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Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — June 18, 2026

June 18, 20269 racesAll Delaware Park picks

This card ran on June 18, 2026.

Best bets at Delaware Park, June 18, 2026

Race 15Sharp WonderML 3/112:20 PM EDT

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Happy Thursday from Delaware Park, where a gorgeous clear-day setup at 83°F means the turf courses should be playing fast and the dirt will be firm underfoot. That's good news for speed horses on the dirt and for turf routers who like a true surface. Nine races are on the card today, mixing maiden claimers, straight claimers, and a handful of Starter Optional Claiming events that often hide some interesting class angles.

The card spans both surfaces — five races on the dirt and three on the turf, plus one turf sprint thrown in at 7½ furlongs to keep things spicy. Distances stretch from a straight six furlongs all the way out to a mile and 70 yards, so pace scenarios are going to vary wildly from race to race. TrackWiz analysis has identified strong plays throughout the card, including a couple of intriguing price horses that could make for excellent value.

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Race 1

12:20 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claiming mile on the dirt where the top two TrackWiz-rated horses are separated by just five points — expect a genuine pace battle with several horses posting identical average speed figures.

win5Sharp WonderML 3/1

Sharp Wonder draws the five-hole with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08, the highest in the field, and checks in at a morning line of 3/1 — respectable value for the top-rated horse. Trainer Jose A. Gallegos sends him out with jockey Wesley Ho, and the avg speed figure of 53 ties the field's best. In a maiden claimer this competitive, a horse that combines the top rating with a fair price is exactly the kind of win play we want to anchor our ticket.

place2GualilloML 9/5

Gualillo is the morning line favorite at 9/5, and that price reflects a horse the market respects — his TrackWiz rating of 82.31 is second only to our top pick. Jockey Julio A. Hernandez has a strong book of mounts today, and Gualillo's avg speed of 53 gives him the raw foot to compete. If Sharp Wonder hits the front and faces any pressure, Gualillo is the most likely beneficiary.

show8Hotter Than DemML 4/1

Hotter Than Dem rounds out our exotic plays at 4/1 on the morning line, with a solid rating of 75.20 that puts him third best in this field. Paco Lopez in the irons is a major positive — he's one of the top pilots on the Delaware circuit. At a fair price with quality riding, he's a logical show anchor for trifecta coverage.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

12:52 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

The morning line favorite draws the rail in a one-mile-and-seventy-yard claiming affair, but there's a live pace threat on the outside with a closer lurking at a big number — the race shape could produce a surprise.

win1ChaperoneML 2/1

Chaperone (1) posts the field's top TrackWiz rating at 80.36 and draws the coveted rail under jockey Yedsit Hazlewood for trainer Jamie Ness, who is one of the more reliable conditioners running horses at Delaware. The 2/1 morning line is fair — he's clearly the class of the field by our metrics. His career win rate of 6% in claiming company isn't flashy, but the rating gap over the rest of the field is sizable enough to make him the most reliable win play on the card through the first two races.

place5Guard of HonourML 8/1

Guard of Honour is a fascinating value angle at 8/1 on the morning line, carrying a TrackWiz rating of 79.79 — nearly identical to Chaperone's and well clear of the rest. His career win percentage is just 2%, suggesting he's found ways to be placed without closing the deal, which makes him an ideal place play. Jockey Shirley Esther Yancapallo Gomocio gets the call for trainer Martin Hinckson, and if Guard of Honour runs to his rating, he'll be right there at the wire.

show7SantinniML 7/5

Santinni is the second choice on the morning line at 7/5, trained by Greg Compton with Paco Lopez aboard — a strong tactical pairing. His rating of 76.56 and career win rate of 16% make him the most proven winner in the field by that measure. He's the type of horse who usually finds a check, and at the morning line price he's likely to be underlaid, but he's too consistent to leave off your exotic tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

The first three races on the card are open to everyone today, and there's real meat on the bone here. Sharp Wonder opens the day at 3/1 morning line in a maiden claimer going a flat mile on the dirt — our top TrackWiz rating at 87.08 in that field makes this a confident opener. Chaperone follows in Race 2 as the 2/1 morning line favorite in a claiming route at a mile and 70 yards, a distance that rewards horses who can settle early and finish hard — the conditions set up perfectly for a front-to-close effort on today's firm dirt. On the turf in Race 3, Nilambar gets the nod at 7/2 in a maiden claimer going 1 1/16 miles — the firm going on a clear afternoon is exactly the kind of surface a turf maiden can pop a career-best figure on.

