Daily Picks

Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — July 22, 2026

Wednesday, July 22, 202610 racesDelaware Park

It's a beautiful Wednesday at Delaware Park — clear skies, 82°F, and a fast dirt strip that should reward horses who can get to the front early or sustain a strong late kick. Ten races are on the board today, all on the main track, so surface versatility isn't a factor. What is a factor: pace and class.

The card runs the full gamut from Maiden Claiming sprints to a Rating Optional Claiming route, giving bettors plenty of angles to work with. Our TrackWiz ratings span from the high-50s in the maiden ranks all the way up to an 89.12 on Pride's Prince in Race 8 — the strongest score on the entire card. That kind of separation tells you something.

Three races are unlocked for every reader today, and they happen to come early in the card — a nice warm-up before the heavier action arrives in Races 4 through 10.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Two clear class standouts separate themselves from the pack in this one-mile dirt claimer, but a deep field with overlays in the middle keeps the exotics interesting.

win3McCrakens GhostML 2/1

McCrakens Ghost carries the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 88.54 and opens at a juicy 2/1 morning line that actually reflects the gap between him and the rest. Martin Chuan gets the call for trainer Jamie Ness, and the 16% career win rate is respectable at this level. At a mile on the dirt, pace scenarios tend to reward horses with back-end punch, and McCrakens Ghost profiles as exactly that kind of finisher. Hard to fade the top-rated horse at a reasonable price.

place5Collection DayML 3/1

Collection Day is the logical backup here, posting a 84.37 rating that's within striking distance of the top pick. Paco Lopez — one of the sharpest sticks in the Mid-Atlantic — is a significant jockey upgrade angle for trainer Michael V. Simone. A 15% career win rate is workmanlike for a claimer, and with Lopez dictating pace or tracking the leader, Collection Day looks live for at minimum a placing.

show2City PandaML 10/1

City Panda opens at 10/1 yet posts a 58.98 TrackWiz rating — matching Hawkstone despite the longer odds — making this an intriguing show play and exotic inclusion. Trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon keeps competitive horses at this level, and Raul E. Mena gives this barn a live rider. If the top two get in a pace duel, City Panda could be flying late at a price.

Race 2

4:52 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claimer at five furlongs with a maiden field that's all zeroes in the win column — first-time starters mixed with experienced non-winners make pace and talent evaluation critical.

win6Johnny GML 2/1

Johnny G tops the TrackWiz ratings at 58.33 and draws the 2/1 morning-line favoritism with good reason — he's one of two horses in the field who have flashed an average speed figure of 54. Trainer Andrew L. Simoff keeps a solid stable and Julio A. Hernandez is a capable pilot who can put a horse in position from gate one at this sprint distance. In maiden races, horses who have already shown a baseline of speed tend to close out these sprints efficiently — Johnny G fits that profile.

place2Rebel's HeirML 3/1

Rebel's Heir matches Johnny G's 54 average speed figure and trails only slightly in the TrackWiz ratings at 56.67 — this horse is close enough on the numbers to run him down. The Paco Lopez connection is hard to overlook; Lopez has a knack for finding the right trip in maiden sprints, and trainer Gregory D. Sacco has a strong record placing horses in spots where they can break through. At 3/1, Rebel's Heir is a natural place bet.

show3Andover WarriorML 4/1

Andover Warrior sits third in the TrackWiz rankings at 55.0 and opens at a reasonable 4/1 on the morning line. Trainer Edward T. Allard has experience pointing maiden horses, and while Andover Warrior lacks a published speed figure — suggesting debut potential — Martin Chuan is a steady hand for horses breaking their maiden. The 4/1 price gives show bettors and exotic players solid value if the top two dominate up front.

