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Del Mar Picks & Predictions — August 23, 2026

August 23, 20269 racesAll Del Mar picks

It's a beautiful Sunday at Del Mar — 84 degrees, not a cloud in the sky, and the kind of sea-breeze afternoon that makes the Turf Club feel like the best seat in the world. Nine races are on the board today, mixing dirt sprints and routes with a pair of turf legs and a stakes race to cap the mid-card action.

The headliner is Race 7, a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes where our top-rated horse Proletariat comes in as the morning-line favorite at 9/5. But don't sleep on the undercard — TrackWiz analysis flagged several spots where the morning line looks beatable, including an intriguing 8/1 shot on the turf in Race 9. There's plenty to dig into today.

Three races are fully unlocked for every reader below. The remaining six, including that stakes race and a pair of maiden events that have our pace models firing, are available to TrackWiz subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

9:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A competitive claiming sprint on the dirt where the TrackWiz ratings separate a clear top tier from the rest of the field — but the morning line keeps several contenders at overlaid prices.

win5Baby Needs ShoesML 4/1

Baby Needs Shoes (#5) tops our ratings at 85.62, a significant gap above the rest of this field, and trainer Peter Miller keeps horses sharp coming into claiming sprints. Kazushi Kimura gets the call here and he's a rider who thrives in short-field sprint scenarios. The average speed figure of 55 is competitive for this level, and at 4/1 on the morning line, the price is fair for the class edge this horse carries.

place2Southern AntonML 6/1

Southern Anton (#2) posts a 73.11 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and at 6/1 offers solid each-way value if you're playing exotics. The 16% career win rate isn't flashy, but Kyle Frey has been a reliable pilot in these lower-tier claiming sprints. The average speed of 56 is actually tops in the field, suggesting there's real ability here that could surface with a clean trip.

show3Pride of QueensML 5/1

Pride of Queens (#3) brings a 33% career win rate into this spot, making her statistically the most accomplished winner in the field. Trainer Doug O'Neill consistently places horses well in claiming company at Del Mar, and Drayden Van Dyke is one of the sharper jockeys on the Southern California circuit. A 72.41 rating and that win percentage make her a logical bridge from the top two in exacta and trifecta plays.

Race 2

9:33 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The pace scenario here sets up interestingly — multiple speed horses could clash on the front end, potentially leaving the door open for a presser or closer to hit the board at a price.

win5Rock N Roll SongML 6/1

Rock N Roll Song (#5) at 6/1 is our top-rated horse in this field with an 82.71 TrackWiz score, and the 22% career win rate is the best among any of the key contenders. Trainer Jesus Uranga with Edgar Payeras up looks like a live combo at a price the market hasn't fully recognized. The average speed of 55 matches the top cluster in this field, and if the pace scenario plays out as we expect, a horse with this kind of rating at 6/1 is precisely the value play you want to target.

place3EltonsingsanotherML 7/2

Eltonsingsanother (#3) is our second-highest rated horse at 75.24 and comes in as the 7/2 morning line favorite — a sign the early money agrees there's something here. Tyler Baze knows this track as well as anyone and a 10% career win rate can be misleading in the context of a claiming field where most entrants hover in a similar range. The average speed of 55 ties with several others, but the rating edge is real.

show1Buds N SudsML 5/1

Buds N Suds (#1) draws the rail in a six-furlong dirt sprint, which at Del Mar can be a position of advantage if the horse breaks alertly. The 65.83 rating is third-best in the field, and while the 8% career win rate is the lowest of our picks, show-only inclusion in trifecta coverage makes sense at 5/1. Trainer Steve Knapp is a Del Mar regular who knows how to spot horses in appropriate company.

Race 3

10:07 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A one-turn mile on the dirt with a morning line favorite that doesn't match up as the top-rated horse — creating a potential overlay situation at the top of our ratings.

win3Mighty KaiML 4/1

Mighty Kai (#3) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 yet goes off at 4/1 on the morning line, which is a fair price for the horse with the highest score in the field. Trainer Antonio Garcia saddles him with Tiago Pereira up, and a 19% career win rate in claiming company is respectable. The one-mile distance on dirt suits closers who can relax early, and with Hard to Figure likely drawing most of the chalk money, Mighty Kai offers real win value.

place6Joint VentureML 5/2

Joint Venture (#6) is the 5/2 morning line choice and sits second in our ratings at 83.20 — very close to the top. A 21% career win rate is strong, and Juan Hernandez aboard is one of the leading riders at Del Mar over the meet. The pace scenario at a mile could favor a horse with this kind of rating who can sit just off the fractions and pounce late.

show2HabeasML 6/1

Habeas (#2) at 6/1 offers nice each-way value in a race where the top two picks are closely bunched. The 71.17 rating is a clear step below our top two but a clear step above the rest of the field, effectively making this a three-horse race from a ratings standpoint. Armando Ayuso gets the mount, and at a mile the pace dynamics could easily set things up for a horse with this kind of profile to pick up a piece.

