Unlock the other 5 races on today's card, plus AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet ticket construction.

The winner is in our top 4 picks 75% of the time, across 17 tracks.

Daily Picks

Del Mar Picks & Predictions — August 20, 2026

August 20, 20268 racesAll Del Mar picks

It's a beautiful Thursday at Del Mar — partly cloudy skies, 80 degrees, and the Pacific breeze doing its thing out on the turf course. Eight races are on the board today, split evenly between the green stuff and the main track, giving us a nice variety of pace scenarios and surface angles to work with.

Today's card leans heavily on maiden and claiming company, but don't let that fool you — there's plenty of money to be made in the lower conditions if you know where to look. TrackWiz analysis has flagged some intriguing prices throughout the card, including a big-odds play in Race 3 that could be the best value of the afternoon.

With turf racing at Del Mar in late August, the going tends to be firm and fast, which rewards horses with tactical speed and efficient strides. That's a key lens for reading today's turf contests in Races 1, 3, and 8.

Best Bets

Race 1

9:00 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

A short 5-furlong turf sprint with a clear top-rated standout, but two 4/1 shots on the morning line keep this from being a rubber-stamp single — pace and post position will matter on the tight Del Mar turf course.

win3Wiki KaneML 5/2

Wiki Kane is the class of this field and it's not particularly close — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating leads everyone by double digits, and a 66% career win rate is genuinely elite for any level of competition. Emisael Jaramillo gets the call for Adam Kitchingman, a pairing worth watching in short turf sprints. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price isn't generous, but you're backing a horse that legitimately dominates this spot on paper.

place4Cal's GoalML 4/1

Cal's Goal mirrors Wiki Kane's 66% career win rate, which tells you this horse knows how to close out races — it just has to deal with a superior rival today. Tim Yakteen sends out Cal's Goal with Antonio Fresu up, and the 77.56 rating is strong enough to beat everyone except the top pick. At 4/1, Cal's Goal is a legitimate place anchor for your exotics and a real threat to steal the win if Wiki Kane has any issues in traffic.

show6Killourney ReignsML 4/1

Killourney Reigns is the second D'Amato runner in the race — trainers rarely double up without a reason, and Philip D'Amato is one of the sharpest turf conditioners on the West Coast. Umberto Rispoli is an excellent turf pilot, and at 4/1, this is solid show-bet value. The 55 rating and zero career wins are modest, but the connections and the pace scenario give Killourney Reigns a path to hitting the board.

Race 2

9:30 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claiming mile on the dirt — twelve runners, every single one still looking for that first career win, with two horses separating themselves significantly in the ratings but neither a cinch in a race this deep.

win5Lady RuthML 2/1

Lady Ruth sits atop the field with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — the highest mark in the race by more than five points — and Joel Rosario in the irons is as reliable a pilot as you'll find at Del Mar. Trained by O.J. Jauregui, this filly is the morning-line favorite at 2/1, and that public support looks well-founded given how cleanly she profiles. In a maiden field this large, having the top-rated horse with a Hall of Fame-caliber jockey is exactly where you want to be.

place2Dancing With ShariML 4/1

Dancing With Shari has an 83.42 rating — second-best in the field — and Kyle Frey has been a reliable handler for trainer Tim McCanna in spots like this. At 4/1, there's genuine place value here if the favorite hits any trouble in what figures to be a chaotic 14-horse gate break on the dirt. The gap between Dancing With Shari and the third-rated horse in the field (Dame It Dani at 64.08) is big enough to suggest this runner profiles as a clear second-best.

show3Dame It DaniML 5/1

Dame It Dani at 5/1 checks in third on the TrackWiz ratings at 64.08 and gets Emisael Jaramillo — one of the more in-form jockeys on the Southern California circuit — for trainer Alfredo Marquez. In a large field of maidens, pace scenarios can get messy and closers sometimes pick up the pieces. Dame It Dani's profile fits a horse that can range up and hang on for a share of the purse at a fair price.

Race 3

10:00 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Turf

A deep maiden special weight mile on the turf with a top-rated pick at 8/1 — this is a rare spot where our top selection is bucking the morning line, making it a value-heavy card for exotics players willing to go against the public.

win1InstinctivelyML 8/1

Instinctively carries the highest TrackWiz rating in this field at 70.43, yet the morning line has this runner posted at 8/1 — that's the kind of discrepancy that gets TrackWiz users excited about value. Cesar Belmont partners with Steven Miyadi, who also runs Tuddy in this race, suggesting the barn believes in both runners. At a mile on turf, Instinctively's rating edge over the 3/1 morning-line favorite Lying Zero (56.67) is meaningful enough to make this a legitimate win play at a generous price.

place5Lying ZeroML 3/1

Lying Zero is the public's choice at 3/1 with Kazushi Kimura aboard for Doug O'Neill — a trainer who consistently fires live runners fresh. The 56.67 rating puts Lying Zero solidly in the conversation, and Kimura has been running hot at Del Mar. As a place pick, this one profiles as the natural landing spot for chalk bettors, and it's hard to ignore O'Neill/Kimura in a turf maiden.

show9Missed FortuneML 7/2

Missed Fortune draws the Umberto Rispoli/George Papaprodromou combo at 7/2, a team that knows how to set up horses for turf routes. The 55.83 rating is right in the cluster of horses just below the top two, and Rispoli's course knowledge at Del Mar is a legitimate edge. As a show play and an exotic inclusion at fair morning-line odds, Missed Fortune fills out a nice trifecta underneath the top two.

