Daily Picks

Charles Town Picks & Predictions — August 6, 2026

Thursday, August 6, 20269 racesCharles Town

Charles Town is rolling out a nine-race Thursday card on August 6, and the conditions are about as good as late summer gets in the West Virginia hills — partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 81°F should keep the dirt surface consistent throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The card is a classic Charles Town mix: short sprints, a pair of maiden special weights, and a couple of allowance optional claiming spots that tend to draw some of the sharpest horses on the grounds. There's enough variety here to keep both sprint lovers and route players busy all day.

Three races are available free to all TrackWiz readers, giving you a solid sample of what our ratings are flagging today. The first four and a half furlongs go to Spatula in Race 1, Scar Nose takes on the maiden route in Race 2, and Itzayana is our top call in the seven-furlong claiming test in Race 3.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A short 4.5-furlong dirt claimer where the TrackWiz model separates the top horse by a wide margin, but two legitimate pace threats could make the early fractions honest and set up a contested stretch run.

win1SpatulaML 8/5

Spatula lands on top of our model with an 89.12 rating — a significant gap over the rest of this field — and draws the rail in a sprint where breaking cleanly is everything. Trainer Tyler Shanley also saddles Elite Miss, so the barn has a strong read on this race and clearly came to play. With Jose Y. Diaz in the irons and the morning line set at 8/5, the market respects this one. The combination of top TrackWiz rating and an engaged trainer barn makes Spatula our confident win pick despite the short price.

place5Weather BeaterML 7/5

Weather Beater brings the most impressive career win percentage in the field at 25%, which stands out in a claiming sprint like this. Posted at 7/5 on the morning line, this one could go off as the public choice, and a 75.95 TrackWiz rating backs up the faith. The average speed figure of 53 is solid for this level, and Warren Ebow III gets a live mount.

show4Elite MissML 4/1

Elite Miss at 4/1 offers some sneaky value as the second Shanley runner — trainers who double-enter often do so with a genuine second shot, not just a rabbit. A 67.91 rating and a 9% career win rate are respectable at this level, and an average speed figure of 52 keeps her competitive in the mix. Abnel J. Bocachica is a capable hand here, and she fits naturally as a trifecta anchor.

Race 2

11:32 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

An MSW route on dirt full of maiden runners with zero career wins, which puts the emphasis squarely on speed figures and model ratings — and one horse checks both boxes in a big way.

win2Scar NoseML 3/1

Scar Nose earns an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — the highest in the field by a comfortable margin — and goes at a very fair 3/1 morning line for a maiden route. Trainer Timothy Shanley and jockey Moises Santaella team up, a combination that knows how to position a route horse. With an average speed figure of 52 in a field where most runners are clustered in that range, Scar Nose's rating separation is what sets this horse apart.

place1Joel's BoyML 4/1

Joel's Boy checks in at 4/1 on the morning line with a 61.66 rating — second best in the field — and an average speed figure of 53 that actually tops Scar Nose's. That speed number suggests there's a stamina and pace component here that favors Joel's Boy going long at 1 1/16 miles. Denis Vicente Araujo gets the mount, and this horse could easily hit the board if the favorite gets into any trouble.

show3Call Me a TaxiML 8/5

Call Me a Taxi is the public's top choice at 8/5 morning line, which means the crowd likes this one even if our model has it third at a 59.0 rating. Trainer Phillip Capuano is a name worth noting, and with Carlos Eduardo Lopez aboard, the team has the tools. Using this one underneath in exactas and trifectas makes sense given the public support — you'll likely need it somewhere.

Race 3

12:02 AM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

This 7-furlong dirt claimer features a tight cluster of legitimate speed figures at the top, with the pace scenario likely to be competitive and the outcome hinging on who gets the best trip around the turn.

win1ItzayanaML 7/2

Itzayana tops our TrackWiz model at 86.35 despite going at a generous 7/2 morning line, which suggests the handicapper sees more here than the oddsmaker. A 19% career win rate is solid for the claiming ranks, and an average speed figure of 53 keeps this filly right in contention. Trainer Manolo Mangual and jockey Angel Cruz form a familiar local combination, and at slightly over market value, Itzayana is our clear top selection.

place3Here's a QuarterML 5/2

Here's a Quarter shows the highest career win percentage in this race at 28%, which is a meaningful figure for a claimer going seven furlongs. A 75.14 TrackWiz rating and a 5/2 morning line position this horse as the likely second choice, and Moises Santaella has shown a strong book of rides on this card. The win rate alone signals a horse that knows how to finish, making this a confident place play.

show5City TaahML 3/1

City Taah sits at 3/1 on the morning line with a 73.77 rating and a 22% career win percentage — essentially on par with the place pick in terms of raw ability. Trainer Jeff C. Runco is a well-known name at Charles Town and keeps horses sharp, and Jahnxander Raspaldo gets the mount. At 3/1, City Taah has enough upside to win outright, but we're comfortable slotting this one in the show spot for exotics coverage.

