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Charles Town Picks & Predictions — August 14, 2026

August 14, 20269 racesAll Charles Town picks

Happy Friday from Charles Town, where a nine-race card is set to fire under partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 81°F this evening. Conditions look favorable all around — the dirt should be playing fast, and there's nothing in the forecast to throw a wrench into pace projections. A good night to be at the window.

Tonight's card is a nice mix of maiden sprints, claiming battles, and a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming spots that figure to draw the best horses on the grounds. Whether you're here for a quick Best Bet or you're grinding all nine races, there's plenty to dig into. TrackWiz analysis has ratings posted across the full card, and we've got three free previews to get you started before the gates open.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A short-field claimer at 4 1/2 furlongs where the morning-line favorite carries a dominant TrackWiz rating — but a trio of double-digit odds runners and a pair of Sanderson barn entries make the exotics worth dissecting.

win6Cowgirl AttitudeML 8/5

Cowgirl Attitude is the class of this field by a wide margin — her TrackWiz rating of 89.12 is more than 19 points clear of the next horse and she opens as the 8/5 morning-line choice. Trainer Jean L. Adorno sends her out with Moises Santaella up, a reliable pairing at this level. Her 19% career win rate is respectable in a claiming sprint, and at 4 1/2 furlongs the speed-favoring Charles Town oval sets up perfectly for a horse the morning line respects this much. She's the play, plain and simple.

place4Another Fine JubaML 6/1

Another Fine Juba is an interesting overlay at 6/1 on the morning line, carrying a rating of 69.77 — third-best in the field. The 9% career win rate isn't flashy, but in a claiming context with a live trainer in Wade S. Sanderson (who also saddles True Indy), the barn clearly has stable form going. Juba looks like a solid exacta underneath at a price.

show2Remy's HotshotML 9/2

Remy's Hotshot checks in at 9/2 on the morning line with a 67.46 rating and a solid 20% career win percentage — the kind of horse that shows up in the money consistently without necessarily grabbing the win. Trainer Timothy C. Grams sends him out with Maximo Chilo, and at this price he's worth slotting into trifectas as a durable third option in a short field.

Race 2

11:32 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

An eight-horse maiden special weight sprint full of first-time starters and horses with no prior wins — in a race this wide open, trainer connections and morning-line confidence become the tiebreakers.

win5Calvin's RunML 8/5

Calvin's Run opens as the 8/5 morning-line favorite and backs it up with the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 59.00. Trainer Jeff C. Runco is a savvy Charles Town conditioner, and putting Arnaldo Bocachica — a proven local rider — on the favorite is a confident move. In a maiden sprint where read-throughs are hard to find, trusting the horse the connections and the market agree on is sound handicapping.

place7Stettie HayesenML 7/2

Stettie Hayesen goes at 7/2 with a 55.83 rating, making her the second-ranked horse in our analysis. Trainer Ronald G. Sigler fields two horses in this race, with Denis Vicente Araujo assigned here — typically when a barn splits runners, the one with the stronger jockey booking is the preferred entry. Hayesen fits the profile of a horse likely to earn a piece at a fair price.

show6Pedro's Fancy ManML 9/2

Pedro's Fancy Man draws a 9/2 morning-line ticket and a 54.17 rating, slotting in third among the field. Trainer Frederick Clatterbuck puts Sunday Diaz, Jr. in the irons, and at that price there's enough value to include him in the bottom of trifecta tickets. In wide-open maiden races, spreading the show spot across a few logical contenders is smart bankroll management.

Race 3

12:02 AM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

This seven-furlong claimer features a genuine standout — Hard Stance's rating towers over the field — but Rock of Ages' eye-catching 30% career win rate and two horses from the Anthony Farrior barn make the pace scenario worth watching.

win4Hard StanceML 7/2

Hard Stance is the horse to beat here, carrying an 86.35 TrackWiz rating — more than 12 points ahead of second-ranked Powered by Love. His average speed figure of 54 leads all horses with available figures, and trainer Anthony Farrior puts Jeiron Barbosa up, a confident jockey assignment. At 7/2 on the morning line, he's not a giveaway price, but the separation between him and the rest of the field justifies the short number in a seven-furlong dirt claimer.

place3Powered by LoveML 9/5

Powered by Love opens at 9/5 and rates second in the field at 74.42 — trainer Kevin J. Joy gives Reshawn Latchman the mount. Her 13% career win rate is modest, but her average speed figure of 53 is right in the mix, and at nine furlongs the closer profile could set up well if Hard Stance gets into a pace battle up front. A solid exacta underneath at a workable price.

show5Holiday CashML 9/2

Holiday Cash comes in at 9/2 with a 71.18 rating and a 15% career win clip, trained by Ronney W. Brown who also runs Market Watch. Moises Santaella climbs aboard, and at 52 average speed he's in the same conversation as most of this field. As the third-rated horse in a race where the top two seem clear, he's a natural trifecta inclusion at a fair price.

