Daily Picks

Charles Town Picks & Predictions — June 27, 2026

Saturday, June 27, 20268 racesCharles Town

It's a soggy Saturday night at Charles Town, where the rain is falling and the temperatures are sitting around 76°F. That combination means a wet, potentially cuppy dirt surface — and at a tight, one-turn oval like CTW, track condition can flip a race on its head. Eight races are on tap, and our TrackWiz models have been busy.

The card leans heavily toward short-field sprint action, with six of eight races going 4½ furlongs or 6½ furlongs on the dirt. That's a pace-centric night — speed is king on this track under normal conditions, and a rain-affected surface often rewards horses that can get to the front early and hold on. Keep that in mind as you build your tickets.

We've got three free previews to get you started, with full premium breakdowns on the remaining five races behind them. Let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Snitch Dorada looks like a wire-to-wire type at 4/5 in this short 4.5-furlong dirt claimer, but the real intrigue is whether Cloudyncool — an 8-1 underdog in our analysis — can push the price and sneak into the exacta.

win6Snitch DoradaML 4/5

Snitch Dorada enters as the heavy chalk at 4/5 on the morning line, and our TrackWiz rating of 90 — tops in the field by a wide margin — backs that price up. She's posting an average speed figure of 57, which is comfortably the fastest in this field, and her 16% career win rate on a compact sprint distance like 4.5 furlongs is consistent. Jockey Moises Santaella keeps the ride, and in a short race where early position matters, her superior pure speed should be hard to reel in.

place5CloudyncoolML 10/1

Cloudyncool is the value angle in this race. Despite being listed at 10/1 on the morning line, our model rates her 63.08 — second in this field — and she carries a 16% career win percentage that matches the favorite. Trainer Adam King puts Denis Vicente Araujo up, a solid local combination, and if Snitch Dorada gets any interference or bobbles at the break, Cloudyncool has the profile to clean up on the board.

show1MitoleisdynamiteML 4/1

Mitoleisdynamite rounds out our suggested ticket at 4/1. Trained by Anthony Farrior — who also saddles runner-up pick Additional Factor — the 1-horse brings a TrackWiz rating of 54.42 and average speed figures of 53, in line with the mid-tier of this field. In a short sprint with a dominant favorite, the show slot often falls to a horse with consistent form and stable connections, and Mitoleisdynamite fits that profile.

Race 2

11:32 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Sweet N Tricky carries the top rating and the highest win percentage in a claiming sprint that also features two sneaky contenders in All Aboard and Lovely Odds — this card could produce a juicy exacta.

win1Sweet N TrickyML 9/5

Sweet N Tricky is our top selection here and it's not particularly close on the numbers. A 23% career win rate is the kind of consistency you love in a claimer, and her TrackWiz rating of 88.83 sits well clear of the field. The 9/5 morning line reflects public confidence, but our model sees her as legitimately deserving of that favoritism. Jockey Alexis Rios-Conde Jr. gets the call under trainer Elizabeth Meehan, and at 6.5 furlongs — a distance that rewards horses who can sustain early pace — her profile fits well.

place7All AboardML 8/1

All Aboard is our place pick and the most intriguing overlay on this ticket at 8/1. Trainer Adam King's runner carries a career win rate of 24% — the highest in the field — and our model rates him 79.79. He's drawn wide in the 7-hole, which can be tricky at Charles Town, but Denis Vicente Araujo is a savvy hand around this track and can navigate the trip. If he breaks cleanly and gets into a good flow, All Aboard can hit the board at a very attractive price.

show6Lovely OddsML 7/2

Lovely Odds brings a 21% career win percentage and a solid TrackWiz rating of 77.70 at 7/2 on the morning line. Trainer Timothy Shanley keeps Joe Stokes aboard, a reliable combination at this level. She gives the exacta and trifecta some structure at a manageable price — if Sweet N Tricky runs her race, Lovely Odds has enough back class to land in the exacta spot.

Race 3

12:02 AM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Trainer Javier Contreras saddles the top two in our ratings in this short dirt claimer, but Vissim's eye-popping 33% career win rate makes the exacta box between the top three very appealing.

win2Moon RoxML 3/1

Moon Rox earns our top pick with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 and an average speed figure of 52. Javier Contreras also trains Margarita Sunset, our show selection, so the barn clearly has live ammunition in this spot. Reshawn Latchman picks up the mount and at 3/1 on the morning line, there's still fair value here. The key for Moon Rox in a 4.5-furlong sprint is getting into position early — if she breaks cleanly, this looks like a wire-to-wire job.

place3VissimML 4/1

Vissim is the horse we want underneath at 4/1 with that 33% career win rate — by far the best strike rate in this field. Trainer David Walters sends him out with Jeiron Barbosa, who is one of the busiest and most effective jockeys at Charles Town. His TrackWiz rating of 84.20 is right there with Moon Rox, and frankly a case can be made he turns the tables. He's worth singling in some exotics.

show7Margarita SunsetML 5/1

Margarita Sunset rounds out our ticket at 5/1 for trainer Javier Contreras, giving him a one-two-three shot in this race if the stars align. Her 18% career win percentage is solid for this level, and even without an average speed figure on record, the stable form angle is real. In a three-horse race within the same barn, Contreras clearly likes his chances — Margarita Sunset at 5/1 is the kind of price that makes exotics worth building.

