Daily Picks

Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — May 23, 2026

Saturday, May 23, 20268 racesDelaware Park

Delaware Park is sending us a wet one on Saturday, May 23rd. With rain falling and temperatures sitting at a cool 56°F, expect a sealed or sloppy dirt track that's going to sort the field in a hurry. Wet-weather racing rewards horses that can handle the slop — and punishes bettors who don't adjust their thinking.

Eight races are on the board today, running exclusively on the dirt across a variety of conditions — Starter Allowances, Claiming, and Allowance Optional Claiming events mixed in with Maiden Claimers to round out the card. Distances range from a sharp 5½-furlong sprint in Race 8 all the way out to a mile-and-70-yard grind in multiple spots. Plenty of angles to work with.

TrackWiz has broken down the full card. The first three races are free for everyone, so let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:20 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A pace-pressured route over a mile and 70 yards where two standout ratings at the top of the field should decide the outcome — but the 5/2 morning line on the top pick suggests sharp money is already circling.

win6They Got CurryML 5/2

They Got Curry (6) carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.81 and backs it up with a strong 25% career win rate — that's a legit closer profile that hits the board consistently. Trainer Jamie Ness is a sharp conditioner to follow, and jockey Martin Chuan gets the call here. At 5/2 on the morning line, this is a horse the market already respects, and our numbers agree. The extended distance of a mile and 70 should suit a horse with that kind of staying power.

place1Irish CocoML 2/1

Irish Coco (1) draws the rail and comes in as the 2/1 morning line favorite despite a 6% career win rate — that low win percentage might give pause, but the 82.77 TrackWiz rating says the talent is real, likely a horse who has hit the board without always breaking through. Trainer Elizabeth Merryman does solid work with this type, and the inside draw at a one-turn mile route can be a significant advantage if the pace unravels in front.

show5CaprichosainfrontML 6/1

Caprichosainfront (5) sits third in our ratings at 67.32 and has the best morning line value of the top three at 6/1. With a 14% career win rate and the race shaping up as a contested pace between the two top horses, a closer with a decent number can swoop in for a piece — Caprichosainfront fits that role nicely in exotics.

Race 2

4:52 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A six-furlong dirt sprint that looks like a two-horse race at the top, but a wild card lurks in the form of a horse with a jaw-dropping career win percentage who could steal a piece at a price.

win6Java TalesML 3/1

Java Tales (6) dominates this field on paper — an 87.08 TrackWiz rating paired with a 28% career win rate tells you this horse wins races, not just finishes near the front. Jockey Yabriel Ramos picks up the mount for trainer Bruce Kravets, and the 55 average speed figure ties for the highest in the field. At 3/1 on the morning line, you're getting fair value on what looks like a clear class standout going six furlongs.

place2HumoresqueML 2/1

Humoresque (2) is the second-best number in the race at 75.11 and also clocks a 55 average speed — matching Java Tales at the top of the speed chart. Julio Hernandez, one of the busier riders on the Delaware circuit, takes the mount for Cathal Lynch. The 2/1 morning line makes this a short price to place, but the figures support it as a legitimate contender to run second at minimum.

show7High Heel NativeML 4/1

High Heel Native (7) is an intriguing show option at 4/1 with a 66% career win rate — yes, you read that right. That elite win percentage likely reflects a smaller sample, but it signals a horse that simply knows how to finish. The 72.20 TrackWiz rating and 54 average speed give her the numbers to sit third or better, and trainer Jaclyn Reed has her pointed correctly here.

Race 3

5:24 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

This starter allowance mile features a heavy morning-line favorite backed by strong ratings, but the second-best horse in the field at 9/2 brings legitimate win upside for those looking to beat the short price.

win4J D FactorML 3/2

J D Factor (4) is the class of this field with a 89.27 TrackWiz rating — highest on the card for Race 3 — and a 20% career win rate that shows consistency at the windows. Trainer Jamie Ness saddles this one too, making it two strong entries from the barn on the day. Martin Chuan, who also pilots They Got Curry in Race 1, keeps the mount. The 3/2 morning line is short, but the numbers justify the favoritism.

place1Take the PledgeML 9/2

Take the Pledge (1) at 9/2 is the most interesting betting angle in this race — an 81.39 rating and a sparkling 30% career win rate suggests this horse is more than capable of upsetting the favorite. Trainer Cathal Lynch has fielded several horses today, a sign of a barn in form, and Julio Hernandez takes the call. The outside number paired with a capable price makes this a strong place ticket and a legitimate win contender.

show5Freedom RoadML 6/1

Freedom Road (5) brings a 37% career win rate into this spot, which is quietly the highest in the field — horses that win more than a third of their starts are doing something right. The 66.93 rating and 54 average speed (best in the race) make a case for a pace-pressing trip that could hold on for a piece. At 6/1, Andrew Wolfsont aboard, this one rounds out the exacta and trifecta tickets nicely.