Our three complimentary races tonight span the early part of the card — a pair of sprints and a route — and they give you a solid cross-section of what Charles Town is serving up. Cowgirl Attitude opens the card in the 4½-furlong claiming sprint and earned our highest free-race rating of the night at 89.12, making her our marquee free Best Bet. Calvin's Run follows in the Race 2 Maiden Special Weight — maiden races at this distance can be lottery tickets, but our model found enough separation to make him the lean at 8/5. Then in Race 3, Hard Stance stretches the distance to seven furlongs in a claiming route, coming in at 7/2 morning line with an 86.35 rating that suggests he's worth your attention as a mild overlay.

One thing to watch early: Charles Town's tight one-turn layout tends to reward horses with early foot, especially in the short sprints. If the pace heats up in the opening races and a closer sneaks through, file that away — surface bias information can be gold when you get to the later races on the card.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:32 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A tightly-bunched maiden sprint where the top four TrackWiz ratings are separated by just two points — this is a genuine photo-finish race on paper, and the morning line barely separates the contenders.

win2Cap 'n GownML 9/5

Cap 'n Gown tops the TrackWiz ratings at 58.67 and flashes the only available average speed figure in this field at 54 — a meaningful edge when the other logical contenders have no figure on the board. Trainer Jeff C. Runco puts Arnaldo Bocachica up, the same jockey-trainer combo we liked in Race 2, and they clearly showed up tonight ready to compete. At 9/5, the morning line respects the form, and the speed figure edge in a wide-open maiden could be the difference.

place1A Notable NatureML 5/2

A Notable Nature opens at 5/2 with a 57.5 rating, just a point behind the top pick, and trainer Ronald G. Sigler gives the mount to Denis Vicente Araujo — a rider who gets around Charles Town well. With no speed figure available, the case rests on trainer form and market confidence, but at 5/2 there's enough value to key underneath in exactas.

show4Kickin' With CaityML 3/1

Kickin' With Caity and Crystal Veil are dead-level at 56.67 ratings and 3/1 on the morning line — our show pick is Kickin' With Caity based on program position and the fact that trainer Anthony Farrior has both her and Crystal Veil, suggesting the barn is throwing darts at a wide target. Nomar Arroyo Bueno gets the mount here, and Farrior has the horses to run 1-2 or scatter. Worth including in trifectas as a live show option.

Race 5

1:02 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

Nate the Great looks like a standout in this allowance optional claimer, but the Anthony Farrior barn has two horses in the race and a 41% career win rate from the favorite makes this closer to a procession than a puzzle.

win2Nate the GreatML 7/5

Nate the Great is the most eye-catching horse on tonight's card — a 41% career win rate is extraordinary at any level of racing, and his 89.42 TrackWiz rating leads this field by over 11 points. Trainer Anthony Farrior gives him to Jeiron Barbosa, who also rode Hard Stance in Race 3, suggesting Farrior is loading up his best pilot on his best horse. At 7/5 he'll be a short price, but the credentials justify it.

place1Task ForceML 4/1

Task Force rates second at 78.19 and opens at 4/1 with Nomar Arroyo Bueno up for trainer Anthony Farrior — yes, it's the same barn, which means this exacta could pay nicely if Farrior runs 1-2. His 14% career win rate and 51 average speed figure are the modest side, but in a race where his stablemate is drawing most of the money, Task Force could sneak into the exacta at a price.

show3Mr ScatterML 5/2

Mr Scatter at 5/2 holds a 76.46 rating and sports a 22% career win rate — trainer Michael E. Jones, Jr. sends Denis Vicente Araujo out on a horse who clearly knows how to hit the board. His 51 average speed is in the mix, and as the only legitimate outside threat to the Farrior duo, he's worth including in trifectas. If one of the favorites gets into trouble, Scatter is the most likely beneficiary.

Race 6

1:32 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A ten-horse field at 6 1/2 furlongs with a clear top choice, but Whinny Miss Lynny at 8/1 represents the most intriguing overlay in the race — the depth of this field makes exacta and trifecta coverage worthwhile.

win7Truly an HonorML 9/5

Truly an Honor opens at 9/5 and carries an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — the highest in a field of ten. Trainer Anthony Farrior has been a recurring theme tonight, and putting Jeiron Barbosa up on the race's top-rated horse in a sprint is a no-nonsense move. Her 11% career win rate is modest, but a 53 average speed figure ties the field high alongside Old Fashion Candy, and Farrior's horses have been competitive all card long.

place1Whinny Miss LynnyML 8/1

Whinny Miss Lynny at 8/1 is the value play here — a 79.79 rating makes her the second-best horse in the field by TrackWiz numbers, yet she's getting nearly 5-1 more than the favorite on the morning line. Trainer Ronney W. Brown gives her to Nomar Arroyo Bueno, and her 16% career win rate with a 51 average speed figure suggests a horse who competes consistently. At this price, she's a prime exacta partner.

show2Peaceful UnionML 6/1

Peaceful Union at 6/1 holds a 70.71 rating and gets Denis Vicente Araujo for trainer Tyler S. Shanley, who also saddles Elite Miss in the race. A 7% career win rate isn't alarming in a wide field like this, and her 52 average speed is respectable. She's the logical third choice on the board and worth slotting into trifectas as a deeper closer in a ten-horse sprint.