The through-line connecting these three free picks is simple: all three are top-rated in their respective fields by TrackWiz, and all three figure to benefit from the benign weather keeping both the dirt and turf surfaces honest and fair today. No excuses for any of them.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

1:24 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

The turf is the great equalizer in maiden claiming races, and this 1 1/16-mile grass event features a clear standout on ratings but a deep undercard of lightly-raced horses who could spring a surprise on a surface where experience matters.

win1NilambarML 7/2

Nilambar tops the field with a TrackWiz rating of 86.35 and is one of the few horses in this maiden claimer who has actually won before — an 11% career win percentage stands out when everyone else in the field is winless. His avg speed figure of 54 is tied for the best in the race, and trainer Bruce M. Kravets sends him out with Yabriel O. Ramos up. At 7/2 on the morning line, there's genuine value for the clear top selection.

place3My Pal BillML 8/5

My Pal Bill draws the three-hole with Paco Lopez riding for Anthony Pecoraro, and the 8/5 morning line makes him the public's second choice. His TrackWiz rating of 61.96 lags behind Nilambar, but Lopez is the kind of rider who can nurse horses through turf traffic and find daylight late. He's the natural second wheel in any exotic combination here.

show9Cap'n CatsML 8/1

Cap'n Cats sneaks in at 8/1 with a rating of 58.29 — third best in the field — and jockey Angel Cruz has shown he can navigate a turf course. Trainer Josue Arce drops him into maiden claiming company, which is the right spot for a horse still searching for his first win. At 8/1, he makes a sensible show play and a useful trifecta include.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 4

1:56 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A dominant favorite looms large in this starter optional claiming route, but a pace scenario that could get hot early gives the second choice a real shot to run him down in the stretch.

win5GuaponessML 6/5

Guaponess is the standout in Race 4 with a TrackWiz rating of 89.71 — the highest of any horse in the first half of today's card — and the morning line reflects it at 6/5. Trainer Jamie Ness has been firing at Delaware, and Mychel J. Sanchez is a polished rider who handles favorites well. A 20% career win rate adds to the confidence here — this horse knows how to get the job done.

place2Stone Cold FlexML 5/2

Stone Cold Flex rates second in the field at 75.02 and ships in at 5/2 on the morning line for trainer Victor Carrasco Jr. with Jose A. Batista up. A 16% career win percentage shows he's been competitive, and his avg speed of 53 gives him the raw numbers to keep up. If Guaponess hits a flat spot or faces a hard pace battle, Stone Cold Flex is the most logical horse to run him down.

show4CatatumboML 10/1

Catatumbo is an interesting spot play at 10/1 morning line with a rating of 53.19, sitting squarely in the middle of the field. Trainer August R. Martin places him in optional claiming, and his 16% career win rate suggests he's capable of firing on the right day. The price makes him a value inclusion in trifectas — if the pace falls apart up front, he could be picking up pieces.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 5

2:28 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

The morning line favorite isn't our top pick here — TrackWiz analysis identifies a value play at 6/1 as the most powerful horse in the field, setting up a potential overlay in this one-mile dirt claimer.

win7Twenty One KidML 6/1

Twenty One Kid is our top selection at 6/1, making him a genuine value play given that his TrackWiz rating of 82.71 is the best in the field by more than five points. Trainer Harold Wyner puts Yedsit Hazlewood up, and a 12% career win rate tells us this horse has won before at this level. The avg speed figure of 53 is among the field's best, and if he gets a clean trip from the seven-hole, there's real upset potential here.

place6Midnight OnyxML 2/1

Midnight Onyx is the 2/1 morning line favorite, so she'll likely be underlaid at the windows — but our rating of 77.44 (second best in the field) confirms she's legitimate. Cipriano Gil rides for trainer Leslielyn N. Hardesty, and an 8% career win percentage shows she competes consistently at this level. She fits comfortably as the place horse on our ticket while Twenty One Kid takes the top billing.

show3Russian HammerML 4/1

Russian Hammer posts the field's highest avg speed figure at 54 and rates third overall at 70.43 — Sara Hess rides for trainer Pedro Posadas. His 8% career win rate is workmanlike but his raw speed numbers suggest he's capable of going with the leaders early. At 4/1, he's a natural show play and a solid trifecta include with legitimate upside.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 6

3:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 1/2 fur · Turf

A dominant speed horse likely to get away easy on the front end sets up a potentially wire-to-wire scenario in this 7.5-furlong turf claimer — the question is whether the closers can run him down before the wire.

win4Getaway PalaceML 3/2

Getaway Palace is the standout of Race 6 in every measurable way — an avg speed figure of 56 leads the field by two ticks, and a TrackWiz rating of 89.27 is the top mark on today's card through six races. Trainer Erin C. McClellan has him at 3/2 on the morning line, and jockey Gavin Ashton gets the gift of a horse that should be on or near the lead from the jump. A 20% career win rate rounds out the profile — this is as close to a banker play as you'll find today.

place5Magnolia WindML 8/1

Magnolia Wind sits at 8/1 on the morning line and rates second in the field at 77.35 — that price discrepancy relative to her ratings position is exactly the kind of overlay we look for in place exotics. Wesley Ho rides for trainer Michelle Castillo, and her 14% career win rate and avg speed of 54 suggest she's capable of holding the place position comfortably. She's a key component in any horizontal exotic that includes Getaway Palace.

show10Dark DutchessML 10/1

Dark Dutchess checks in at 10/1 morning line with the second-highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 72.96, making her a potential overlay for show and trifecta plays. Carol Cedeno rides for Robert A. Werneth, and her 10% career win percentage shows she's hit the board at a reasonable clip. She draws program number 10 — likely near the outside — which suits a closer on turf.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 7