The opening three races set the tone nicely. Race 1 gets things rolling over a mile and 70 yards of what figures to be wet, tiring going — the kind of surface that exposes horses who lack stamina. Our top pick They Got Curry (morning line 5/2, TrackWiz rating 87.81) looks well-suited to grind it out. In Race 2, we shift to a tighter 6-furlong sprint where early pace will be at a premium on a track that may be playing fast and honest despite the rain — Java Tales (3/1, 87.08) is the one to beat. Race 3 is the strongest of the free trio: a Starter Allowance at a flat mile where J D Factor (3/2, 89.27) carries our highest free-race rating of the day and looks like a legitimate best bet.

One overarching angle on a rainy Delaware card: watch for horses with prior wet-track experience and those who sit just off the early pace. Frontrunners can get buried in the going when the track comes up heavy. Keep that in mind as you build your early tickets.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:56 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

The Best Distance faces a field that lives up to its name in terms of distance, with this one-mile-and-70-yard route looking like it could sort itself into a clear top three — premium analysis required, as this is a TrackWiz subscriber race.

win4The Best DistanceML 7/2

The Best Distance (4) posts an 86.35 TrackWiz rating that towers over most of this field and backs it up with a 21% career win rate — reliable numbers for a race with this much uncertainty below him. Wesley Ho gets the mount for trainer Jose Gallegos, and the 53 average speed is among the best in here. At 7/2 on the morning line, there's still some value baked in for a horse this clearly superior on our metrics.

place8Paynter's ProdigyML 5/2

Paynter's Prodigy (8) comes in at 5/2 on the morning line with a 69.81 rating and a 17% career win rate — numbers that suggest a consistent performer who can hit the board without always grabbing the win. Jockey Kleiner Mejias takes the call for Enrique Hernandez, and the 53 average speed keeps this horse competitive on pure pace. The price is shorter than ideal for a place play, but the figures support the spot.

show6Rob the RichML 8/1

Rob the Rich (6) is the value angle in the show position at 8/1 — a 69.67 TrackWiz rating that nearly mirrors Paynter's Prodigy at a fraction of the morning-line price. The 24% career win rate is one of the better figures in this field, and Yabriel Ramos aboard for the in-form Bruce Kravets barn makes this a horse worth including in trifectas. That price-to-ability gap is exactly the kind of overlay we look for.

Race 5

6:28 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A competitive claiming mile where the top three horses are packed tightly in our ratings but the morning line has them spread out — that gap creates real value opportunities, especially below the chalk.

win2DamageML 3/1

Damage (2) leads all comers with an 85.75 TrackWiz rating and gets the call from Carol Cedeno, one of the more active riders on the Delaware circuit. The 3/1 morning line is fair given the competition, and a 12% career win rate reflects a horse who has faced tough company — the claiming drop here could be just the spot to break through. Trainer Kelly Lynn Deiter has this one primed, and the pace scenario over a one-mile dirt track should set up perfectly for a closer with a big number.

place7Magic MikeyML 2/1

Magic Mikey (7) is the 2/1 morning-line favorite despite sitting just below Damage in our ratings at 80.55 — the market loves this one, and it's hard to argue. Jose Betancourt handles the mount for Christopher Seale, and the 53 average speed is among the best in the field. At 12% career win rate, this is another horse who has faced good company, and a place effort at minimum looks very likely.

show5Knockout GuyML 8/1

Knockout Guy (5) is the sneaky inclusion here — a 79.79 TrackWiz rating that puts him squarely in the mix, but a career win rate of just 1% that will scare off casual bettors and keep the 8/1 price intact. That disconnect is the entire value case. The 54 average speed is the best in this race, suggesting raw ability that hasn't translated to wins yet. Teshawn Hazelwood in the irons, and if the pace gets hot early, a horse with that much raw speed could be closing into a board spot.

