Daily Picks

Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — July 24, 2026

Friday, July 24, 20269 racesDelaware Park

Clear skies, 79 degrees, and a fast Delaware Park oval — conditions don't get much cleaner than this for a Friday card. Nine races are on the board today, splitting time between the dirt and a firm turf course that should play right into the hands of horses with tactical speed.

The card has a nice mix of claiming races, allowance company, and starter conditions — the kind of variety that rewards handicappers who dig into the pace scenarios rather than just circling the morning-line favorites. There's legitimate value hiding in this card if you know where to look.

We've got full TrackWiz analysis on all nine races. Three are available free to every reader, and our premium subscribers get the complete deep-dive — pace projections, exotic tickets, and multi-race wager strategies — on the back half of the card where the real money gets made.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

A wide-open 1 1/16-mile dirt claimer with three horses bunched at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — expect a competitive mid-pack battle and a genuine pace duel that could set up closers.

win2Yodel E. A. WhoML 3/1

Yodel E. A. Who opens at 3/1 on the morning line and paces the field with a TrackWiz rating of 86.58 — the clear top number in this spot. That 22% career win rate is the second-highest among the nine starters, which tells you this horse knows how to hit the wire in front. Trainer Jamie Ness is a competent hand for this level, and with Martin Chuan aboard, the connections inspire confidence on a dirt route. At fair odds, this is our top selection to control the race from start to finish.

place6Awesome EntryML 6/1

Awesome Entry (6) rolls in with a 82.71 rating — second-best in the field — despite a career win percentage of just 7%, suggesting a horse that consistently runs well without always closing the deal. That profile screams place horse, and at 6/1 on the morning line, the value is real if she fires her best shot. Jockey Sara Hess will need to put her in position early at this 1 1/16-mile distance, but the underlying numbers suggest she'll be in the mix at the call.

show9Gametime GladiatorML 5/2

Gametime Gladiator (9) checks in with a 75.17 rating and is the morning-line co-favorite at 5/2, so the public clearly respects this one. The 12% career win rate is modest, but the speed figures are consistent enough for a dirt route at this level. As a hedge in exactas and trifectas, Gametime Gladiator at likely short odds makes sense as a saver underneath our top two picks.

Race 2

4:52 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

A starter allowance mile on dirt that sets up as a two-horse top at the ratings, with Fabia and Planet Clare separating themselves — but Weekend Wife's 33% career win rate keeps things honest.

win6FabiaML 2/1

Fabia (6) owns the field-best TrackWiz rating of 88.54 and draws in at 2/1 on the morning line, so this one comes in as the clear public choice and our selection aligns. The 18% career win rate is respectable, and the average speed figure of 53 ties the top of the field. With Julio A. Hernandez up for trainer Hamilton A. Smith — a solid conditioner at this level — the connections are dialed in. Fabia looks like the horse to beat in this starter allowance.

place2Planet ClareML 7/2

Planet Clare (2) posts an 85.05 rating and draws the rail with Carol Cedeno aboard for trainer Keri Brion, a reliable partnership on the Delaware circuit. The 17% career win rate is respectable, and an average speed figure of 53 matches Fabia's top mark. At 7/2, she offers solid value as a place bet and figures to be right there at the top of the stretch.

show4Sea ZestML 5/2

Sea Zest (4) shows a 27% career win rate — the second-highest in the field among contenders — paired with a 72.81 TrackWiz rating that sits third overall. Trainer Jamie Ness sends this one in for a spot in this starter allowance, and Martin Chuan knows how to rate a horse over a mile. At 5/2, the morning line might be a touch short for show purposes, but the underlying numbers make Sea Zest a logical trifecta saver.

Race 3

5:24 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A ten-horse turf field going 1 1/16 miles in a starter optional claiming mix — the TrackWiz ratings show one clear standout at the top but a cluster of mid-range horses that makes pace and trip crucial.

win2RylnnslookingluckyML 5/1

Rylnnslookinglucky (2) is the rating standout in this field at 84.17 — more than 22 points clear of the next-best horse — making this the most dominant rating advantage on the card today. At 5/1 on the morning line, the value is genuinely appealing given the edge our numbers show. Angel Cruz is a capable pilot on the grass, and trainer Kenneth M. Cox gets this one into the race at the right time. The low 6% career win rate gives pause, but the model sees something here that the public hasn't fully priced in yet.

place5Somme RiverML 3/1

Somme River (5) is the morning-line public choice at 3/1 and brings a 61.63 rating with a 16% career win rate to the table. Joshua J. Radosevich takes the call for trainer Justin J. Nixon, and the average speed figure of 53 matches several rivals. On turf, pace scenario often determines outcomes, and Somme River's consistent numbers suggest a horse that can slot in and outrun a field at a mile-and-sixteenth.

show4Rehoboth AvenueML 6/1

Rehoboth Avenue (4) at 6/1 is worth a look underneath in the exotics — the 57.94 rating is mid-pack, but the 5% career win rate on paper belies a horse that Trainer Willie J. Kee is pointing here specifically in the optional claiming condition. Raul E. Mena also doubles up in this race, which occasionally signals a barn that has split their firepower. At 6/1, there's enough upside for show use in trifectas.

