Charles Town Picks & Predictions — August 1, 2026

Blameitonmyroots (program #4) comes in as the other short-priced runner at 7/5 with a solid 79.52 rating and a 9% career win rate that's on par with the field. Sunday Diaz Jr. handles the riding duties, and trainer Javier Contreras consistently puts runners on the board in claiming company at this level. If King Uni gets beat, this is the most likely beneficiary — and vice versa, making them the natural exacta combination.

Mr. Mahomes (program #3) is the longshot value angle in the show position at 8/1, carrying a 49.19 rating and a 7% career win rate. Jahnxander Raspaldo pilots for trainer Cynthia E. McKee, and at a price, he offers exotic coverage if the top two run each other into the ground. In a short 4.5-furlong sprint, unexpected pace scenarios can shake up outcomes, making a sprinkle on Mr. Mahomes a reasonable hedge.

Armucess (program #5) is closely rated at 55.83 and shares the same trainer — Shane Meyers — as morning-line longshot Aintnofearoverhere, suggesting the barn has multiple arrows in the quiver. Arnaldo Bocachica is one of the stronger riders on this card, and at 7/2, the place payoff on Armucess could be surprisingly generous given how tight this field is at the top.

Love You Lucy (program #1) rounds out our top three with a 55.0 rating and a 4/1 morning line — essentially a coin flip with several others near the top. Trainer Jeffrey D. Allen has the rail post working in a short sprint where early position often matters, and Jahnxander Raspaldo is comfortable around this oval. In a race this bunched, three-horse exotic plays that include the rail make sense.

Celtic Pride (program #6) is actually the morning-line favorite at 9/5 with an 18% career win rate and the best average speed figure in the race at 55 — making her a legitimate threat to take the win herself. Fredy Peltroche is an active rider at Charles Town, and trainer Angel M. Rodriguez keeps this one sharp. If you're looking for a horse that might outrun our win pick, Celtic Pride is the one — she's a necessary inclusion in all exotics.

Oleg (program #3) is the sneaky value angle at 12/1 on the morning line despite carrying a 73.96 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field. A 16% career win rate matches Nola Boss and Celtic Pride on that metric, and trainer Tyler S. Shanley has put up a rating here that doesn't match the price. At a tote board number of 12/1, the show overlay on Oleg is real, and he's a strong candidate to land in the trifecta.

Contra Costa (program #2) is the 7/5 morning-line chalk for trainer Jeff C. Runco — one of the sharper conditioners on the card today — and Jahnxander Raspaldo is a strong booking. The 59.33 rating lags behind our top pick by a meaningful margin, but Runco's ability to have maiden runners ready on debut is well-documented. At short odds, Contra Costa is a likely board-hitter and a natural pairing with Arrayaofgrace in exactas.

Aspen's Angel (program #1) represents the Ronney W. Brown barn, which is firing on multiple cylinders on this card. Nomar Arroyo Bueno gets the mount, and a 57.5 rating puts this filly squarely in the mix despite a 5/2 morning line. In a maiden debut sprint with limited speed figures across the board, the rail post and a connected barn can cover a lot of ground — she's a solid show ticket.

Teachintherelease (program #8) is the 4/5 morning-line chalk with a 44% career win rate — the most accomplished runner in the field on that measure — and Carlos Eduardo Lopez is a big-race booking. The 73.7 rating is solid but trails Runaldo by over 10 points, which is meaningful. If you're structuring exactas, Runaldo on top of Teachintherelease is the play — but the favorite can certainly win, and at 4/5, the place payoff still figures to be modest.

Jubawithatwist (program #6) is one of the most compelling horses on the entire card — a 55% career win rate is the highest of anyone we've seen tonight, and trainer Kristy Petty has this horse at a 9/2 morning line that feels workable. Antonio Lopez gets the call, and a 73.48 rating puts this one right in the mix with the favorite. The win rate alone suggests a live runner who has been competitive at a high clip throughout its career.

Theycallhimgoldie (program #7) is our value play in the place position at 12/1 morning line with a solid 72.51 rating — good for third-best in the field. A 20% career win rate says this horse is used to competing and finishing, and Reshawn Latchman is a capable pick-up rider. In a ten-horse race with multiple contenders, the trifecta and exacta payoffs on a 12/1 shot hitting the board could be substantial.

My Max (program #2) checks in with a 63.81 TrackWiz rating and a 12% career win rate, drawing a 10/1 morning line that makes him an overlay candidate for show purposes. Gustavo Larrosa rides for Cynthia E. McKee, who also has Beau Dutton (program #5) in the race — a barn sending two can sometimes mean one is the primary target, so watching the tote for clues is smart. My Max's rating profile says he can hit the board in this spot.