Our three free races cover both surfaces and give you a solid foundation for the day. Wiki Kane opens the card on the turf sprint in Race 1 as a morning-line 5/2 shot with a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 — a number that stands out in this field. On the dirt, Lady Ruth is our top pick in the Race 2 maiden claimer, coming in as the 2/1 favorite with the highest free-race rating of the three at 88.54. Then Race 3 is where things get interesting: Instinctively is going off at 8/1 in a maiden special weight turf mile, and our rating of 70.43 reflects a wide-open field where the right pace scenario could spring a big upset at a juicy price.

One angle connecting today's free picks — the turf course is playing to form-speed types with clean trips, so watch how the early fractions shape up in Race 1 before committing hard to your Race 3 ticket. The dirt, meanwhile, has been consistent enough that class and recent work patterns are the primary drivers. Lady Ruth fits that bill cleanly.

Send me tomorrow's free Del Mar card before post time.

Free picks in your inbox each morning. No card required, unsubscribe anytime.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

10:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A full field claiming sprint at 5½ furlongs on the dirt — the pace figures to be contested early with multiple speed types, which could set things up perfectly for closers sitting off the pace and finishing hard.

win7Des DoigtsML 7/2

Des Doigts edges out Next Trick by the slimmest of margins — 80.16 to 79.79 on the TrackWiz scale — but holds the slight nod as our top selection at 7/2 morning line. Tiago Josue Pereira gets the mount for trainer George Lopez, and a 17% career win rate is respectable in this claiming tier. Des Doigts projects as a horse who can sit within striking distance of a hot pace and sweep by in the final furlong.

place11Next TrickML 8/1

Next Trick is essentially a coin flip with Des Doigts on pure rating alone, and at 8/1 morning line, the value tilts noticeably toward this runner for exacta and place purposes. Emisael Jaramillo is a strong fit in claiming sprints, and Jesus Uranga's 22% career win rate for Next Trick is the best in the field among horses with meaningful starts. If the pace heats up, Next Trick could be rolling late at a price that makes the payoff well worth it.

show2TapaloML 3/1

Tapalo at 3/1 is trained by Steve Knapp with Kazushi Kimura up — one of the better claiming barn-jockey combinations in Southern California right now. The 63.61 rating and 17% career win rate are solid for this level, and Tapalo projects as a horse that can press or stalk the pace and offer some resistance late. As the public's second choice on the morning line, Tapalo anchors the show position and is a sensible base for horizontal wagers.

Race 5

11:00 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The most lopsided maiden claiming sprint of the card — one horse has a commanding rating advantage, but the 14-horse field and first-time starter unknowns in a 6-furlong dash mean nothing is guaranteed.

win1Duke of OrleansML 3/1

Duke of Orleans enters with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating that dwarfs the rest of the field — the next closest runner is He's Got Fire at 72.45, a gap of nearly 15 points. Kazushi Kimura gets the mount for Francisco Rodriguez, and in a maiden claiming six-furlong sprint, gate speed and early position are everything. At 3/1 on the morning line, this is the most confident top selection on the card today — the rating separation is simply too large to ignore.

place5He's Got FireML 7/2

He's Got Fire at 7/2 is the clear second-best in the field by rating and has Antonio Fresu in the irons for George Papaprodromou — a trainer who excels with younger horses learning their way around the dirt. The 72.45 rating stands well above the rest of the pack, and if Duke of Orleans has any issues breaking from the rail, He's Got Fire is the horse most likely to capitalize. At near-even money odds for place, this runner is a strong anchor in any exacta or trifecta.

show6HungoverML 6/1

Hungover at 6/1 is a step below the top two in raw rating (53.81), but the Ryan Hanson barn has been competitive at this meet and Welfin Orantes is a capable handler in maiden sprints. In a 14-horse field, pace can get ugly early and horses with even modest tactical speed can find themselves in good position with a clean trip. Hungover is the kind of live 6/1 show play that can juice up trifecta payoffs significantly.

