Daily Picks

Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — July 1, 2026

Wednesday, July 1, 20269 racesDelaware Park

Happy July 1st, and welcome to Delaware Park for a nine-race Wednesday card that's shaping up to be a genuinely interesting afternoon at the meet. The skies are clear overhead, but it's a scorching 91°F at post time — the kind of heat that can sap energy from horses who pressed hard on the front end in recent starts. When you're handicapping today, keep pace sustainability in the back of your mind.

The surface menu is nicely varied: seven races on the main dirt track and a pair of turf tests rounding out the card (Races 5 and 7). With the ground firm and conditions consistent, TrackWiz analysis points to some strong pace scenarios developing, particularly in the two-turn routes. Whether you're playing a few races or grinding the full card, there are legitimate angles to attack all day.

Three races are unlocked for everyone right out of the gate — Races 1, 2, and 3 — so even casual fans can dig in immediately. The premium half of the card, Races 4 through 9, is where some of the sharpest plays of the day are hiding, including a couple of morning-line overlays our models really like.

Best Bets

Race 1

3:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A competitive one-mile claimer where the morning line favorite sits mid-pack on ratings but our numbers say two double-digit overlays are the real story — this one could produce a juicy exotic payout.

win7Morning ThoughtsML 8/1

Morning Thoughts tops our TrackWiz ratings at 79.79 despite going off at 8/1 on the morning line — that's a significant overlay worth attacking. Jevian Toledo is one of the sharper riders in the mid-Atlantic circuit, and pairing him with a horse carrying a 19% career win rate gives you a live combination. At a mile on dirt, you want a horse that can settle and close, and the profile here fits that scenario with the pace likely to be contested up front. At the offered price, this is our best value play in the opener.

place2Winter's GhostML 2/1

Winter's Ghost is the morning line favorite at 2/1 for good reason — a 16% career win rate and a TrackWiz rating of 79.76 make this a legitimate contender. Trainer Bruce M. Kravets also saddles Hardy Choice in this spot, which shows confidence in the barn's overall form today. At fair odds, Winter's Ghost fits ideally in the place slot of your exotics.

show6VanzzyML 5/1

Vanzzy brings a 19% career win rate — tied for the field's best — and posts a solid 78.68 TrackWiz rating at 5/1 on the morning line. Julio A. Hernandez is a capable pilot who can find trips in traffic, and the horse's consistency makes it a reliable show anchor for tri and superfecta tickets.

Race 2

3:30 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden special weight sprint that looks top-heavy on paper — one horse checks in with a rating nearly 20 points clear of the field, but a couple of interesting second-starters make this worth watching beyond the favorite.

win3Grey BullML 2/1

Grey Bull is the clear standout here with a 88.54 TrackWiz rating — the highest by a wide margin in this maiden field — and Paco Lopez in the irons only adds to the appeal. Lopez is one of the busiest and most accomplished jockeys in this region, and trainer Jamie Ness has a reputation for having horses ready first out. Grey Bull already shows an average speed figure of 52, giving him a measurable edge over several first-time starters who are working from zero data. At 2/1, the price is fair for what looks like a significantly superior horse.

place5No More KingsML 5/1

No More Kings catches your eye as a pace or value alternative at 5/1 with a 68.73 rating — second best in the field by a comfortable margin. An average speed of 54 is eye-catching for a maiden, suggesting this horse has shown something in past efforts worth taking seriously. Trainer Greg Compton has developed horses at this level before, and at the right odds, No More Kings could easily beat the field home for a piece.

show2ClockworkML 3/1

Clockwork sits third in our ratings at 56.67 and gets the backing of trainer Michael Stidham, who is no stranger to MSW competition. At 3/1, the price isn't generous, but Stidham's horses tend to run their race, and Clockwork makes sense as a show safety net in exacta and trifecta constructions around the top two.

