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Charles Town Picks & Predictions — August 29, 2026

August 29, 20268 racesAll Charles Town picks

Results are in — see the official Charles Town chart and payouts (our top pick won 4 of 8)→

Charles Town is rolling out an 8-race all-dirt card on Saturday, August 29, and conditions couldn't be much better. Clear skies and a comfortable 79°F mean a fast, consistent surface all afternoon — the kind of day where speed figures travel true and pace handicapping becomes your best friend.

The card mixes claiming races, allowance spots, and a healthy dose of Maiden Special Weight action, giving you plenty of angles to work whether you're hunting a single-race winner or building multi-race exotics. Three of those races are open to all TrackWiz readers today, and our top picks across the card are carrying some of the strongest ratings we've logged at this track all season.

Let's break down what's worth your attention on this card.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

Two horses separate themselves from the field on the TrackWiz ratings in this 7-furlong dirt claimer, setting up a likely duel at the top while a double-digit longshot lurks as a potential spoiler.

win6Policy ChangeML 2/1

Policy Change draws the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 85.8 and posts the best average speed figure among the contenders at 53. Opening at 2/1 on the morning line, Victor Rodriguez gets the call, and the price reflects how much the connections — and our numbers — respect this horse's chances. The 5% career win rate is modest, but the raw performance metrics say this horse has been running at a level above most in this field.

place7Cat FastML 9/5

Cat Fast is essentially a dead-heat with the top pick on our ratings (85.7 vs. 85.8), which tells you this race is razor-thin at the top. Trainer Anthony Farrior sends out Jeiron Barbosa, a combo worth tracking, and the 9/5 morning line suggests the market agrees this is a serious threat. At the distance and on the dirt, Cat Fast profiles as the kind of closer that lands right in the exacta.

show5AbdicateML 10/1

Abdicate catches the eye as a 10/1 overlay given a rating of 76.88 that comfortably outpaces the bottom half of the field. Trainer Miguel Ramos Agosto has this horse priced like a longshot, but the TrackWiz number suggests there's real form here. Include Abdicate underneath in trifectas — if the top two hook up early, a fresh-legged runner at big odds could sneak into the money.

Race 2

11:32 PM EDT

Allowance · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A short-field allowance sprint at 4½ furlongs where the top three in the ratings are packed tightly together, making the exacta and trifecta more interesting than the win pool.

win6Holiday CashML 2/1

Holiday Cash tops the TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 and opens as the 2/1 morning-line choice, with trainer Ronney W. Brown sending out Moises Santaella. The 15% career win rate is a touch below average, but in a short sprint like this, pure speed and ability tend to rule, and the rating advantage is real. At what should be a fair price, Holiday Cash is a solid top selection in an allowance spot where class often tells quickly.

place1CulminateML 7/2

Culminate brings a 22% career win rate into this spot — one of the higher figures in the field — giving Angel Cruz a horse with a proven record of hitting the board. The 83.6 rating is just a tick behind Holiday Cash, and the 7/2 morning line offers a bit of value if the top pick struggles to get clear early. This is the kind of horse that finds the place hole even in a tough effort.

show3Candied UpML 5/2

Candied Up posts the field's best average speed figure at 55 and carries a 25% career win rate, the strongest in this race. Trainer Anthony Farrior again teams with Jeiron Barbosa, a tandem that shows up in the money regularly at this track. At 5/2 on the morning line, the show price may be short, but the underlying numbers make this an essential inclusion in multi-race wagers.

Race 3

12:02 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden special weight over 6½ furlongs where debut runners dominate the field, making this a projection game — trainer patterns and works matter more than past performances.

win3Stettie HayesenML 9/5

Stettie Hayesen leads the field by a significant margin with a TrackWiz rating of 88.83, and trainer Ronald G. Sigler sends out Denis Vicente Araujo at 9/5 on the morning line. In a maiden field where nobody has a career win to their name, that kind of rating separation carries real weight. Sigler also saddles A Notable Nature in the same race, which speaks to the barn's confidence in their overall string — and Stettie Hayesen is clearly the stable's number-one entry.

place6Pedro's Fancy ManML 3/1

Pedro's Fancy Man opens at 3/1 with a rating of 80.44, making him the second-best number in a race where most runners are flying blind. Sunday Diaz Jr. gets the mount for trainer Frederick Clatterbuck, and the morning-line price suggests connections believe this horse is ready to run a big race first out. In maiden company, a horse with this level of preparation and a capable rider can easily land in the exacta.

show7A Notable NatureML 5/2

A Notable Nature rates third in the field at 61.99 and draws the 5/2 slot on the morning line, which makes the show price a bit compressed given the uncertainty of maiden racing. That said, Sigler having two horses in the race — including the top pick — may set up a favorable pace scenario that benefits the stablemate running from the outside. Use A Notable Nature underneath to help structure your trifecta.