Our three free races today span both surfaces and multiple race types, giving you a solid cross-section of the card to work with. Yodel E. A. Who opens things up in Race 1 on the dirt going a route of ground, carrying an 86.58 TrackWiz rating that stands out in a claiming field at 3/1 on the morning line. In Race 2, Fabia draws our top grade (88.54) in a Starter Allowance mile on the dirt — she's the morning-line favorite at 2/1 and the rating backs up the market's confidence. Then we shift to the turf in Race 3, where Rylnnslookinglucky is an intriguing 5/1 shot in a Starter Optional Claiming route — that morning-line price against an 84.17 rating is exactly the kind of overlay angle we look for on firm going.

With the turf course playing fast on a dry, clear afternoon, pace scenarios on the grass races will be critical — horses that can settle off a pace and make one strong run late have a structural edge today. Keep that in mind even as you review the free picks.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:56 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A short 5 1/2-furlong dirt sprint in the claiming ranks where the TrackWiz model has a decisive standout — Flee's rating towers over the field and the pace scenario could set up a wire-to-wire performance.

win7FleeML 3/1

Flee (7) leads all comers with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating in a field where the second-best horse (Final Engagement) checks in at 69.31 — that's a 17-plus point gap, which is substantial in a sprint. Opening at 3/1 on the morning line, there's legitimate value attached to the top rating. Emanuel Rosario gets the call for trainer Karin Wagner, and the average speed figure of 53 is consistent in a field where the talent drops off quickly. Flee is our clear top selection here and the best bet in Race 4.

place6Final EngagementML 8/1

Final Engagement (6) sneaks onto the ticket as a place play at 8/1 morning line — that's a potential overlay for a horse rated second-best in the field at 69.31. The 16% career win rate matches Miss Mo Town's and suggests this one fires reliably. Trainer John J. Robb puts Xavier Perez aboard, and in a short sprint where things happen fast, this horse's figures say it belongs in the exacta.

show5Miss Mo TownML 4/1

Miss Mo Town (5) brings a 67.13 rating and a 16% career win rate into this sprint for the powerful Jamie Ness barn, with Martin Chuan aboard — a combo that carries real credibility on the Delaware dirt. The average speed figure of 54 is one of the better marks in the field, and at 4/1 she's a logical third choice. In a 5 1/2-furlong sprint with a wide-open bottom half of the field, Miss Mo Town slots in neatly as an exotics cornerstone.

Race 5

6:28 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A sprawling 13-horse turf mile in the starter optional claiming ranks — the full field creates a complex pace scenario on the grass, and our ratings show a cluster of mid-60s to high-70s horses that could produce a wide-open result.

win11Freedom GliderML 9/5

Freedom Glider (11) posts the field-best TrackWiz rating of 79.03 and opens at an attractive 9/5 morning line in a full field. Joseph Rocco Jr. is one of the sharper riders in this region and figures to find a stalking trip in what should be a contested pace from the outside posts. The average speed figure of 54 leads all horses in this race, and trainer John E. Salzman Jr. keeps horses consistent. At odds-on, the value is modest, but the numbers back the favoritism.

place2CapitaineML 6/1

Capitaine (2) is a strong alternative at 6/1 morning line — a 78.06 rating that's essentially a dead heat with our win pick at the top of the model. Emanuel Rosario takes the mount for trainer Cathal A. Lynch, who has a knack for placing horses well in grass routes. A 16% career win rate on a horse with these figures at 6/1 represents exactly the kind of value play you want underneath in an exacta.

show12Kauai BreezeML 6/1

Kauai Breeze (12) checks in at 66.10 on the TrackWiz model with a 12% career win rate and a 52 average speed figure — steady, not spectacular. Martin Chuan gets the call for Lindsay Schultz, and in a 13-horse field, post position 12 can sometimes get into a clean trip on the turf if the pace collapses inward early. At 6/1, this one rounds out a trifecta nicely with the top two picks.