Race 3

4:00 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A five-and-a-half furlong starter optional claimer where the morning line favorite and the TrackWiz top-rated horse diverge sharply — pace will be a factor with multiple speed horses in the draw.

win1Bella PrimaML 8/1

Bella Prima is our top-rated horse at 79.79 and goes at 8/1 on the morning line — a significant overlay in a field where the 2/1 chalk rates considerably lower. A 28% career win rate is elite for this company, and Yabriel O. Ramos has the tactical savvy to navigate a potentially hot pace scenario up front. Trainer Bruce M. Kravets conditions two horses on today's card and looks live throughout — his barn is clearly in form. At the price, Bella Prima is our best bet play of the first three races.

place5Miguel's BelleML 2/1

Miguel's Belle is the morning line favorite at 2/1 and earns that respect with a 73.68 TrackWiz rating and a 17% career win rate in a competitive field. Paco Lopez is the class of the riding colony today and should have this filly tracking the pace perfectly over the 5.5-furlong trip. Even if she gets beaten by an overlay, she's the type to fill a slot in the exacta.

show7R Averie LynnML 4/1

R Averie Lynn holds a 66.10 TrackWiz rating and posts a 24% career win rate — one of the higher marks in this field — at a fair 4/1 morning line price. Trainer Michael E. Gorham keeps this horse competitive, and the sprint distance suits a horse that can fire quickly in the early going. In trifecta tickets, R Averie Lynn is a sensible deeper inclusion.

The free portion of the card gives you a solid cross-section of what Delaware Park has to offer today. Race 1 opens things up at a mile on the dirt, a distance that rewards horses with tactical speed and the stamina to sustain it — and Morning Thoughts checks both boxes at an attractive 8/1 morning line. Don't let that price scare you off; our rating of 79.79 is competitive in this claiming field, and value plays at a mile are exactly what you should be hunting in the summer heat.

Race 2 is the headliner of the free trio — Grey Bull comes in as the 2/1 morning-line favorite in a 6-furlong Maiden Special Weight and carries an 88.54 TrackWiz rating, one of the strongest marks on the entire card. That's real confidence, not just chalk-chasing. Then Bella Prima rounds out the free picks in Race 3's 5½-furlong Starter Optional Claiming sprint. Like Morning Thoughts, she's posted at 8/1 on the morning line, making her a legitimate value angle if the pace sets up right in a short field.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

4:30 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

This route looks like a two-horse race on the numbers, with a heavy class edge at the top — but a pair of live longshots lurk in a field that could make the pace honest and set up closers.

win4BraquetML 8/5

Braquet is the standout of this card with a 89.12 TrackWiz rating, the highest mark among all horses in Race 4, and a 22% career win rate that plays well in starter optional claiming company. David Cora takes the mount for trainer Bruce M. Kravets — again showing the barn's depth today — and the 8/5 morning line reflects genuine public respect for this horse's form. Over a mile and 70 yards on dirt, Braquet's 54 average speed figure gives her a pace edge she should be able to leverage. This is a short-priced horse worth backing confidently.

place1Golden Eib MicrphnML 4/1

Golden Eib Micrphn punches above her morning line of 4/1 with a 73.91 TrackWiz rating and a remarkable 34% career win rate — the kind of number that screams proven winner. Jevian Toledo aboard is a bonus, and the added distance of a mile and 70 yards could play right into her strengths as a horse with tactical pace. She's the logical place insurance if Braquet runs her race.

show7Chelsea WallML 2/1

Chelsea Wall at 2/1 has a 31% career win rate that's hard to dismiss, and Paco Lopez gives the connection every chance in a routing trip. The 70.66 TrackWiz rating puts her third in the field, and for show and trifecta purposes, she's a horse that knows how to finish. Trainer Jamie Ness has another live runner going today and looks sharp across the card.