Race 3

5:24 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Dirt

A maiden special weight route on the dirt with a heavy morning-line favorite and a well-credentialed trainer roster — Fifth and Chestnut draws serious attention, but Hall of Fame trainer Graham Motion's runner could spoil the party.

win7Fifth and ChestnutML 8/5

Fifth and Chestnut leads all horses in this field with a 59.0 TrackWiz rating and is the 8/5 morning-line choice under Vincent Cheminaud for trainer John C. Servis. Servis has a long track record of preparing horses for MSW routes, and the 8/5 price suggests the market agrees this one is streets ahead of a field that's largely short on published speed figures. In maiden special weight company, class and preparation often win the day — and this horse ticks both boxes.

place1Cat's MeowML 7/2

Cat's Meow is trained by H. Graham Motion, a name that commands respect in any maiden field — Motion routinely conditions horses with patient, route-oriented programs. She rates second in the field at 55.83 and opens at 7/2, which is solid value behind a short-priced favorite. Kevin Gomez rides, and if Fifth and Chestnut gets loose on the front end, Cat's Meow could be the one stalking and hitting the board.

show6HardscapeML 5/1

Hardscape checks in at 53.33 on TrackWiz — third-best in a field where the back half of the lineup has no published speed figures — and trainer Keri Brion gives this horse a professional foundation. At 5/1, Hardscape represents an affordable show-ticket option and exotic play in a race where several others in the field are essentially question marks. Carol Cedeno's experience in longer routes adds to the appeal.

The free portion of today's card kicks off with McCrakens Ghost in the Race 1 mile Claimer — our highest-rated free pick at 88.54, which is elite company for a Claiming field. If there's one horse on this card to circle before you even open your wallet, it's that one. From there, we shift to the sprint in Race 2, where Johnny G draws our top nod in a 5-furlong Maiden Claimer, and Race 3 brings a one-mile Maiden Special Weight with Fifth and Chestnut as our morning-line favorite at 8/5.

One theme connecting all three free races: on a clear, fast Delaware dirt track like today's, early pace control tends to hold up in shorter sprints, while route races reward horses who rate kindly off the pace and pounce in the stretch. Keep that in mind as you handicap — it's a lens that runs through the whole card.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:56 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

This one-and-a-sixteenth-mile claimer features a genuine class standout posting numbers well above the field, but a 40% career winner lurking at 2/1 complicates the picture and sets up a fascinating exacta battle.

win3Good as He GetsML 4/1

Good as He Gets owns the race's top TrackWiz rating at 85.62 and carries a 19% career win rate that's respectable in claiming company. Paco Lopez in the irons for Michael V. Simone is a dangerous combination — Simone has been placing horses well all meet, and Lopez brings the tactical intelligence to handle a route pace scenario. The 4/1 morning line actually represents overlay territory given how far this horse separates from the bottom half of the field on our ratings.

place2KernessML 2/1

Kerness opens at 2/1 and carries an eye-catching 40% career win rate — that's not a number you see every day in a claiming field and warrants serious respect. Martin Chuan pilots for trainer Wayne Potts, and the 79.09 TrackWiz rating puts this horse solidly in the mix. The main question is whether Kerness can handle the extra distance at 1-1/16 miles, but the talent level clearly says this horse belongs on the board.

show5My RedemptionML 10/1

My Redemption is flying a bit under the radar at 10/1 on the morning line, but a 67.42 TrackWiz rating puts this horse squarely in the middle tier of a competitive field. The 18% career win rate is solid, and Yabriel O. Ramos gets a chance aboard for trainer Kevin J. Fields. At those odds, My Redemption is a smart show play and an essential piece in any superfecta construction — don't leave him off the tickets.

Race 5

6:28 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A twelve-horse starter optional claiming field at a mile and seventy yards offers a chaotic pace setup and a legitimate value case — the two top-rated horses here are both overlooked on the morning line, setting up a productive exacta.

win8EachpeachpearplumML 6/1

Eachpeachpearplum heads our selections with a field-best 80.14 TrackWiz rating and one of the two highest average speed figures in the field at 55. A 20% career win rate is encouraging in a starter optional claiming field, and Paco Lopez's presence on the mount for Anthony Pecoraro makes this a high-confidence play. At 6/1 on the morning line, this is a legitimate overlay — the numbers say this horse should be closer to favoritism.

place7Hot BossML 10/1

Hot Boss is arguably the most interesting horse on the card today — a 76.88 TrackWiz rating, a field-high average speed figure of 55, yet sitting at 10/1 on the morning line. Trainer Suzanne Stettinius sends this horse out with Angel Cruz, and the speed figure edge suggests Hot Boss can dictate early fractions in a large field if needed. The double-digit odds make this a must-use in exactas and trifectas and a fun standalone place bet.

show4My GalML 6/1

My Gal rates third in the field at 69.69 on our numbers and draws Martin Chuan for trainer Victor Carrasco Jr. — a competent combo in a wide-open race. The 6/1 morning line is manageable for a show ticket, and at a distance of a mile and seventy yards, a horse with tactical ability can find the board without winning the pace battle outright. Solid exotic inclusion in a race with a lot of moving parts.