Our three free plays today cover a nice range of class levels and distances. Spatula (Race 1, 8/5 ML) tops our ratings at 89.12 in a short claiming sprint — the kind of horse that can control pace on a tight oval like Charles Town and dare the field to catch her. In Race 2, Scar Nose (3/1 ML) earns an 87.08 rating in a maiden special weight route, a distance where pace setup can matter more than raw talent. And in Race 3, Itzayana (7/2 ML, 86.35 rating) represents solid value against a claiming field going seven furlongs.

One angle worth tracking across the free races: the 4½-furlong trips at Charles Town have historically rewarded horses that can get to the lead early — the track's tight configuration makes it tough to close from far back in these short sprints. Keep that in mind when you're watching Spatula break from the gate in Race 1.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:32 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint over 4.5 furlongs where one horse owns a massive model advantage and figures to be tested early by a field of first-out and lightly raced types — this race is the favorite's to lose.

win5S S Island FunML 7/5

S S Island Fun carries an elite 89.42 TrackWiz rating — highest on the card tonight through the first four races — and goes to post at just 7/5 as the morning line favorite in a maiden claimer. Trainer Ronney W. Brown and jockey Nomar Arroyo Bueno team up, a barn-rider combination that gets the most out of short-priced favorites. The rating gap here is simply too large to fade at this distance.

place3New York LightsML 8/1

New York Lights offers genuine overlay value at 8/1 morning line despite posting a 61.58 TrackWiz rating — second in the field. Trainer Marshall T. Campbell has a horse worth watching, and Jose Y. Diaz takes the mount. That morning line feels a bit wide for the second-best figure in the race, which is exactly the kind of discrepancy that makes for a solid place bet at value odds.

show8Princess FortressML 4/1

Princess Fortress at 4/1 with a 56.95 rating and Warren Ebow III aboard gives this horse a fighting chance for the show spot in a wide-open bottom half of the field. Kevin Boykins trains this filly, and an average speed figure of 52 puts her in the competitive range. She's the type of mare who might get passed by the top two but holds on for third in a field this thin on proven talent.

Race 5

1:02 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 7 fur · Dirt

Trainer Ronney W. Brown saddles two horses in this MSW route, and one of them has a commanding model rating that makes this look like a one-horse race on paper — though maiden races always carry a wildcard element.

win3Saint Paddy's DayML 6/5

Saint Paddy's Day checks in at 89.71 on the TrackWiz model — the single highest rating across all nine races today — and sits at a short 6/5 morning line, suggesting the market has fully caught on. Moises Santaella rides for the Brown barn, and with an average speed figure of 53, the underlying speed numbers back the model's conviction. Yes, the price is short, but when a horse is this dominant on ratings in a maiden field, you respect it.

place6You Name HimML 7/2

You Name Him goes at 7/2 on the morning line with a 55.83 rating and draws the 6-hole, which is a workable post in a seven-furlong sprint. Trainer John C. Carlisle sends this one out with Jahnxander Raspaldo, a jockey who's had a solid day of work on this card. With most of the field at similar speed numbers, You Name Him has the profile of a closer who might benefit if the pace gets hot early.

show1Golden Boss ManML 5/1

Golden Boss Man is the stablemate of the heavy favorite — both running for trainer Ronney W. Brown — and while a 53.33 rating puts this horse well below Saint Paddy's Day, the barn angle is worth noting. Nomar Arroyo Bueno takes the call, and an average speed figure of 51 is honest for a maiden at this level. Brown fields two sharp horses here, and Golden Boss Man could easily be third best on the day.

Race 6

1:32 AM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

A nine-horse claiming route that features one clear standout by the model numbers, but several mid-tier horses are bunched closely enough to keep the exotics wide open.

win5Hurricane AlertML 3/1

Hurricane Alert tops the TrackWiz model at 87.08 and combines that with an impressive 26% career win rate — one of the higher marks in today's field across all races. At 3/1 on the morning line, this is a horse that offers both model backing and real-world results. Trainer Ronney W. Brown has been sending out live horses all card, and Nomar Arroyo Bueno once again gets the call. This is a confident top selection in what otherwise looks like a muddling claimer.

place6Defiant GiantML 9/2

Defiant Giant sits second in our model at 64.48 with a 20% career win rate and goes at 9/2 — a fair price for a horse with legitimate class in this spot. Trainer Timothy Shanley and jockey Moises Santaella are a sharp combination who've shown up multiple times today, suggesting both have live mounts. Defiant Giant figures to be near the pace and could be a dangerous place horse if Hurricane Alert gets challenged hard.

show9RidiculousML 10/1

Ridiculous is an interesting show play at 10/1 morning line with a 55.32 rating and a 16% career win rate — respectable numbers for a horse going off at double-digits. Fredy Peltroche rides for trainer Vanessa Peltroche, a family combination that often signals a tight-knit operation with a good read on the horse's condition. In a nine-horse field with pace potentially heating up, a closer like Ridiculous could sneak into the trifecta.