Today's three free looks cover Races 1 through 3 — all dirt, all competitive claiming fields, and all serving as a solid warm-up for the deeper part of the card. Baby Needs Shoes draws our top rating in the opener on 5½ furlongs of dirt, and with clear skies baking the track all afternoon, expect fast early fractions and a surface that should play honest. Rock N Roll Song catches our eye in Race 2 as a potential price play at 6/1 on the morning line — that's the kind of number TrackWiz analysis tends to target in six-furlong claiming sprints where the pace sets up favorably. Mighty Kai rounds out the free card in the one-mile dirt route of Race 3.

The thread connecting these three: all are claiming-level routes or sprints where pace scenario is everything. On a firm, fast-playing Del Mar dirt track under afternoon sun, early speed that can get a breather on the turn often holds better than you'd expect. Keep that in mind as you build your tickets.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

10:40 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claiming sprint where every horse in this field is winless — making the workout tab and trainer intent the biggest clues to unlocking the right winner.

win8Bo DiddleyML 3/1

Bo Diddley (#8) leads all horses in this race with a 70.14 TrackWiz rating and gets Tyler Baze — a rider who thrives in short maiden claiming sprints on the Southern California circuit. At 3/1 on the morning line, the public respects this one, and the average speed figure of 54 is on par with the top cluster in the field. In a race full of unknowns, having the highest rating and a proven jockey is a meaningful edge.

place10Johnny BML 5/2

Johnny B (#10) draws Joel Rosario, and when a rider of Rosario's caliber takes a mount in a maiden claimer, you pay attention — that's not a throwaway booking. The 57.50 rating is second-best in the field and the 5/2 morning line makes this one of two market leaders, suggesting the barn is confident. An average speed of 55 leads all horses in the race, pointing to legitimate tactical speed ability.

show4Winsor GeorgeML 4/1

Winsor George (#4) slots in third on our ratings at 55.00 and is trained by Jorge Periban, who also saddles Johnny B — a barn with two live runners in the same race is worth noting. Emisael Jaramillo gets the call and the 4/1 morning line offers decent show value in trifecta construction. The average speed of 54 is competitive, and with two Periban horses in the field, there's a clear barn intent to fire here.

Race 5

11:12 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Turf

A maiden special weight sprint on the turf — often the most unpredictable race type on the card — but two horses stand out significantly on our ratings in an otherwise wide-open field of first-timers and lightly raced maidens.

win11Maggles McGeeML 7/2

Maggles McGee (#11) owns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 86.35 and carries an average speed figure of 56 — tied for the best among horses with recorded figures. Trainer George Papaprodromou has a strong history placing horses in maiden turf sprints, and Umberto Rispoli is one of the best grass pilots in Southern California right now. At 7/2 on the morning line, the market already has a feel for this one, but the ratings gap justifies confidence.

place13Sacred SoundML 5/2

Sacred Sound (#13) sits just behind at 82.79 and boasts the highest average speed figure in the entire field at 57 — a number that jumps off the page. Peter Miller trains her, and the Miller-Hernandez combination on the turf has been consistently productive. At 5/2 morning line, she's the public choice, and the speed figure edge is a real reason to keep her in your exotics.

show8Unusual ExchangeML 6/1

Unusual Exchange (#8) gives us a legitimate third option at 6/1 with a 68.19 rating — a meaningful jump above the rest of the field below the top two. The average speed of 56 ties with Maggles McGee at the top, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer historically finds ways to get horses ready for turf debuts. Jaramillo gets the mount, and in a race with this many unknowns, landing a 6/1 shot with real speed figures in the show spot of your trifecta is exactly the right approach.

Race 6

11:45 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

One horse dominates the TrackWiz ratings in this one-mile dirt claimer, but the market has him at a mild overlay — making this a race with a clear standout and decent value if the pace sets up right.

win8Hondo CrouchML 7/2

Hondo Crouch (#8) tops the field at 86.35 — the same elite rating as our top picks in several other races today — and Joe Bravo is a savvy veteran who knows how to rate a horse over a mile. Trainer George Papaprodromou has been excellent at placing horses in claiming routes, and a 7/2 morning line is a fair overlay given the ratings gap. The 5% career win rate is lower than you'd like, but in a claiming mile where the pace scenario may set up favorably, the class edge this horse carries should shine through.

place3CheML 4/1

Che (#3) rates second in the field at 76.71 and Doug O'Neill saddles him with Emisael Jaramillo — a reliable combo in these mid-level claiming routes. A 14% career win rate is acceptable for this level, and the 4/1 morning line makes Che a live exacta partner with our top pick. At a one-mile distance, having a horse that can track the pace and kick late is exactly the profile you want for second money.

show6Forza AzzurriML 4/1

Forza Azzurri (#6) at 4/1 is trained by Peter Miller — consistently among the leading trainers at Del Mar — and Joel Rosario is on board, which is never a throwaway. The 69.49 rating is third in the field, and a 16% career win rate in claiming company is workmanlike. In a potential three-way finish involving our top-rated trio, Forza Azzurri is the logical trifecta anchor at a price that makes the ticket cost reasonable.