Race 6

7:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A short, sharp five-and-a-half furlong dirt sprint where the TrackWiz numbers reveal a major gap between the top rated horse and the rest — the value question is whether to side with the class standout or wait for a bigger price on the runner-up pick.

win9Izzy's Rock StarML 4/1

Izzy's Rock Star is the clear standout here with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — 12 points clear of the next closest horse — and a 20% career win rate that's strong for a claiming sprinter. Julio A. Hernandez gets the mount for Andrew L. Simoff, and Simoff has already shown up in today's card with a live horse in Race 2. The 4/1 morning line on the top-rated sprinter in the field looks like a gift — this figures to be a strong win play.

place3All I DoML 2/1

All I Do is a fascinating contrarian play here — a 33% career win rate is genuinely elite for any claimer, and Paco Lopez doesn't get on bad horses. The 73.65 TrackWiz rating places this horse clearly second in the field, and at 2/1 morning line there's obvious public support. Trainer Michael V. Simone has been active today, suggesting the barn is in form. If Izzy's Rock Star has any trouble, All I Do is the horse most likely to cash.

show5Rules for ThreeML 8/1

Rules for Three opens at 8/1 on the morning line but checks in at a 50.64 TrackWiz rating — putting her right in the middle of this sprint field. Trainer Arthur O. Agostini has runners capable of hitting the board at longer odds, and Deirdre A. Quinn gives this horse a quiet, patient ride. At double digits, Rules for Three is the type of overlay that keeps the trifecta from paying pocket change.

Race 7

7:32 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A massive fourteen-horse maiden claiming field going a mile and seventy yards on the dirt — full of zeroes in the win column — but two horses separate themselves dramatically on the TrackWiz ratings and a 12/1 overlay could make the exotics very profitable.

win10Hotter Than DemML 7/2

Hotter Than Dem leads this sprawling field with an 84.78 TrackWiz rating — second-highest among all horses running today across the entire card — and draws Paco Lopez for Michael V. Simone's barn. Simone is clearly sending out his best horses with his best riders today, and this one is the standout of a deep, confusing maiden field. The 7/2 morning line is absolutely fair given the talent edge, and Lopez knows how to navigate traffic in large maiden fields on route courses.

place12My Friend LouML 12/1

My Friend Lou is the best value play on the entire card. Sitting at 12/1 on the morning line in a field of maiden claimers, yet posting a 73.96 TrackWiz rating that ranks a solid second in the race — that's a significant disconnect. Angel Cruz pilots for trainer Carlos A. Mancilla, and at this distance, a horse with that kind of underlying rating can easily find the board without winning the race outright. My Friend Lou is a must-use in exactas at these generous odds.

show4GoldintheskyML 15/1

Goldinthesky is another morning-line longshot worth noting — 15/1 on the board — yet owns a 65.40 TrackWiz rating that ranks third in this race. Jose R. Betancourt gets the mount for trainer Mauricio Nunez, and the 53 average speed figure suggests this horse has at least functioned competently against maiden claimers. In a field this large, a horse rated third who's going off at 15/1 is exactly the kind of show-ticket overlay that makes trifectas pay serious money.

Race 8

8:04 PM EDT

Rating Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

One horse dominates the TrackWiz numbers in this six-furlong optional claimer, but Speed Boat Beach's eye-catching average speed figure keeps this from being a complete foregone conclusion — pace could be a factor.

win2Pride's PrinceML 8/5

Pride's Prince is one of the strongest individual TrackWiz profiles on today's card — an 89.12 rating, a 33% career win rate, and an average speed figure of 56 that towers over most of the field. Paco Lopez rides for Greg Compton, and this combination has the look of a morning-line overlay turned into a justified short price by post time. At 8/5, you're betting the most talented horse in the race with the meet's best jockey — that's not a play to overthink.