Our three free races today are stacked with legitimate horses we feel good about. Race 1 features Policy Change (morning line 2/1, TrackWiz rating 85.8) in a 7-furlong claiming sprint — a solid opener to key the early Pick 3. In Race 2, Holiday Cash (2/1, 88.54) steps into a short 4½-furlong allowance where early speed should be king on a surface playing fast today. And in Race 3, maiden special weight newcomer Stettie Hayesen (9/5, 88.83) grabs our attention over 6½ furlongs — maiden races are unpredictable by nature, but our model likes what we see in this one.

A consistent theme across all three free picks: on a clear, dry Charles Town dirt track like today's, front-runners and early-pace horses tend to hold their advantage into the lane. Keep that bias in mind when you're weighing contenders in each of these spots.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:32 AM EDT

Allowance · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

An allowance field with a clear standout at the top, but a cluster of mid-tier horses rated within a few points of each other makes the underneath slots highly competitive for exotic players.

win3Edy's FlameML 9/5

Edy's Flame enters as the most dominant horse on the card in this spot, carrying a 45% career win rate — by far the best in the field — alongside a TrackWiz rating of 88.83. Trainer Anthony Farrior puts Jeiron Barbosa up again, continuing what has been a productive partnership through this card. At 9/5 on the morning line, the public has correctly identified the standout, and the numbers back the chalk fully here.

place6Princess BlameML 5/1

Princess Blame opens at 5/1 with a solid 74.61 rating and a 20% career win rate, giving Moises Santaella a live mount for trainer Ronney W. Brown. With a field this deep in the middle tier, Princess Blame's combination of rating and career form stands out as the most logical place finisher if Edy's Flame does the expected work up front. The morning-line price makes her an attractive exacta partner.

show7LangleyswaterfallML 5/1

Langleyswaterfall sits just below Princess Blame at a 73.69 rating and draws the same 5/1 morning line, creating a genuine question of which horse is the better underneath play. Trainer Christopher M. Keller's runner gets Denis Vicente Araujo in the irons, and the 10% career win rate suggests a horse that hits the board more often than it wins — exactly the profile you want in a show or trifecta spot. Keep this one alive in your exotic tickets.

Race 5

1:02 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A large maiden field of 12 runners sprinting 4½ furlongs creates chaos in the early going — the horse with the clearest rating edge and the most gate speed should have a significant advantage.

win10Knight SageML 6/5

Knight Sage is the standout in this crowded field, posting a TrackWiz rating of 89.71 — a full 34 points clear of the next best contender. Trainer Timothy C. Grams sends out Larry C. Reynolds at a strong 6/5 morning line, reflecting genuine confidence from the connections. In a 12-horse sprint field, you want a horse that can clear quickly and avoid traffic trouble, and the rating here suggests Knight Sage has the talent to do exactly that.

place7GoldeckML 7/2

Goldeck is one of only a handful of horses in this field who shows a recorded average speed figure (52), giving him a meaningful edge over the many first-time starters and lightly-raced runners here. Trainer Stephen Murdock puts Reshawn Latchman up at 7/2 on the morning line, which feels like a fair representation of the horse's chances in this short sprint. In a large field with a lot of unknowns, Goldeck's demonstrated ability on the dirt makes him a reliable place play.

show2Moonlight CandyML 4/1

Moonlight Candy breaks from post 2 with an average speed figure of 51 on record, giving Anthony Farrior's runner some form basis in a field full of mysteries. Jeiron Barbosa pilots, continuing his heavy day of action, and the 4/1 morning line reflects solid market support. The inside post in a sprint is a plus, and Candied Up's known ability separates her from the large group of unproven runners — she should fill out a solid trifecta.