3:32 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The betting favorite doesn't match the top of our ratings in this six-furlong starter optional claimer — our top selection goes off at double-digit odds, setting up a tasty longshot angle against an odds-on morning line pick.

win3Let'em HateML 10/1

Let'em Hate is our longshot win play at 10/1, posting a TrackWiz rating of 76.88 — the best in this field by a clear margin. Trainer Bruce M. Kravets gives the call to Yabriel O. Ramos, a rider who has been active and confident at Delaware this meet. The 6% career win rate looks modest, but the ratings gap over the morning line choice suggests the market may be underrating him significantly — this is the kind of price discrepancy that fuels profitable wagering days.

place6Honor Our CountryML 8/5

Honor Our Country goes off as the 8/5 morning line favorite and posts a rating of 69.25 — the second-best mark in the field. Trainer Jamie Ness sends Yedsit Hazlewood out on a horse with a 14% career win rate, and that combination commands respect. If he runs his race, he'll be right there, but at likely short odds, he's best used as a place and show anchor rather than a value win bet.

show5Good Golly MsfollyML 6/1

Good Golly Msfolly draws the five-hole at 6/1 morning line with a rating of 61.79 and an impressive 25% career win rate — one of the higher win percentages in the field. Trainer Cathal A. Lynch partners with Julio A. Hernandez, and her avg speed figure of 54 is tied with the top sprinters in this race. She's a natural hedge play: if the pace gets heated up front and the favorites get beat up, she's capable of finishing fast.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 8

4:04 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

An enormous field of 16 horses goes to post in this one-mile turf starter optional claimer, making pace projections treacherous — but our top three choices are separated from the field on raw ratings and should help anchor exotic plays.

win9Lucky EstherML 6/1

Lucky Esther tops our leaderboard in this massive field with a TrackWiz rating of 79.79, tying Guard of Honour from Race 2 as the type of horse who consistently performs. Trainer Michael R. Matz is a Hall of Famer who remains sharp, and Julio A. Hernandez has been one of the busiest riders at Delaware today. An avg speed figure of 55 — tied for best in the field — and a 12% career win rate give this horse a legitimate profile at 6/1.

place10Queen WilhelminaML 5/2

Queen Wilhelmina is the second choice at 5/2 on the morning line and rates second in the field at 77.60. Trainer Lindsay Schultz gets Paco Lopez up, and in a big turf field, having the best jockey in the race is never a bad thing. Her 4% career win rate is low, but the TrackWiz rating suggests she's been running in tough spots — dropping into this field, she should be competitive enough to hit the board.

show11Knowledge Is GoodML 15/1

Knowledge Is Good is a notable value play at 15/1 morning line — the third-highest rating in the field at 69.58 despite being completely overlooked by the morning line. Trainer Michael V. Simone also has Paco Lopez listed, which means Lopez may be double-booked (confirm scratches before wagering), but the raw rating here is worth noting. A 7% career win rate in starter optional claiming company is respectable, and at 15/1 he's a worthwhile trifecta bomb.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 16 runners

Race 9

4:36 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The finale is a six-furlong dirt sprint with a clear class standout at a fair price — but there's enough pace in this field to set it up for a closer, and the value tier has legitimate upside.

win7Sharon's PrinceML 2/1

Sharon's Prince is our top selection with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 — comfortably the highest in the field — and draws the seven-hole at 2/1 on the morning line. Trainer Bruce M. Kravets puts Yabriel O. Ramos up for the third time today, a rider-trainer combo that's been clicking. An avg speed figure of 55 leads the field, and while his career win rate of 7% is modest, the raw ratings profile here is dominant. At 2/1, he's still a value relative to what the numbers say.

place3ParalegalML 7/2

Paralegal rates second in the field at 72.99 and draws the critical three-hole with Paco Lopez up for trainer Maxine Correa. His 14% career win rate is among the strongest in this field, and an avg speed of 53 keeps him in the conversation pace-wise. Lopez knows how to rate a horse in a six-furlong sprint and get them home — Paralegal is the natural place play behind Sharon's Prince.

show5MinisterML 9/2

Minister rates third at 63.96 and goes off at 9/2 on the morning line with Martin Chuan up for Anthony Pecoraro. His avg speed figure of 52 is workmanlike but his 15% career win rate shows he knows how to finish. In a sprint where the pace could get heated with horses like He's Side Eyed and Federal Exchange, Minister's steady profile makes him a sensible show play and trifecta closer.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

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Nine races, a perfect racing afternoon, and some genuinely compelling plays up and down the card. Start with Sharp Wonder, Chaperone, and Nilambar in the free races — all three are strong top picks with solid TrackWiz ratings to back them up. And if you want the complete picture, including our best shot at a big-price winner in Race 7 and the full exotic strategy for the back end of the card, the full analysis is waiting for subscribers at TrackWiz Premium. Good luck out there — play smart and enjoy the day.

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