place4Re MarkablyML 4/1

Re Markably rates second in the field at 69.59 and shows a 28% career win rate that's honest for optional claiming company. Julio A. Hernandez rides for trainer Panagiotis A. Synnefias, and the 55 average speed figure suggests this horse can keep pace with the top competition through the early fractions. At 4/1, Re Markably is the natural exacta partner to Pride's Prince and a solid standalone place bet.

show1Intrepid's LegacyML 6/1

Intrepid's Legacy opens at 6/1 with a 59.99 TrackWiz rating and an impressive 29% career win rate — this is a horse that knows how to finish. Jose E. Vargas gets the mount for Gary Capuano, a trainer with experience placing horses in competitive spots. If Speed Boat Beach gets loose on the lead and Pride's Prince runs into trouble, Intrepid's Legacy is exactly the type that hits the board at a price.

Race 9

8:36 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A nine-horse starter optional claiming mile with a clear morning-line favorite and a cluster of capable horses bunched in the 68–70 rating range — the show pick at 15/1 is the sleeper angle of this race.

win9Cadet CorpsML 2/1

Cadet Corps opens at 2/1 and leads the field with a 78.66 TrackWiz rating alongside a sterling 30% career win rate — one of the better career win percentages among all horses running at Delaware Park today. Paco Lopez aboard for trainer Kelly J. Breen is a confident combination, and Breen has a reputation for winning with horses coming into starter optional claiming spots fresh. At a mile on the dirt, Cadet Corps has the profile of a horse who can press or stalk and still have something left.

place1Baytown BruiserML 6/1

Baytown Bruiser rates second in the field at 70.64 and brings a 16% career win rate to the table — modest, but workable in optional claiming company. Wesley Ho rides for Barry L. King, and the 54 average speed figure puts this horse in the same tier as Cadet Corps when it comes to raw efficiency. At 6/1, Baytown Bruiser is a legitimate each-way value play and a natural exotic partner with the favorite.

show6Mad BankerML 15/1

Mad Banker is the sneaky play of this race — a 69.58 TrackWiz rating that nearly matches Baytown Bruiser, yet sitting at 15/1 on the morning line. That gap in the odds is hard to explain on the numbers alone. Jorge A. Vargas Jr. takes the mount for Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, and a 19% career win rate suggests this horse has the baseline ability to compete. If any of the favorites get shuffled back in traffic, Mad Banker could be rolling late at a massive overlay price.

Race 10

9:08 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

This six-furlong maiden claiming closer to round out the card features a dominant top pick and a genuine public battle between two horses the market has priced tightly — the field otherwise drops off sharply.

win10Chestertown JaneML 5/2

Chestertown Jane tops this field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — one of the highest of any horse at Delaware Park today — and draws Julio A. Hernandez for trainer Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. Perkins is a veteran horseman who places maiden claimers intelligently, and Hernandez has been busy all card with live mounts. At 5/2 on the morning line, this is the most straightforward win play of the nightcap: best-rated horse, experienced trainer, capable jockey at a reasonable price.

place7I'mamaterialgirlML 9/5

I'mamaterialgirl opens as the 9/5 second choice and checks in at 68.66 on our ratings — a significant step down from Chestertown Jane but well clear of the rest of the field. Raul E. Mena rides for Jose Corrales, and Corrales has multiple entries today which often signals a barn in form. The 52 average speed figure is modest but functional for a six-furlong sprint, and at near-even money, this horse will attract heavy support — use her underneath Chestertown Jane in your exactas.

show1ConfrontationalML 10/1

Confrontational is the contrarian show play here — a 42.40 TrackWiz rating that leads the bottom half of the field, yet going off at 10/1. Eddie Dominguez handles the mount for Pedro Nazario, who also has another entrant in today's card. In maiden claiming sprints, even lightly regarded horses can land on the board if the top two battle early and stop in the stretch. At 10/1, Confrontational is a low-cost show ticket worth punching.

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Bottom line: McCrakens Ghost is your free best bet anchor to start the day, Pride's Prince is the card's top-rated horse and a name to build exotics around in Race 8, and there's genuine value to be mined in the middle of this card for subscribers. The full breakdown — pace figures, exotic tickets, and race-by-race analysis for all 10 races — is waiting for you. Check out our subscription options at TrackWiz Premium and make every race count today.

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