Race 7

2:02 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

The allowance optional claiming field at 6.5 furlongs presents a genuine upset scenario — the morning-line favorite trails two higher-rated horses by a wide margin, making this one of the more intriguing betting races on the card.

win4Pork Chop PeteML 4/1

Pork Chop Pete carries an 85.21 TrackWiz rating and a standout 34% career win rate — the second-highest win percentage in tonight's full nine-race card. Going at 4/1 on the morning line in an AOC where the public might gravitate toward the even-money Ozone, there's genuine overlay potential here. Trainer Javier Contreras saddles a horse that clearly knows how to win, and Arnaldo Bocachica gets the call. The combination of top-tier rating and elite win percentage makes this our confident win pick.

place8I'm Not CattyML 10/1

I'm Not Catty is a serious longshot play sneaking into the place spot at 10/1 morning line with a 76.88 TrackWiz rating — second in the field — and a remarkable 37% career win rate, the highest of any horse running tonight across all nine races. Trainer Ronney W. Brown has had live horses all night, and Nomar Arroyo Bueno gets yet another potentially undervalued mount. At double-digit morning line odds with numbers like these, this horse deserves serious attention in exactas.

show1OzoneML 2/1

Ozone is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 with a 25% career win rate and a solid 71.04 TrackWiz rating, which ranks third in this field. Trainer Mike E. Butts keeps this horse in the mix, and Anthony Mawing rides. While our model slots Ozone third, the public support is real and the underlying numbers justify it — this is a horse you can't leave out of your tickets despite the thin price.

Race 8

2:32 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

An AOC sprint at 4.5 furlongs features three horses with nearly identical top-tier ratings — this is a genuine photo-finish setup where the top three are separated by just over six points and any of them could win.

win4Great AndreiML 3/1

Great Andrei earns an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and carries the highest average speed figure in the race at 55 — a meaningful edge in a short 4.5-furlong sprint where early speed is decisive. A 20% career win rate in allowance company is honest, and trainer John J. Robb sends this horse out with Xavier Perez. At 3/1 on the morning line, Great Andrei offers value given the model ranking, and that speed figure edge could be the difference at a sprint distance.

place1Delightful DixieML 7/5

Delightful Dixie is the 7/5 morning-line favorite with an 86.28 TrackWiz rating and a stellar 34% career win rate — suggesting a horse that consistently hits the board in higher-caliber spots. Trainer Joan A. Reynolds and jockey Abnel J. Bocachica are a well-regarded combination at this level. Though our model narrowly slots this one second, the win rate and public support mean Delightful Dixie is live to beat everyone.

show3Miss MenetesML 7/2

Miss Menetes rounds out a fascinating top three at a 80.6 rating with a 30% career win rate — strong figures for a horse going at 7/2 on the morning line. Trainer David J. Rose sends this one out with Jeiron Barbosa, who's been active on today's card. The 30% win rate is the kind of number that says a horse competes hard every time, and in a tight three-way affair like this, Miss Menetes is an essential trifecta piece.

Race 9

3:02 AM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

The nightcap is a 7-furlong claiming finale where the morning-line favorite trails two higher-rated horses, setting up a potential upset and making this one of the better overlay opportunities to close the card.

win7Camp Crystal LakeML 6/1

Camp Crystal Lake lands on top of our model at 82.71 despite going off at 6/1 morning line — a significant overlay when you consider the rating gap over the public's 9/5 choice. A 22% career win rate adds real-world credibility, and trainer Timothy Shanley has been a consistent presence on tonight's card with live horses. Moises Santaella takes the mount, a combination that's clicked multiple times tonight. This is our best value play of the card: top-rated horse at a price the market hasn't fully caught up to.

place9Paint the AlleyML 3/1

Paint the Alley goes at 3/1 on the morning line with a 79.42 rating and a 20% career win rate — both figures rank second in this nine-horse field. Trainer Analia R. Gomez saddles what looks like a well-prepared horse for Denis Vicente Araujo to ride. With a tight gap between the top three horses, Paint the Alley is dangerous enough to win outright and a near-certainty to factor in the exacta.

show6Candy Man MartinML 4/1

Candy Man Martin at 4/1 morning line might be the most straightforward show play on the card — a 68.39 TrackWiz rating slots this horse exactly where the price suggests, and Juan Mauricio Nunez picks up a mount for trainer Mike E. Butts. A 10% career win rate is modest, but in a deep claiming field like this, staying competitive is all that matters for the trifecta. The price and the placement work together here.

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Bottom line: Charles Town has a playable nine-race card today with Spatula, Scar Nose, and Itzayana as our featured free plays. The full card — including pace projections, exotic ticket breakdowns, and our take on every contender — is available to TrackWiz subscribers. Check out our plans at /pricing and get the complete picture before the first race goes off. Good luck out there.

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