Our three free best bets tonight feature some real contrast in profile. Snitch Dorada opens the card as a heavy 4/5 morning-line favorite in Race 1 — when we're this confident, there's a reason, and her TrackWiz rating of 90 is the best mark on the entire card. Race 2 brings Sweet N Tricky into a 6½-furlong claiming test, where her 88.83 rating suggests she's a cut above this field at 9/5 on the morning line. Then Moon Rox checks in at 3/1 in Race 3, offering a bit more value while still earning an 87+ TrackWiz score — she's the kind of play you circle when you want upside without going too deep in the longshot pool.

With rain in the forecast and a wet track in play, watch for early speed horses that have shown they can handle off-going. If the surface plays muddy, front-runners who can control a comfortable pace could get away with big performances. All three of our free picks come from the sprint distances — the kind of races where a soft, energy-sapping track punishes closers the most.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:32 AM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Jlodiamond looks like the class of a wide-open 4.5-furlong claimer, but the pace scenario could set up nicely for a closer at big odds — Climate Change at 8/1 is the sneaky show contender to watch.

win5JlodiamondML 9/5

Jlodiamond tops our TrackWiz ratings at 88.83 and heads in as the 9/5 morning-line favorite. Trainer Ronney W. Brown puts Nomar Arroyo Bueno up, a capable combination at this level. The 15% career win rate is modest, but the model's confidence in this horse's current form is high. At 4.5 furlongs, early speed and gate sharpness matter most — if Jlodiamond fires from the gate, the rest of this field will need a perfect trip to catch her.

place6Juba B WildML 5/1

Juba B Wild at 5/1 is our place pick with a TrackWiz rating of 68.33 — a meaningful gap above the mid-pack horses in this field. Trainer Ronald G. Sigler sends him out with Gustavo Larrosa up, and his 14% career win rate suggests consistent competitiveness at this level. Without a published average speed figure, there's some uncertainty, but the rating and morning-line odds suggest he's a horse that can find a clean trip and land in the top two.

show1Climate ChangeML 8/1

Climate Change is the most intriguing show play on the card at 8/1. A 22% career win percentage is strong for a claiming horse, and she carries an average speed figure of 52 with a TrackWiz rating of 61.62. Trainer Sherry L. Jackson and jockey Walter Cullum team up from the 1-post — a position that can be advantageous in a sprint at Charles Town. If the pace gets hot up front, don't be surprised to see Climate Change running on late.

Race 5

1:02 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 7 fur · Dirt

This maiden special weight at 7 furlongs is a tricky puzzle — all nine horses are winless by definition, so form figures and speed numbers are doing the heavy lifting here.

win2Policy ChangeML 9/5

Policy Change earns our top rating at 82.11 and comes in as the 9/5 morning-line choice, so the public agrees with our model. Trainer Kevin J. Joy sends Victor Rodriguez up, and the horse has posted an average speed figure of 52. For a 7-furlong maiden, the ability to get comfortable settling in the early going and finish matters — Policy Change's rating gives us confidence she can handle the extra distance compared to the sprinters in this field.

place1Hard StanceML 5/1

Hard Stance is a fascinating piece on this ticket. His average speed figure of 55 is the highest in the entire field — a number that really stands out in a maiden race — and his TrackWiz rating of 76.88 lands him solidly in contention at 5/1. Trainer Anthony Farrior also saddles Charge It Baby, so the barn has two bites at this apple. Jeiron Barbosa rides, and if Hard Stance can translate those raw speed numbers into a clean run at seven furlongs, he's a serious threat to win outright.

show8Scar NoseML 9/2

Scar Nose is our show selection at 9/2 under trainer Timothy Shanley with Joe Stokes in the irons — a combo that fires regularly at Charles Town. His TrackWiz rating of 59.68 doesn't jump off the page, but in a wide-open maiden field where the top horses could fall short of expectations, Scar Nose has enough class to pick up a piece of the purse. At near-even money to show, he's a reasonable anchor for trifecta tickets.

