a 54 average speed figure that matches the best in the field. Our model sees this as the most complete runner in the race, and the odds should be enticing for bettors willing to go against the chalk.

place4High PafML 3/5

High Paf is the morning line favorite at 3/5 with a massive 75% career win percentage — the kind of number that explains why the public will bet this horse heavily. The 81.81 TrackWiz rating trails Drink This Cup but still represents a strong number, and trainer Brittany T. Russell clearly has this horse in fine form. Even at short odds, the place position is virtually locked up given the win consistency.

show6Professor GraceML 12/1

Professor Grace is the value play at 12/1 morning line with a 60.85 rating for trainer Michael Sandoval. A 21% career win rate and a 53 average speed figure show a horse with legitimate ability who is simply being overlooked in a race dominated by two high-profile runners. Maximo Chilo gets the mount, and if either of the top two underperforms, Professor Grace is positioned to grab a piece at a price that makes trifecta tickets very appealing.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 9

11:02 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

The finale is a nine-horse claiming affair where our top-rated horse opens at a fair 5/2 price, but the most compelling story might be the double-digit overlay lurking in the middle of the order.

win1OlegML 5/2

Oleg leads all nine runners with a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 and goes as the 5/2 morning line choice for trainer Anthony Farrior with J.D. Acosta up — a jockey-trainer combination that shows up well together at Charles Town. The 18% career win rate is respectable, and a 53 average speed figure is solid for this seven-furlong dirt claiming race. Farrior keeps horses sharp, Acosta knows how to rate a horse in the early going, and the combination of top rating and fair price makes Oleg the clear best bet to close out the card.

place5MotskariML 10/1

Motskari is our value play in the place spot at 10/1 morning line, holding a 64.50 TrackWiz rating that ranks second in the field by a clear margin. Trainer Carlos Montilla sends out this horse with Nomar Arroyo Bueno, and the 9% career win rate in a claiming spot suggests the horse has faced tougher competition than what's assembled here. At a price that could drift even higher given the field size, Motskari is an excellent place bet and a compelling exacta addition.

show4Jester's SongML 6/1

Jester's Song opens at 6/1 for trainer Sherry L. Jackson with Walter Cullum in the irons, bringing a 55.71 rating and a 13% career win rate to the table. The 52 average speed figure is par for the field, and from post 4, Cullum can find a comfortable spot just off the pace. In a nine-horse field where the trifecta pool can get meaty, Jester's Song is worth including as a show option.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

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Friday at Charles Town looks like a grinder's card — consistent surface, sprint-heavy distances, and enough competitive depth to make every race matter. Toodleswasmyname in Race 1 is the day's marquee free play, Gallant Creek at 10/1 in Race 2 is the longshot angle worth a look, and the back half of the card has multiple high-rated contenders for subscribers to work with. Get the full 9-race breakdown, pace projections, and exotic strategies with a TrackWiz Premium membership. Good luck out there — and as always, bet smart.

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