Race 7

12:18 AM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/8 mi · Turf

A stakes race on the turf at 1 1/8 miles that features a heavy favorite with a monster rating — but the undercard depth includes a couple of horses with elite win percentages who could make the favorite work for it.

win1ProletariatML 9/5

Proletariat (#1) is the clear standout with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — the highest of any horse across the entire card today — and an extraordinary 60% career win rate that makes him a legitimate machine. Jeff Mullins trains him and Kyle Frey gets the assignment; Mullins has historically used the Del Mar turf routes as confidence-builders for his best horses. At 9/5 on the morning line, the price reflects the talent, but a horse with a 60% career win rate in stakes company is hard to fade.

place8MelismaticML 6/1

Melismatic (#8) brings a remarkable 66% career win rate into this spot, the highest of any horse in the race — so when this one fires, she fires. Philip D'Amato saddles her with Kazushi Kimura up, and D'Amato is one of the premier turf trainers in California. The 75.44 rating is third in the field, and in a stakes event where the pace at 1 1/8 miles could be testing, a horse with her win record is a logical in-the-money contender at 6/1.

show4TribalismML 5/1

Tribalism (#4) at 5/1 checks multiple boxes — a 72.80 rating, a 33% career win rate, and Joel Rosario in the irons for Michael McCarthy, who runs strong stock in Southern California stakes. The average speed of 55 is competitive in this group, and McCarthy also has Bust Out in the race, which could complicate pace scenarios in unpredictable ways. Tribalism is the steadiest value option for third money in a race where the favorite seems to carry genuine authority.

Race 8

12:51 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming route on the dirt where every entrant is still looking for career win number one — and a big ratings gap at the top of the field creates a cleaner-than-usual picture in what's normally a chaotic race type.

win1Stormy GalML 7/2

Stormy Gal (#1) leads all horses in this race with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating and draws the rail post in a six-and-a-half-furlong sprint — a position that demands an alert break, but one that gives her a clean path to the lead if she fires well. Trainer Ruben Gomez has a horse here that showed enough in the mornings to earn a 7/2 morning line, indicating the public sees the ability too. With no career wins yet, the maiden claimer is exactly the right level to break through, and the ratings edge is compelling.

place11SodaML 8/1

Soda (#11) at 8/1 is an intriguing value play with a 73.87 rating — second-best in the field and a meaningful gap above the horses bunched in the 68-70 range. Trainer Sam Wilensky with Armando Ayuso up; Ayuso has been quietly effective in maiden company this meet. The average speed of 52 is on the lower end, but in a race where maiden claimers often underperform their figures, the rating-to-price relationship at 8/1 is worth chasing.

show4Sophia MijaML 4/1

Sophia Mija (#4) sits at 70.79 on the TrackWiz scale and gets Kazushi Kimura from Craig Dollase's barn — Dollase doesn't typically run horses without a plan. An average speed of 54 is solid for this level, and at 4/1 she's a horse the morning line respects. In trifecta construction, having Kimura on the third piece of a ticket at a manageable price makes the structure easy to build around.

Race 9

1:24 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A full field allowance optional claimer on the turf at a mile — one of the most competitive races on the card — with a legitimate overlay sitting near the top of our ratings while the market loads up on a lower-rated morning line favorite.

win11Troisieme EtoileML 8/1

Troisieme Etoile (#11) is our top pick at 79.79 and goes off at 8/1 — a genuine overlay in a race where the 4/1 morning line favorite rates below her on our scale. The 40% career win rate is the best among our top three picks and signals a horse that consistently converts when it runs well. Doug O'Neill trains with Emisael Jaramillo up, and O'Neill has repeatedly found ways to place horses in allowance turf routes at Del Mar. At a mile on grass, a horse with this win percentage and this rating at 8/1 is precisely the kind of bet that makes racing profitable over time.

place9SyntaxML 4/1

Syntax (#9) at 4/1 is the morning line second choice and rates 77.15 on our scale — second in the field — with a 22% career win rate that's solid for allowance company. Michael McCarthy trains and Umberto Rispoli takes the mount; Rispoli on grass is a combination you always respect. In a 14-horse field, having our second-best-rated horse in the place spot of your exacta at 4/1 keeps the ticket value strong.

show6GojeML 6/1

Goje (#6) at 6/1 rates third in the field at 73.58 with a 16% career win rate, and Julien Leparoux is one of the most experienced turf pilots you'll find anywhere. Trainer George Papaprodromou is having a strong meet at Del Mar and Goje's average speed of 55 is competitive with the top cluster in this field. At 6/1, the show value in a trifecta alongside two higher-priced horses makes for an attractive ticket structure with meaningful return potential.

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Clear skies, a fast track, and nine races worth of action — today's Del Mar card has something for every kind of player. Baby Needs Shoes, Rock N Roll Song, and Mighty Kai headline the free picks, while Proletariat in the Race 7 turf stakes is the marquee play for subscribers. Full card analysis, pace projections, and exotic ticket breakdowns are all waiting for you — subscribe to TrackWiz and make the most of a great Sunday at the track. Good luck, and may your prices hold.

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