Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — June 27, 2026
Rain is in the air at Delaware Park on June 27, and that changes everything. With temperatures sitting at 74°F and steady rain falling, the dirt surface is likely to come up sloppy or muddy, and the turf courses could range from yielding to soft — meaning surface preferences and wet-track form are going to jump to the top of your checklist today.
We've got an 8-race card on tap, and there's plenty to dig into. The card spans both dirt and turf, mixing Maiden Claiming openers with a pair of Stakes races on the lawn in Races 6 and 8 — those turf routes at 1 1/8 miles are the marquee events of the afternoon. Keep a close eye on any late scratches, especially from horses targeting the turf, as stewards may take the turf courses off depending on how the weather develops.
TrackWiz analysis covers all 8 races today. The first three races are unlocked for everyone — that's where we'll kick things off — and the full premium card takes you through Race 8.
Best Bets
Race 1
Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt
A heavy favorite looms large in this Starter Optional Claiming sprint, but the morning line suggests the market believes one rival can keep it honest — don't sleep on the price plays underneath.
Kerness K is the class of this field by a wide margin, posting a TrackWiz rating of 90 — more than 25 points clear of the next rival. That 52% career win rate is elite for a Delaware Park conditional, and trainer Jamie Ness puts horses in position to win at a high clip. At 4/5 on the morning line, the value isn't there for win-only bettors, but this horse is the clear anchor of any exotic play you're constructing.
Just Relax offers a legitimate alternative framing for the race at 8/5 with a solid TrackWiz rating of 64.86. Julien Leparoux gets the call, and he's one of the sharpest sticks at Delaware — he rarely wastes trips. A 33% career win rate in this spot suggests this horse knows how to finish, making a place ticket excellent value if Kerness K draws all the money.
Rad Paisley is a live longshot underneath at 12/1 on the morning line, making this a sneaky show bet or exotic inclusion. The 41.09 TrackWiz rating isn't flashy, but in a short field of five where the top two are absorbing all the action, Rad Paisley could sneak into the exotics. Trainer Joanne Shankle and jockey Raul Mena are a familiar pairing at this circuit — keep an eye on the tote for any late action.
Race 2
Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt
A wide-open maiden claiming sprint where every horse is still looking for their first win — but TrackWiz analysis has separated the contenders from the longshots in a field of six.
Party On Rufus tops our TrackWiz ratings at 89.42 in a field where no horse has won before, which tells you a lot about how we see the relative form here. Trainer Juan Bacallao Vega also enters Uncle Zeb in this race, a two-horse barn shot that often signals confidence — when a trainer doubles up, they usually believe in the barn's best runner. With a morning line of 7/5, the public agrees, and a slightly higher average speed figure than Bold Statement tips the edge toward the 2.
Bold Statement draws the rail and figures to get a clean trip in a six-horse sprint under Julien Leparoux, who's as good as it gets in terms of saving ground on the front end. The 71.43 TrackWiz rating is second-best in the field, and trainer Michael Simone has been active on the card — that suggests a stable in good form today. At 6/5 morning line, this one is actually the public's top choice; our ratings give Party On Rufus the edge, but Bold Statement belongs in your exacta.
Shawnpatrick opens at 12/1 in a field of all winless horses, which makes this a legitimate price play in the exotics. The 53.80 TrackWiz rating places this one third in the field, and matching the average speed figure of the more-fancied runners at 53 is a solid indicator. Trainer Kelly Lynn Deiter keeps horses ready, and if the pace gets hot between the top two, Shawnpatrick could be the one picking up the pieces.
Race 3
Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt
The morning line favorite and our top-rated horse don't match up here — Float On carries the highest TrackWiz score but goes off at 7/5, while the public leans toward Old Town Road at 8/5. There's a pace scenario worth exploring underneath.
Float On leads all runners with a TrackWiz rating of 89.42 and pairs with Wesley Ho, a jockey who has been doing solid work around this circuit. The 18% career win rate is respectable for a claiming runner, and trainer Michelle Castillo keeps horses competitive. If Float On can establish position in the first quarter of this six-furlong sprint, this figures to be a wire-to-wire performance.
Rolly is our place pick and the value angle of the race at 8/1 on the morning line. A 61.47 TrackWiz rating places this one clearly second-best, and the 54 average speed figure matches the mid-range of the field. Trainer Thomas Waltke Jr. also enters Old Town Road — a barn double — but Rolly's higher rating suggests this is the one to beat from the Waltke barn if Float On stumbles.
Old Town Road owns the best career win rate in the field at 26%, matching Keeping It Country, and has a 55 average speed figure that aligns with the top sprinters in this group. At 8/5, this is the public's choice, but our analysis puts Float On ahead — Old Town Road still belongs in your trifecta as a live show runner. The Jose Betancourt-Waltke Jr. connection is a familiar one at Delaware and worth noting.
The opening trio on today's card gives us a nice mix of race types on the dirt. Kerness K comes in as a heavy morning-line favorite at 4/5 in the Starter Optional Claiming opener — a short-priced horse on a potentially tricky surface, so wet-track form will be the deciding factor. In Race 2, Party On Rufus (7/5 morning line) tops our Maiden Claiming analysis with a TrackWiz rating of 89.42, matching Float On's mark in Race 3, where we're pointing to Float On in a 6-furlong Claiming sprint. Two co-rated top picks in back-to-back races is an interesting spot for a multi-race wager if both look strong at the windows.
The through-line connecting these free picks is pace — all three races go 6 furlongs on the dirt, and in wet conditions, early speed can either dominate by getting clear or get swallowed up by closers working through the going. We'll be watching the morning-line moves closely and flagging any significant tote action before post.
Full Card Analysis
Premium Content
Get the Full Card Analysis
Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.
Rain, turf stakes, and a pair of co-rated top picks in the early going — Delaware Park on June 27 is a card worth your full attention. Start with Kerness K, Party On Rufus, and Float On in the free races, and let our premium analysis guide you through the rest of the card, including pace scenarios and exotic ticket builds for the two turf stakes. Full coverage is one click away at TrackWiz Premium — good luck out there.