Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — May 20, 2026
Delaware Park rolls out an 8-race Wednesday card on May 20, 2026, and the weather is not messing around — clear skies and a sizzling 89°F mean that track surface is going to be baked firm and playing fast all afternoon. When Delaware gets like this in late spring, speed on the front end has a real edge, and pace scenarios throughout the card need to be read accordingly.
Today's menu runs the full spectrum: claiming races, allowance company, and a pair of Starter Optional Claiming routes that tend to produce some of the trickiest betting puzzles on the card. Three of the eight races are free for all TrackWiz readers, while the remaining five are part of our full premium breakdown. There's something here for every level of bettor.
Our TrackWiz ratings are tight across several races — we're not dealing with clear standouts in every spot, and that's actually what makes a card like this fun. Sharp handicapping and pace awareness could translate into some real value today.
Best Bets
Race 1
2026-05-20T16:23:37Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt
Heavy chalk dominates this one-mile claiming opener, but the morning line screams 'vulnerable favorite' if the pace gets hot early.
Town's Warrior is the overwhelming TrackWiz top-rated horse here with a 90.0 rating — easily the class of this field — and trainer Bruce M. Kravets sends him out at a tight 4/5 morning line for good reason. The 12% career win rate is modest, but the rating gap between Town's Warrior and second-best Martini Martin (60.68) is enormous, suggesting consistent form that simply outclasses these rivals. Jockey Yabriel O. Ramos gets the call and takes over a horse whose average speed (52) is in line with the field, meaning if he fires his best race at a mile, there's very little here to beat him. The main question is price — at 4/5 you're betting chalk, so if you need value, Martini Martin at 2/1 with a 17% career win rate and a 60.68 TrackWiz rating makes for a reasonable exacta partner.
Rating board at 60.7. Ridden by Marvin Fernandez. 6 wins and placed in 17 of 34 races on Dirt tracks. Has placed in the last 2 races.
Rating board at 45.5. Ridden by Carol Cedeno. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 13.06 sec/furlong. More than 1 win on today's surface/distance.
Race 2
2026-05-20T16:54:34Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt
Bella Prima looks like a short-priced standout in this 5.5-furlong dirt claimer, but Dissolute's sharp rating sets up an intriguing exacta battle at the top.
Bella Prima checks nearly every box — highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 89.71, a strong 25% career win rate, and the top average speed figure among active entrants at 54. Trainer Bruce M. Kravets has two horses in this race and puts his best rider, Yabriel O. Ramos, on Bella Prima, which tells you everything about stable confidence. The 6/5 morning line reflects the public's opinion, and honestly it's hard to argue. The value play to watch is Dissolute at 5/2 — a 76.45 rating and 20% career win rate from the outside post, trained by Pedro Nazario. If Bella Prima gets into any early trouble, Dissolute is right there to capitalize. Dark Dutchess (74.20 rating, 9/2) rounds out a legitimate top three.
Rating board at 76.5. Ridden by Paul A. Luna. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 12.59 sec/furlong. 3 wins and placed in 7 of 14 races on Dirt tracks.
Rating board at 36.3. Ridden by Martin Chuan. For past year, Jockey has a 24% win rate and finished in the money in 56% of races. More than 1 win on today's surface/distance.
Race 3
2026-05-20T17:27:13Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt
A genuinely competitive Starter Optional Claiming sprint at six furlongs with two horses separated by less than two points at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — buckle up.
The Feisty One edges out Miguel's Belle in our ratings at 79.79 vs. 78.28, making this an incredibly tight call — but at 8/1 on the morning line, The Feisty One represents significant value if you believe the numbers. A 25% career win rate is the second-best in the field, and an average speed of 54 matches the pace setters here. Trainer Bruce M. Kravets has been a presence on this card, and this looks like his best price play of the day. That said, Miguel's Belle (78.28 rating) under Paco Lopez is a legitimate threat — Lopez is a top-tier rider, and Miguel's Belle's 56 average speed is the highest in the field. The 9/5 morning line on Miguel's Belle suggests the public and TrackWiz are nearly aligned on the top two, but the overlay is clearly with The Feisty One.
Rating board at 78.3. Ridden by Paco Lopez. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.01 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 27% win rate and finished in the money in 65% of races.
Rating board at 61.7 • 21% career wins. Ridden by Sonny Leon. For past year, Jockey has a 17% win rate and finished in the money in 52% of races. 9 wins and placed in 20 of 39 races on Dirt tracks.
Our three free races give you a solid foundation to start the day. Race 1 goes a full mile on the dirt and features Town's Warrior, who carries a 90 TrackWiz rating and is the morning-line favorite at 4/5 — a rare case where the chalk looks genuinely deserving. In Race 2, Bella Prima faces a 5½-furlong sprint, and on a track playing this fast, her early foot could be the difference. Race 3 is the most interesting free play on paper: The Feisty One sits at 8/1 on the morning line in a Starter Optional Claiming event, but our rating of 79.79 suggests there's a pace or class angle worth exploring — longshot prices in SOC races deserve a hard look when conditions favor pace setters.
The common thread across these three free races? With the track firm and the heat cranking, horses that can establish position early without burning out are going to be tough to beat. Keep an eye on early fractions — if the pace is honest, closers get a look, but on a hot fast track like today's Delaware surface, don't fade speed without a strong reason.
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Today at Delaware it's all about reading the fast track, respecting the heat, and not overreacting to morning-line prices in the tighter fields. Town's Warrior in Race 1 is our most confident free play of the afternoon, and The Feisty One at 8/1 in Race 3 is the kind of price that pays for a whole session if it lands. For the full card — pace maps, exotic tickets, and all five premium races — the complete TrackWiz breakdown is live now for subscribers. Good luck out there.