Race 5

5:00 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Turf

A wide-open maiden claiming route on the turf where the field is all first-time or win-seeking types — our ratings separate two horses from the pack in what could be a grass specialist's coming-out party.

win8AndolinML 4/1

Andolin checks in with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — tops in this maiden field — and draws the services of Joseph Rocco, Jr., a jockey with plenty of turf experience in the region. Trainer Lynn A. Ashby sending this one out at 4/1 suggests there's confidence behind the barn door, and an average speed figure of 53 is competitive for this level. In a wide-open maiden turf spot, having the highest-rated horse at a fair overlay price is exactly the kind of situation TrackWiz analysis targets.

place7CapitaineML 6/1

Capitaine is the sneaky play here at 6/1 with an 80.36 TrackWiz rating — second best in the field — under trainer Cathal A. Lynch, who has a strong record developing turf horses. Daniel Centeno takes the mount, and the price makes Capitaine an excellent value underneath Andolin in exactas and trifectas. When a horse rates this highly and goes off at double digits on the morning line, that's a spot to take.

show3StarmetalML 2/1

Starmetal drew the morning line favoritism at 2/1 and trainer Michelle Nihei clearly has this horse ready with a 60.76 TrackWiz rating. Gavin Ashton is a competent pilot who can keep a turf horse relaxed in the early going, which matters over a route distance. At short odds, Starmatel is the public's security blanket — and a logical show hedge to round out your trifecta coverage.

Race 6

5:30 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

An allowance mile-plus on dirt that pits a high-rated price horse against a heavily-bet morning line favorite — this is the kind of race where the 4/1 shot can absolutely steal value from bettors who reflexively back chalk.

win1Risk FactorML 4/1

Risk Factor tops our TrackWiz ratings in this allowance at 85.62 despite sitting at 4/1 on the morning line — well behind the 2/1 chalk in public sentiment. Trainer Gregory D. Sacco is a respected conditioner at this level, and Samuel Marin aboard gives this horse a capable hand over the 1 mile 70-yard distance. With a 15% career win rate and a 54 average speed figure that leads the field, Risk Factor is positioned to post a figure that beats everyone home. This is the kind of spot where our numbers diverge sharply from the market and we lean in hard.

place7Mr. RippleML 2/1

Mr. Ripple is the 2/1 morning line choice and earns that favoritism with a 31% career win rate — highest in the field by a healthy margin. Angel Cruz in the irons is always dangerous in this type of spot, and a 79.75 TrackWiz rating makes him a genuine contender. He fits the place role perfectly: a proven winner who may have a tough time beating our top-rated price horse but should hit the board with regularity.

show2Embrace My UncleML 8/1

Embrace My Uncle at 8/1 is worth a look in the show slot with a 73.07 TrackWiz rating and a 16% career win rate in allowance company. Jose A. Batista is an aggressive jockey who can steal ground on the inside at a distance, and trainer Christopher Seale placing him here suggests the horse is fit. At the price, he rounds out trifecta tickets nicely as a third-place insurance play.

Race 7

6:00 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A maiden special weight turf route with no career winners in the field — our ratings split the field cleanly at the top, but an odds-on favorite according to the morning line is NOT our top-rated horse, which creates real value.

win8Blues MusicML 7/2

Blues Music tops our TrackWiz ratings at 86.35 and goes at 7/2 — slightly overlaid given the strength of that figure in this maiden turf field. Martin Chuan takes the mount for trainer Blake Kelly, and this horse's 52 average speed figure holds up well against a field that includes several horses without any meaningful speed data. Turf maiden specials at 1 1/16 miles can be unpredictable, but when you have the highest-rated horse at a price, you take it. This is our top selection in Race 7.

place3Practical JokerML 3/1

Practical Joker sits second in our ratings at 75.31 for trainer Michael Stidham, who is one of the most reliable conditioners when it comes to MSW turf routes. Julio A. Hernandez gets the call, and a 3/1 morning line price puts this squarely in the 'value place' category. The 53 average speed figure is solid, and Stidham's horses rarely run a bad race in this configuration.

show6Drop ShotML 9/5

Drop Shot is the 9/5 morning line favorite — the shortest price in the field — which means the public sees something here. A 66.33 TrackWiz rating and a 54 average speed figure do back up some of that market support, and trainer Gregory D. Sacco has a strong record on the grass. At that price, Drop Shot is risky as a win bet but a sensible show anchor if you're building trifecta tickets around Blues Music.