Race 6

1:32 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Another maiden special weight — this one over 6½ furlongs — where one horse separates himself significantly on the TrackWiz ratings, though a mid-priced runner with strong raw speed could give the favorite a real test.

win7Saint ShanceML 2/1

Saint Shance leads the field with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and opens at 2/1, with Jeiron Barbosa aboard for the red-hot Anthony Farrior stable. It's a remarkable card for Farrior, who appears to have live horses in nearly every race, and Saint Shance looks like one of the barn's best chances. The average speed figure of 55 is among the top marks in this field, and at 6½ furlongs the extra ground should suit a horse with this kind of raw ability.

place10Honorary AmericanML 7/5

Honorary American is an interesting case — the 7/5 morning line makes this horse the betting favorite, but the 59.33 TrackWiz rating sits well below Saint Shance. What stands out is the average speed figure of 56, the highest in the entire field, suggesting this horse has the raw foot to compete even if our composite rating says otherwise. Denis Vicente Araujo rides for Michael E. Jones Jr., and the market clearly sees something worth backing here — use Honorary American in the exacta.

show8ZaptasticML 12/1

Zaptastic draws a 12/1 morning line with a 51.68 rating — not a top-end number, but enough to separate from the bottom third of the field. Victor Rodriguez gets the mount for trainer Linda Dollinger-Stehr, and in an otherwise weak maiden field, horses that show any form basis can sneak into the money at a price. For trifecta purposes, Zaptastic represents value as a longshot show inclusion.

Race 7

2:02 AM EDT

Allowance · 7 fur · Dirt

A wide-open allowance at 7 furlongs where two horses with elite ratings and gaudy career win percentages are set for what should be a compelling stretch duel.

win6Tricks R for JubaML 9/5

Tricks R for Juba leads the field with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating and a remarkable 44% career win rate, putting this horse in elite company for an allowance field at Charles Town. Denis Vicente Araujo gets the call for trainer Ronald G. Sigler, who has had a strong presence throughout this card. At 7 furlongs, a horse with a 54 average speed figure and a nearly-one-in-two career win rate is the definition of a best bet.

place7Life Is DailyML 8/5

Life Is Daily is the most jaw-dropping number on today's entire card — a 66% career win rate is nearly unheard of, and the 86.26 TrackWiz rating confirms this horse belongs at the top of the class. The 8/5 morning line suggests the market likes this one to win, so landing it in place feels like a conservative play rather than a value move. That said, in a two-horse battle at the top, having Life Is Daily in your exacta underneath is simply smart handicapping.

show8Noble RulingML 10/1

Noble Ruling draws a 10/1 morning line that feels like an overlay given a 74.01 TrackWiz rating and a 30% career win rate — both figures that would make this horse a contender in most allowance fields. Larry C. Reynolds rides for Timothy C. Grams, who also trains Mr. Dumbledore in this same race, showing trainer confidence in the stable's representation. If the two top choices burn each other up on the front end, Noble Ruling is set up perfectly to collect a show check at a generous price.

Race 8

2:32 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-bodied claiming field of 11 runners that has a clear morning-line favorite at 3/5, but with several mid-priced horses posting respectable ratings, the exotics underneath could offer real value.

win2Outdoor CatML 3/5

Outdoor Cat is the most dominant single-race selection on the card at a 90.0 TrackWiz rating — the highest number we've seen all night — paired with a 37% career win rate and a top average speed figure of 54. Carlos Eduardo Lopez gets the ride for Phillip Capuano, and the 3/5 morning line is a fair reflection of how far this horse separates from the field. In claiming company, a horse this class-superior is rarely denied, and Outdoor Cat looks like a strong win-only play.

place11OlegML 8/1

Oleg opens at 8/1 with a 71.74 rating and a 15% career win rate, giving Abnel J. Bocachica a live mount for Tyler S. Shanley. The 53 average speed figure is among the better marks in the field behind the heavy favorite, and in a large claiming field, the second-best horse often comes at a big number when the market anchors on a short-priced chalk. Oleg fits the profile of a place horse that pays well in the exacta.

show5Emirates HonorML 10/1

Emirates Honor at 10/1 brings a 57.93 TrackWiz rating and a 17% career win rate to the table — both solid numbers for a horse pegged at this price in a claiming field. Jahnxander Raspaldo rides for Lela G. Hanagan, and with the field bunched in the middle tier below Outdoor Cat, there's a real scramble for the place and show spots. Emirates Honor has the form profile to land in that group and pays well enough to justify including in trifectas.

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Bottom line: Charles Town is serving up a clean, fast-surface card today with eight races worth your attention. Policy Change, Holiday Cash, and Stettie Hayesen headline the free side, all carrying TrackWiz ratings north of 85. For the full-card deep dive — including Outdoor Cat and the premium pace angles — subscribers have everything they need waiting for them. Good luck at the windows today.

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