Race 6

11:30 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A competitive maiden claiming sprint on the dirt where the ratings cluster tightly — this race lacks a clear standout, making pace scenario and connections as important as raw numbers in finding a winner.

win2Vegas Del OroML 7/2

Vegas Del Oro leads our ratings at 55.83 and lands in a favorable spot with Antonio Fresu in the irons for George Papaprodromou — a trainer who consistently puts first-time and lightly raced horses in ideal positions. At 7/2, the morning line reflects appropriate public interest, and the 55 avg speed figure shows the underlying ability to compete at this level. In a race where no horse is truly dominant, Vegas Del Oro's edge on ratings combined with elite connections make this the most logical top selection.

place8Thirsty EternaML 4/1

Thirsty Eterna at 4/1 slots in as our place selection with a 55.0 rating — virtually identical to our top pick — and posts the same avg speed figure of 55. Armando Aguilar has been solid at this meet, and the Rolando Quinonez barn keeps its horses fit. The nearly dead-heat in ratings between Vegas Del Oro and Thirsty Eterna makes this the most natural exacta box on the card, and at 4/1, there's genuine value if the favorite stumbles.

show7ShemakesmemadML 5/1

Shemakesmemad draws Julien Leparoux — one of the most accomplished turf and dirt jockeys in the country — for Steven Miyadi, and even in a maiden sprint, that pairing carries weight. The 51.82 rating is right in the mix for a race this competitive, and at 5/1 morning line, there's show-bet value if you're looking to hedge. In a race where the top two are bunched so tightly, having a quality jockey aboard a live third option is exactly the type of angle that pays out in trifectas.

Race 7

12:00 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A quality allowance optional claiming mile on the dirt — three horses rate within a point of each other at the top, setting up a fascinating stretch duel between horses with legitimate credentials at this level.

win9Fumano's MagicML 6/1

Fumano's Magic tops our TrackWiz ratings at 82.71 and represents outstanding value at 6/1 on the morning line — this is precisely the kind of horse the TrackWiz model was built to uncover. Tiago Josue Pereira gets the call for Val Brinkerhoff, and while the 7% career win rate might give casual fans pause, speed figures and pace projections tell a more nuanced story than raw win percentage alone. At a full mile on the dirt, Fumano's Magic profiles as a horse that can sit off a contested pace and finish powerfully through the stretch.

place2Winning PatriotML 3/1

Winning Patriot is the public's choice at 3/1 and backs it up with a 33% career win rate — the highest win percentage of any horse on today's card across all eight races. Ricardo Gonzalez handles the mount for Jeff Mullins, a trainer who rarely runs a horse without it being ready. The 82.18 rating is nearly identical to our top pick, and Winning Patriot's proven winning habit makes it a strong place anchor and a legitimate threat to upset if the pace sets up right.

show6Silver I AmML 8/1

Silver I Am at 8/1 gets Antonio Fresu for Philip D'Amato — one of the premier allowance trainers on the Southern California circuit — and a 73.79 rating that slots in clearly third-best in the field. D'Amato rarely enters horses in spots where they don't belong, and the 14% career win rate shows Silver I Am has competitive experience at this level. At 8/1 morning line odds, this is a strong show value and a legitimate trifecta underneath the top two.

Race 8

12:30 AM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A claiming turf route at 1 1/16 miles with two scratches thinning the field — Lil's Coffee stands out on ratings in what figures to be a pace-honest race on the Del Mar turf with several tactical speed types vying for position.

win12Lil's CoffeeML 3/1

Lil's Coffee carries the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.08 and draws Emisael Jaramillo for Doug O'Neill — a jockey-trainer combination that has been clicking at this meet. At 3/1 on the morning line, the public is clearly on board, and our model agrees. Over a mile and a sixteenth on the turf, Lil's Coffee has the rating edge to grind down any rivals that try to battle for the lead early.

place6Suntory TimeML 7/2

Suntory Time at 7/2 gets Joel Rosario — arguably the best jockey in the race — for Richard Baltas, a trainer who excels routing horses on turf. The 76.43 rating is second in the field, and a 14% career win rate in what appears to be a quality horse's career profile is solid context. Rosario's ability to find cover in a route and time a closing run is a genuine edge in a field this size, making Suntory Time the most natural place play.

show10Sugar ReignML 8/1

Sugar Reign at 8/1 checks in with a 74.38 rating and a 16% career win rate — both metrics holding up respectably in this claiming field. Armando Aguilar gets the mount for Jeff Bonde, who has won with this horse before and clearly believes in the current form. As a show play at 8/1, Sugar Reign offers solid trifecta value and could easily outrun that morning line if the pace sets up kindly for a horse that can pick up pieces late.

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Bottom line for today: Lady Ruth is the most confident top pick on the free card, Wiki Kane is a solid play to open the day, and Instinctively is the longshot worth a few dollars at 8/1. The premium side of the card is where the real value hunting happens — Fumano's Magic and Lil's Coffee both have TrackWiz ratings that suggest the morning line is leaving money on the table. Full analysis, pace maps, and exotic tickets are all waiting for subscribers. Good luck out there today — Del Mar's putting on a good one.

← All Del Mar picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 8 races free