Daily Picks

Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — June 17, 2026

Wednesday, June 17, 20269 racesDelaware Park

Delaware Park is open for business on a pleasant Wednesday afternoon — partly cloudy skies, 79°F, and what looks like a fast, consistent dirt track. Nine races on the card today, ranging from maiden claimers at five furlongs all the way up to a pair of Starter Optional Claiming routes, and the variety here is exactly what makes a mid-week card worth digging into.

Conditions are about as friendly as it gets in June at Delaware. No rain in the picture means the dirt should stay firm and speed-friendly — something to keep in mind as you're evaluating pace scenarios throughout the day. When the surface is this consistent, early speed can be especially dangerous, and front-runners who get soft fractions are tough to catch.

We've got three races open to everyone and six more reserved for TrackWiz subscribers. There's some legitimate value scattered across this card — including a couple of morning-line longshots our models like — so let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:20 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

First-time starters fill this maiden claimer at five furlongs, making TrackWiz ratings the primary edge — Martiniwithatwist tops the field by a clear margin but don't sleep on Weaver and Great Destiny in the exotics.

win1MartiniwithatwistML 9/5

Martiniwithatwist draws the rail and earns the top TrackWiz rating in this rookie field at 58.67, a meaningful gap over her nearest rivals. Trainer Gary Capuano sends her out at 9/5 on the morning line, and when Capuano likes one enough to put them in against maiden claimers, it's worth taking seriously. Jockey Yedsit Hazlewood gets the call, and with the pace scenario entirely unknown in a maiden bunch, breaking cleanly from the one-hole could be a significant advantage at five furlongs.

place4WeaverML 5/2

Weaver lands in the second spot on our ratings sheet at 57.50 and draws the four-hole with Angel Cruz up for the capable Cathal Lynch barn. First-time starters for Lynch are always worth a look, and at 5/2 on the morning line he shapes up as a logical place target behind the top pick in what figures to be a close battle.

show5Great DestinyML 7/2

Great Destiny rounds out the top three on ratings at 55.83 and gets the services of Paco Lopez — a significant jockey upgrade over many riders in this field. At 7/2 with trainer Nesvil Hernan Bailon, this one profiles nicely as a show hedge and a key to trifecta combinations in a maiden sprint where finishing positions can be volatile.

Race 2

4:52 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Stylish Gem stands out as a clear class and ratings leader in this six-furlong claiming dash, but the race features a legitimate pace scenario worth mapping with Perugia and Sister Carlie lurking.

win1Stylish GemML 7/2

Stylish Gem tops our TrackWiz ratings by a wide margin at 86.35 in a field where the next closest is Perugia at 76.73 — that kind of separation in a claiming race is notable. Angel Cruz gets the mount for trainer John J. Robb, and while a 14% career win rate isn't flashy, the raw ratings edge here is hard to ignore at a fair 7/2 morning line. At six furlongs on dirt, Stylish Gem's avg speed of 53 matches the middle of the pack, meaning the edge comes down to overall quality rather than raw early speed.

place3PerugiaML 3/1

Perugia comes in with a 16% career win rate for trainer Jamie Ness — a conditioner who knows how to place claimers — and earns the second-best TrackWiz rating at 76.73. The 3/1 morning line makes Perugia a legitimate place target, and Yedsit Hazlewood should give her a comfortable trip from the three-hole.

show4Sister CarlieML 2/1

Sister Carlie is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 with Julio Hernandez in the irons, posting a 74.46 rating and matching the field average at an avg speed of 53. Despite rating third in our model, the public is clearly highest on her, so she's a smart show inclusion — if the favorite's win odds shorten further, the show pool could offer real value elsewhere.

Race 3

5:24 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A fascinating maiden claimer where the market favorite Fortune Garden faces a legitimate TrackWiz challenger in Reece's Drama, who actually tops our model — the divergence between public opinion and ratings makes this one worth dissecting.

win3Reece's DramaML 5/2

Reece's Drama earns the highest TrackWiz rating in the race at 87.81 despite carrying a 5/2 morning line, which suggests the public respects her chances even if Fortune Garden commands more attention. Trainer Kelly Lynn Deiter hands the mount to Limber Taboada Flores, and at 5½ furlongs, the slight class of this maiden field puts a premium on horses who have shown early ability in the morning. The fact that our model rates her above the heavy favorite makes this one of the more intriguing win plays on the card.

place6Fortune GardenML 4/5

Fortune Garden is installed as the 4/5 morning-line chalk, but our ratings peg her second in the race at 76.90 — still a strong number, and she does show the field's best avg speed at 53. Angel Cruz gets on for trainer Gina Perri, and regardless of where the win order falls, Fortune Garden's public support makes her an almost certain place finisher who anchors exacta combinations well.

show4Candy LunaML 6/1

Candy Luna sneaks into our top three at a 51.38 rating, sitting at 6/1 on the morning line — solid value for show tickets and trifecta coverage. Trainer Pedro Nazario runs two horses in this race, which can sometimes indicate a barn that has divided their opinion; Felix Vasquez Jr. rides, and at 6/1, the show payoff on Candy Luna could be livelier than the short prices at the top of the field.