Race 6

7:00 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Two horses at the top of the ratings are separated by less than two points, setting up a potential battle for supremacy going a mile and 70 yards — and a double-digit longshot lurks with a figure that might surprise.

win6Good as He GetsML 2/1

Good as He Gets (6) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 and posts a 21% career win rate that confirms he's a horse who can close the deal. Cipriano Gil takes the mount for trainer Michael Simone, and the 2/1 morning line reflects the public's confidence — which our numbers validate. At a mile and 70 yards on dirt, a horse with a 52 average speed and the best overall rating should be controlling the late stages of this race.

place3Striking SparksML 3/1

Striking Sparks (3) is barely a point behind at 87.08 and matches the top pick's 17% career win rate — this is a genuine threat to upset, not just a place filler. Jose Batista rides for Jose Rodriguez, and the 3/1 morning line offers better value than the favorite for those looking to spread in exotics. Don't let the second-place rating fool you; on a different day with a different trip, Striking Sparks could easily be the one we're writing about first.

show7Secret TreasureML 10/1

Secret Treasure (7) is the value gem in the show spot — a 70.12 TrackWiz rating is the third-best figure in the field, and the 54 average speed is the highest of any horse in this race. Jose Vargas rides for Michelle Castillo, and the 10/1 morning line on a horse with those numbers is exactly the kind of overlay that makes trifecta tickets profitable. At 13% career win rate, this isn't a horse who rolls over, either.

Race 7

7:32 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

An allowance optional claiming mile where the top-rated horse is being underestimated on the morning line relative to its numbers — and a horse with a 37% career win rate off a mediocre rating adds an intriguing pace dimension.

win1Our NotionML 3/1

Our Notion (1) draws the rail and tops the field at an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — same elite number as Striking Sparks in Race 6, and the 3/1 morning line actually represents value relative to that figure. Martin Chuan rides again for the Jamie Ness barn, which has been one of the busiest and most productive outfits on this card. The 54 average speed is tied for best in the race, and an 11% career win rate in allowance company against tougher foes suggests this spot is a step down in class.

place6RecklessML 2/1

Reckless (6) comes in as the 2/1 morning-line favorite despite sitting second in our ratings at 75.77 — the market likes this one more than we do on pure numbers, but the 25% career win rate is genuinely strong. Julio Hernandez hops on for Michael Stidham, a proven combination, and the 53 average speed keeps this horse in the hunt throughout. If Our Notion gets shuffled back from the inside post, Reckless is waiting to pounce.

show5Empire of GloryML 4/1

Empire of Glory (5) at 4/1 rounds out the exotics picture with a 55.52 rating and a 54 average speed — the pace numbers suggest this Jorge Ruiz-Arnaud Delacour combination will have the horse running at the right time. An 18% career win rate is respectable, and Delacour is a trainer who knows how to position horses for spots. At 4/1, there's enough value here to include in trifectas while using Our Notion and Reckless on top.

Race 8

8:04 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint at five and a half furlongs where every horse in the field is still looking for that elusive first win — zero career wins across the board means the ratings and speed figures are doing the heavy lifting today.

win2Cap'n CatsML 6/1

Cap'n Cats (2) leads all maiden claimers with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating and the 6/1 morning line represents genuine overlay value in a race where the 9/5 favorite sits well below this horse on our metrics. Carol Cedeno takes the mount for trainer Josue Arce, and the 53 average speed is right in the mix. In a field of first-time winners, the horse with the highest composite rating often has the first kick in a short sprint — Cap'n Cats looks like that horse.

place3Gallant CreekML 7/2

Gallant Creek (3) is the other high-rated horse in this field at 81.49, separated from our top pick by only 1.2 rating points — this is effectively a dead heat on talent. Edgar Villasmil rides for Kelly Lynn Deiter, a trainer who has multiple runners on the card today suggesting a barn firing on all cylinders. The 7/2 morning line prices this appropriately as a co-contender, and in a maiden sprint, having two fast horses from this barn in the picture is good news for exacta bettors.

show5FarooqML 8/1

Farooq (5) at 8/1 is the longshot value play for show tickets and trifecta use — a 61.55 TrackWiz rating puts him third in this field, and the 54 average speed matches several horses above him. Kevin Gomez gets the mount for Katharine Voss, and in a maiden race where the top two horses are closely matched, a horse with that rating and speed who gets a good trip could be sitting third at the wire. The price makes the inclusion in trifectas a smart move.

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It's a wet, grindy Saturday at Delaware Park and we like the way our card shapes up. J D Factor in Race 3 is the free-card standout, and the premium races offer serious multi-race ticket potential. Full pace analysis, exotic breakdowns, and every angle you need to attack today's card are waiting for subscribers — check out TrackWiz Premium and let's make this a profitable afternoon. Good luck at the windows.

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