Race 8

6:30 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A short-field allowance optional claimer at six furlongs where two elite-rated horses dominate and a potential pace duel between them could benefit a sneaky closer — the top two in our ratings are separated by just 2.4 points.

win6Embrace the MomentML 8/5

Embrace the Moment leads our TrackWiz ratings at 89.12 with a jaw-dropping 50% career win rate — this horse simply knows how to win races. Julio A. Hernandez is an aggressive front-runner's jockey who will make sure this filly gets every chance in a six-furlong dash. An average speed figure of 54 rounds out a dominant profile, and at 8/5 the market has correctly identified this as one of the strongest horses on today's card. This is a short-priced play, but the underlying credentials justify the confidence.

place5SassafrassnessML 6/5

Sassafrassness is the 6/5 morning line second choice with a 86.71 TrackWiz rating and a 47% career win rate — the kind of resume that makes her extremely dangerous to overlook. Paco Lopez is the most accomplished jockey on the Delaware Park circuit and will give this horse every chance to fire, but if Embrace the Moment runs her number, Sassafrassness should easily land the place spot. In an exacta, boxing these two makes a lot of sense.

show2Social FortressML 6/1

Social Fortress at 6/1 carries a 33% career win rate and shows a 55 average speed figure — matching the top two horses in raw pace potential. Trainer Gregory D. Sacco gets Samuel Marin on board, and in a race that could burn up front between the two favorites, a horse with a closing or stalking profile and this kind of raw speed looks like exactly the type to sneak into the trifecta. The price makes this a must-use in show position on your tickets.

Race 9

7:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The closer on a stellar Delaware card is a five-and-a-half furlong claimer where the top four horses in our ratings are separated by less than a single point — a genuine four-way battle that could produce an explosive trifecta.

win4BorzML 3/1

Borz earns our top rating at 79.86 despite an eye-catching 40% career win rate that screams class and consistency in claiming company. Jesus M. Rios gets the mount for trainer Jonathaniel Badillo-Casado, and the 3/1 morning line is a reasonable price for a horse with that kind of win record. At 5.5 furlongs on dirt, speed and early position matter enormously, and a 54 average speed figure gives Borz a credible pace profile. This is a tight race, but the win percentage is the tiebreaker in our book.

place3Good News RocketML 7/2

Good News Rocket is separated from our win pick by just 0.17 rating points, making this a near dead-heat on paper — that's how razor-thin this race is. Carol Cedeno gets the assignment for trainer Giovanni M. Salinas, and a 55 average speed figure is the highest in the field, which means this horse could actually control the pace if she breaks clean. At 7/2, Good News Rocket is absolutely a horse you want underneath and on top in your exotics.

show1Develop ProductML 2/1

Develop Product is the 2/1 morning line favorite and holds a 79.10 TrackWiz rating — third best in the field — with Samuel Marin doing the steering for trainer Alejandro Olais Mendieta. The public's confidence at 2/1 is understandable given the form, even if our ratings rank two horses above it. A 53 average speed figure in a sprint means this horse can track the pace, and in a race this tight, placing in the show slot feels like a near-certainty worth banking on.

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Bottom line: today's Delaware Park card delivers real opportunity from the jump. Morning Thoughts and Grey Bull headline the free picks, with Bella Prima as a price play to watch in Race 3. The premium card adds six more races anchored by Embrace the Moment and Braquet — two of the highest-rated horses we've flagged all week. Full pace projections, exotic ticket breakdowns, and the complete nine-race analysis are available to TrackWiz subscribers. If you're not on board yet, check out our plans at /pricing — and good luck at the windows today.

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