The three free races today cover the early part of the card and give you a solid taste of what Delaware is serving up. Race 1 is a five-furlong maiden claimer where Martiniwithatwist opens as the 9/5 morning-line choice — a fair price in a short field where early pace control matters most. Race 2 stretches to six furlongs in a claiming event, and Stylish Gem at 7/2 is the kind of horse our models reward — a strong TrackWiz rating of 86.35 suggests she brings more to the table than her odds might imply at first glance. Then in Race 3, Reece's Drama posts the highest TrackWiz rating of the free trio at 87.81 and goes postward at a reasonable 5/2 in another maiden claimer going 5½ furlongs.

One thread tying these free picks together: all three are sprints on a fast-tracking dirt surface, and our pace analysis suggests each of these top picks has the positional flexibility to sit close to the pace without burning out early. On a day when speed is likely to be rewarded, that's a real edge.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:56 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

A wide-open Starter Optional Claiming mile-and-sixteenth with ten runners and genuine pace questions — Lien On Her is a TrackWiz value standout, but Determind Princess and High View make this a tricky top-three call.

win9Lien On HerML 10/1

Lien On Her is the pick of the day for value hunters — a 10/1 morning line on a horse posting a 76.88 TrackWiz rating, the best in the field, with an eye-popping 66% career win rate. That win percentage is exceptional by any measure, and with an avg speed of 55 — tops in this field — Julio Hernandez should be able to find a comfortable position from the nine-hole. At a mile-and-a-sixteenth on dirt, horses who can carry their speed around two turns are at a premium, and this profile fits.

place2Determind PrincessML 2/1

Determind Princess is the 2/1 morning-line choice and rates second in our model at 68.45, with Paco Lopez — arguably the top rider on this card — booked by trainer Elizabeth Merryman. Her 14% career win rate is modest, but the combination of a top jockey, a competitive rating, and the second-shortest price in the field makes her a logical place anchor in your exotics.

show6High ViewML 8/1

High View posts a 64.52 rating and a strong 33% career win rate for trainer Tim Woolley, sitting at a generous 8/1 morning line. Avg speed of 54 matches the top tier in this field, and Gavin Ashton riding from the six-hole gives her a clean path early. At a big price with legitimate numbers, she's a show hedge worth sprinkling in trifectas.

Race 5

6:28 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Bella Prima is a dominant TrackWiz favorite in this Starter Optional Claimer at six furlongs, but Awesome Pic and She's a Gem add enough firepower to make the underneath exotic plays genuinely compelling.

win1Bella PrimaML 9/5

Bella Prima has the look of a confident betting choice — a 88.83 TrackWiz rating that dwarfs the field, a 28% career win rate, and the 9/5 morning line to match. Trainer Bruce Kravets is double-entered in this race, which can be a sign of strong stable form, and Yabriel Ramos gets the mount from the rail. At six furlongs on dirt with an avg speed of 54, she figures to be prominent early and has the class to hold on.

place7Awesome PicML 5/2

Awesome Pic rates third in our model at 74.60 and is installed at 5/2 by the morning-line maker — the second choice with a 20% career win rate and Marvin Fernandez aboard for Enrique Hernandez. She has the ability to stalk Bella Prima through the turn and challenge for the lead if the pace gets hot, making her an ideal place and exacta partner.

show5She's a GemML 6/1

She's a Gem is intriguing at 6/1 with a remarkable 45% career win rate — the highest of anyone in this field. Her TrackWiz rating of 69.50 and avg speed of 55 both check out, and trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero clearly knows how to get this mare into the winner's circle. The morning-line price seems to underestimate her win record, and she's a strong show play and live trifecta piece.

Race 6

7:00 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

Ten first-time starters create a wide-open Maiden Special Weight at five furlongs, with Story of Rory leading our model but a full half-dozen runners within realistic striking distance.

win5Story of RoryML 2/1

Story of Rory earns the top TrackWiz rating in this maiden field at 72.29, showing the best avg speed in the race at 55 — a number that genuinely stands out when most of the field is clustered at 53-54. Carol Cedeno rides for trainer Kelly Lynn Deiter, who also saddled Reece's Drama earlier on the card and appears to be having a productive day. The 2/1 morning line is fair for a horse that separates herself cleanly from the rest of the field on the numbers.

place3AndolinML 3/1

Andolin shows a 56.67 rating from the three-hole and is installed at 3/1 by the morning-line makers — the second public choice and a logical place target with Emanuel Rosario in the irons for trainer Lynn Ashby. An avg speed of 53 is middle-of-the-pack, but in a first-out MSW race, finishing position often comes down to who handles the starting gate best, and a clean break from the three-post is a plus.

show8HopeygotML 5/1

Hopeygot gets the services of Paco Lopez, which is always an automatic upgrade in any field — trainer Karin Wagner clearly wanted a top pilot for this debut. The 53.33 rating and avg speed of 54 suggest legitimate ability, and at 5/1 on the morning line, Hopeygot is worth including in trifectas as a horse whose jockey alone could bridge a small talent gap.