Race 6

1:32 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A loaded 10-horse claiming field at 6.5 furlongs where three horses are bunched within four points of each other at the top of our ratings — this is a race where the pace scenario and post position could be decisive.

win2Preshow HypeML 9/2

Preshow Hype is our top pick at 9/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 84.90 — tops in this field. Trainer Ronney W. Brown has been active on tonight's card and puts Moises Santaella up, a rider who knows his way around Charles Town's turns. The 5% career win rate is low, but our model weights recent form and speed heavily, and those numbers point to a horse peaking right now. At 9/2, you're getting legitimate value on the top-rated horse.

place4Honey I'm BrokeML 7/2

Honey I'm Broke comes in at 7/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 82.30 and the best career win percentage among our top three selections at 14%. Trainer Sherry L. Jackson keeps Walter Cullum aboard, and from the 4-post this horse gets a clean look at the early pace. An average speed figure of 51 shows she's competitive at this level, and if Preshow Hype sets a fast pace, Honey I'm Broke has the profile of a horse that can close into the gap.

show7AmamaML 5/2

Amama is the show play at 5/2 on the morning line — a little short for a show selection, but the 80.92 TrackWiz rating and the 9% career win rate keep her in the mix. Trainer Jean L. Adorno sends her out from the 7-post with Sunday Diaz Jr. up, and the average speed figure of 52 matches the top horses in here. She's probably underlaid to win outright, but as an exacta and trifecta inclusion, she's hard to leave off the ticket.

Race 7

2:02 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Iceberg Slim steps into an Allowance Optional Claiming sprint with a 75% career win rate that makes him look like a different species from the rest of this field — the question is whether anything can get close enough to make the exotics interesting.

win1Iceberg SlimML 7/5

Iceberg Slim is one of those horses where you look at the number — a 75% career win rate — and you do a double take. That's not a typo. Backed by an average speed figure of 57 and a TrackWiz rating of 86.20, he's clearly the dominant force in this spot. Trainer Larry Rivelli sends Angel Cruz up, and at 7/5, the price won't make you rich, but this is a horse you build exotics around rather than against. In a 4.5-furlong sprint, that kind of class and speed usually takes care of business.

place2Hey BootsML 6/1

Hey Boots is an intriguing underneath play at 6/1 with a 40% career win rate — the second-best mark in the field by a healthy margin. Trainer Michael E. Jones Jr. puts Jeiron Barbosa up, arguably the busiest effective rider on tonight's card. Without a published average speed figure, there's some unknown, but that win percentage signals a horse who knows how to finish in front of rivals. At 6/1 to place, he's the best value ticket in this race.

show3Pork Chop PeteML 4/1

Pork Chop Pete rounds out the ticket at 4/1 with a 36% career win rate — yes, even the show pick in this race has elite win statistics by claiming standards. Trainer Javier Contreras has been sharp throughout tonight's card, and Arnaldo Bocachica gets the mount. The rating of 80.80 is just a tick below the top two, and in a race where Iceberg Slim may blow the doors off, there's a clean lane for Pete to sneak into the show spot at a workable price.

Race 8

2:32 AM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

An 11-horse claiming field to close out the card, and Talkin Pharoah dominates our ratings — but Pops Harper at 7/2 with strong connections is the horse we want to beat him with in exotics.

win11Talkin PharoahML 6/5

Talkin Pharoah enters as the morning-line favorite at 6/5 with a TrackWiz rating of 89.71 — the second-highest win selection rating on tonight's entire card. A 44% career win rate is exceptional at the claiming level, and trainer Michael E. Jones Jr. has J.D. Acosta up from program number 11. Jones has multiple horses on this card and clearly likes this one best — when a trainer puts his top jockey on a horse, that's a meaningful signal. This looks like the best bet of the final race.

place8Pops HarperML 7/2

Pops Harper is the horse we want underneath at 7/2. Trainer David Walters teams up with Jeiron Barbosa — one of the most in-demand riders at Charles Town tonight — and the TrackWiz rating of 78.17 puts him comfortably second in this field. His 13% career win rate is modest, but in a field this large, finding the board is the goal, and his ratings-to-odds gap makes him a strong exacta partner with Talkin Pharoah.

show2Nola BossML 3/1

Nola Boss fills out our show position at 3/1 with an average speed figure of 53 and a rating of 63.56. The Peltroche family connection — trainer Vanessa Peltroche and jockey Fredy Peltroche — is a barn that functions as a unit, and that kind of communication can be an edge. With 13 career wins and a competitive speed number, Nola Boss is a natural trifecta inclusion at a price that won't gut your payout.

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Bottom line: Charles Town tonight is a rain-soaked sprint fest with some real plays to make. Snitch Dorada is our highest-rated horse on the card and the one to beat early. Sweet N Tricky and Moon Rox round out a solid free-play trio. For the full eight-race breakdown — pace figures, exotic strategies, and our best longshot of the night — subscribers have everything they need waiting at TrackWiz Premium. Good luck out there, and watch that rail.

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