Race 7

2:02 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Two horses separate themselves from the pack in this seven-horse claiming sprint — Shessweetlikecandy and Changes both rate well above the rest, setting up a potentially profitable top-two exacta if they run to their numbers.

win5ShessweetlikecandyML 3/1

Shessweetlikecandy comes in at 3/1 with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and a 10% career win rate — trainer Anthony Farrior puts Nomar Arroyo Bueno in the irons, a strong local rider who's been active all card. The rating separates her clearly from the mid-field cluster, and in a seven-horse claiming sprint at 6 1/2 furlongs, a horse with this kind of overall profile at a fair price is where the value sits tonight.

place1ChangesML 6/1

Changes is the surprise of this ticket — rated 81.77 by TrackWiz and opening at 6/1, she's the second-highest-rated horse but with a morning line that suggests the market hasn't fully caught on. Trainer Vanessa Peltroche puts husband Fredy Peltroche up, a family barn connection that often signals strong intent. The 7% career win rate leaves something to be desired, but the rating gap over the rest of the field is hard to ignore at that price.

show2Aim's RedirectML 4/1

Aim's Redirect rates 66.41 and opens at 4/1, giving trainer Stephen L. Reggetts and Victor Rodriguez a logical outside contender. His 4% career win rate is a red flag, but he's clearly capable of hitting the board in this company — the 51 average speed figure is consistent with the middle of this field. As the third-rated horse at a fair morning-line price, he's a natural trifecta anchor in an otherwise thin field.

Race 8

2:32 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A short-field allowance optional claimer where the top two horses are nearly inseparable on paper — Lino's Legacy and Snitch Dorada are rated within a single point of each other, making this a genuine coin-flip at the top.

win1Lino's LegacyML 3/1

Lino's Legacy edges into the top spot at 87.08 — identical to his rating but a hair above Snitch Dorada in our model — and opens at 3/1 with Maximo Chilo up for trainer Timothy C. Grams. His 28% career win rate is strong in an allowance field, and Grams has shown tonight he's bringing sharp horses. The slight edge in TrackWiz rating and the better career win percentage make him the preferred top choice in what could be a tight finish.

place2Snitch DoradaML 5/2

Snitch Dorada is the other half of this two-horse race at 5/2 — rated 86.11, just behind Lino's Legacy, with the best available average speed figure in the field at 55. Trainer Anthony Farrior saddles another top contender tonight, pairing her with Jeiron Barbosa, who has been Farrior's go-to rider all card. At a shorter price than the win pick, she's a must-use underneath and potentially the single most dangerous horse in the spot.

show4StrydaML 6/1

Stryda opens at 6/1 with a 60.63 rating and a stunning 40% career win percentage — the highest of any horse on tonight's card. Trainer Alexander V. Naupac puts Jose Y. Diaz up, and while there's a gap between Stryda and the top two, a 40% career win rate is not a number you ignore in exotics. She's worth sprinkling into trifectas as a live third who clearly knows how to cross the wire first.

Race 9

3:02 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

An eleven-horse maiden field at 6 1/2 furlongs where one horse stands well above the rest in our model — but a pair of double-digit longshots lurking below the top pick make the exotics worth spreading.

win10PaynoworpaylaterML 8/5

Paynoworpaylater comes in as the 8/5 morning-line favorite and matches the highest TrackWiz rating on tonight's card at 89.12 — the same mark as Cowgirl Attitude in Race 1. Trainer Ronney W. Brown sends out Moises Santaella, and with a 52 average speed figure that bests most of this maiden field, there's a clear performance edge here. In an eleven-horse field of first-time-winners, this kind of rating gap is rare and should be respected.

place4LookingforahandoutML 10/1

Lookingforahandout opens at 10/1 — a significant overlay given he rates fourth in the field at 59.55. Trainer Michael E. Jones, Jr. puts Denis Vicente Araujo up, a rider who has been busy all evening and clearly comfortable at Charles Town. A 51 average speed figure matches the mid-pack, and at double-digit odds he's a value play to hit the board in a wide-open maiden field where chaos is always a possibility.

show8Silent SamML 7/2

Silent Sam opens at 7/2 with a 55.83 rating and a 52 average speed figure — trainer John C. Carlisle puts Antonio Lopez up on a horse who is rated third in our model despite a middle-of-the-road morning line. In a spread-out eleven-horse maiden, he profiles as a consistent show candidate and is worth including in trifectas across multiple combinations. At 7/2 he's not a longshot, but the rating-to-price relationship offers mild value.

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Tonight's Charles Town card has real teeth — three solid free Best Bets to anchor your early plays, and a premium back half headlined by Nate the Great in the feature and a pair of claiming sprints ripe for exotic construction. Cowgirl Attitude in Race 1 is our free marquee play of the evening. Ready for the full picture? Subscribers get every race, every angle, and every ticket recommendation — all in one place on TrackWiz. Good luck at the windows tonight.

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