Race 7

7:32 PM EDT

Ratings Handicap · 6 fur · Dirt

Sassafrassness looks like the class of this Ratings Handicap with a massive numbers edge, but Drink This Cup at 8/1 is the kind of sneaky value play that can torch exotics when heavy favorites get beat.

win2SassafrassnessML 3/2

Sassafrassness is as close to a standout as you'll find on a racing card — a 89.27 TrackWiz rating, a jaw-dropping 50% career win rate, and Paco Lopez in the irons for the sharp Jamie Ness barn. At 3/2, she's no overlay, but a horse closing in on a coin-flip win rate in her career doesn't need to be. Her avg speed of 55 matches the top runners in the field, and at six furlongs on dirt, she profiles as the one to beat from gate to wire.

place3Drink This CupML 8/1

Drink This Cup makes for a compelling place and exacta play at 8/1 morning-line odds — a 72.08 TrackWiz rating and a 25% career win rate for trainer Michael Stidham, who has a strong reputation with allowance-level horses. Julio Hernandez gets the mount, and if Sassafrassness faces any trouble or softens early, Drink This Cup has the rating to capitalize from the three-hole.

show4Onyx TenML 5/2

Onyx Ten rates fourth in our model at 69.43 but carries a strong 33% career win rate and draws Gary Capuano's attention with Yedsit Hazlewood aboard. The 5/2 morning line reflects public respect, and at a pace-dependent six furlongs, a stalker with Onyx Ten's profile can grab the show spot even in a race dominated by the favorite.

Race 8

8:04 PM EDT

Allowance · 5 fur · Dirt

Seasonal Love sets up as the clear top selection in a competitive ten-horse Allowance sprint, but a loaded middle tier featuring Complex Music and Jetaros makes this a race where the exacta and trifecta could pay very well.

win2Seasonal LoveML 5/2

Seasonal Love posts an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — tied for the best individual horse score we've seen all day — and a 22% career win rate with an avg speed of 56, the highest in the race. Paco Lopez takes the mount for Brett Brinkman, who also has Spamalot in the race, suggesting the barn's main money is likely on the two-horse. At 5/2 in a wide-open allowance, the ratings edge is real and the jockey booking confirms it.

place4Complex MusicML 3/1

Complex Music rates a solid 75.83 with Julio Hernandez up for trainer Panagiotis Synnefias, sitting at 3/1 on the morning line. A 13% career win rate is modest, but the avg speed of 54 and the quality jockey make this a horse who should be running at or near the lead in the stretch. In a pace scenario where multiple horses could press from the outside, Complex Music's positioning from the four-hole looks favorable.

show10JetarosML 7/2

Jetaros grabs the show spot in our analysis with a 71.17 rating and an avg speed of 56 — matching Seasonal Love at the top of the speed column — while running at 7/2 with Sonny Leon in the irons for Teresa Pompay. The program number 10 means he's wide early, but at a short five furlongs with a small field spread, Leon has the horsemanship to find a seam. His speed numbers make him a legitimate pace threat who could sneak into the exotics.

Race 9

8:36 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The finale is a maiden claimer at 5½ furlongs where Party On Rufus owns a dominant ratings lead, but Ready and Able and Magic Bay make the underneath slots worth playing in multi-race wagers.

win1Party On RufusML 5/2

Party On Rufus tops the field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — the same elite score posted by Seasonal Love in Race 8 — and draws the rail for Paul Luna and trainer Juan Bacallao Vega. An avg speed of 53 is solid for this maiden class, and at 5/2 on the morning line, the public is clearly on the same page as our model. In a maiden closer where first-timers often run green, having a horse with established form numbers this strong is a significant edge.

place5Ready and AbleML 7/2

Ready and Able earns the second-highest rating in the field at 66.91 and goes postward at 7/2 with Teshawn Hazelwood for trainer Robert Werneth. An avg speed of 53 keeps pace with the top half of this field, and at a price just slightly above the favorite, Ready and Able shapes up as a strong place component and a natural exacta partner to Party On Rufus.

show8Magic BayML 4/1

Magic Bay rates third in our model at 57.77 with an avg speed of 53, going at 4/1 under Marvin Fernandez for Daniel Velazquez. In a maiden sprint where the top two are well-defined, Magic Bay represents the most logical third-place finisher — the price is fair, the numbers are real, and including him underneath in the trifecta could return solid value if the top two run their race.

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Bottom line for today at Delaware: the free card gives you three sprint plays with legitimate upside in Martiniwithatwist, Stylish Gem, and Reece's Drama. The premium card adds six more races including a standout pace scenario in Race 4 and our highest-rated horse of the day in Race 7. Good luck at the windows — full analysis is waiting for subscribers, and as always, manage your bankroll and enjoy the races.

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