Race 6

7:00 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A ten-horse allowance going a mile and 70 yards on dirt features a tight cluster of ratings at the top — five horses rated between 70 and 76 — making this one of the most competitive and beatable races on today's card.

win2Code of SilenceML 6/1

Code of Silence (2) leads the TrackWiz ratings at 75.98 and opens at 6/1 on the morning line — that's a genuine value play given the model says this horse is the most likely winner in a competitive group. Angel Cruz picks up the mount for Timothy L. Keefe, and a 20% career win rate says this horse doesn't just show up, it performs. At a mile and 70 yards, a horse with a 52 average speed figure and the top rating in the field should be on every exotic ticket today.

place8Mr. RippleML 5/1

Mr. Ripple (8) rides in with a 30% career win rate — the highest among the top horses in this race — and a 75.76 TrackWiz rating that's a hair behind our win pick. Wesley Ho takes the mount for Timothy C. Kreiser, and a horse that wins 30% of the time at this level has serious tactical credentials. At 5/1 morning line, Mr. Ripple is a prime candidate to hit the board and makes a compelling exacta partner with Code of Silence.

show6TifosiML 8/1

Tifosi (6) brings a 74.74 rating — third in the field — with a 20% career win rate and an average speed figure of 52 for trainer Juan Carlos Avila. Cipriano Gil rides, and in a race where the top five horses are bunched within six rating points, the third-ranked horse at 8/1 is exactly the type of show value play that can turn a modest bet into a profitable ticket. Don't leave Tifosi off the trifecta.

Race 7

7:32 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A ten-horse allowance optional claiming turf route at 1 1/16 miles that looks top-heavy on paper — Tuff Luck's rating stands well above the pack, but two horses with 0% career win rates at longer odds add intrigue to the exotics.

win8Tuff LuckML 8/5

Tuff Luck (8) is the standout in this field with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating — the highest of any horse on the entire card today — and opens at 8/5 on the morning line. The 16% career win rate is steady for this level of competition, and the 53 average speed figure is consistent with the turf mile-and-sixteenth profile. Trainer Hugh I. McMahon sends this one out with Julio A. Hernandez up, a capable combination that knows how to prepare a horse for this condition. Tuff Luck is our best value-to-rating horse in Race 7.

place6ChanceML 6/1

Chance (6) at 6/1 morning line offers a compelling place profile — a 62.44 TrackWiz rating, a 13% career win rate, and a consistent 53 average speed figure for trainer Michael L. Catalano Jr. Ajhari Williams rides, and in a race where the second and third choices on the board may overlap between the 3/2 and 8/5 horses, Chance at 6/1 provides real place value. This is the kind of horse that fills exactas when the favorite wins.

show2PersistenML 12/1

Persisten (2) sneaks in at 12/1 morning line with a 62.04 rating — just a tick below Chance — and a 17% career win rate that suggests legitimate competence at this level. Angel Cruz gets aboard for trainer Michael V. Simone, and in a turf route where pace can be unpredictable, a horse with Persisten's profile offers trifecta value at what could be double-digit odds. At 12/1, the risk-reward is attractive for show purposes.

Race 8

8:04 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The 5 1/2-furlong allowance optional claiming sprint on dirt pits a clear model standout against a field where the morning-line favorite (Delray at 2/1) actually rates fourth on our TrackWiz model — a potential value inversion worth noting.

win5Great AndreiML 3/1

Great Andrei (5) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 and opens at 3/1 morning line — making this one of the better overlay opportunities on the card relative to a 2/1 morning-line favorite who rates significantly lower. The 21% career win rate is strong, and the 55 average speed figure is the field's best alongside Social Fortress. Xavier Perez gets the call for trainer John J. Robb, who also has Itsamonstamash in the race — when a trainer doubles up, you want to be on the one with the better numbers, and that's Great Andrei clearly.

place1Spencer TiaraML 4/1

Spencer Tiara (1) draws the rail and posts a 74.10 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — with a solid 23% career win rate that ranks among the field's best. Julio A. Hernandez rides for trainer Hugh I. McMahon, repeating a connection that showed well in Race 7 today. The 54 average speed figure is consistent, and at 4/1 on the morning line, Spencer Tiara is a legitimate exacta play underneath our top pick.

show4Drink This CupML 6/1

Drink This Cup (4) rates third in the field at 67.34 with a 22% career win rate and a 54 average speed figure — a horse that posts solid, reliable numbers in a sprint. Carol Cedeno takes the mount for trainer Michael Stidham, and at 6/1 morning line, this one rounds out the trifecta nicely. In a sprint where the top three rated horses are clustered together and the public money may be misplaced on the 2/1 favorite, Drink This Cup is a valuable third-leg play.

Race 9

8:36 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The closing six-furlong dirt sprint is a starter optional claiming affair where two horses — Awesome Pic and Miguel's Belle — rate far above the field and set up what could be a two-horse race with the morning-line favorite (Ritabook) as the wild card.

win2Awesome PicML 3/1

Awesome Pic (2) shares the card's top rating of 87.08 (tied with Great Andrei in Race 8) and opens at 3/1, offering fair value in this spot. The 22% career win rate is the best among the top contenders in this race, and the 54 average speed figure is competitive in a six-furlong sprint. Marvin Fernandez gets aboard for trainer Enrique Hernandez, and this connection has been active at Delaware today. If Awesome Pic fires her best race, she should win outright.

place7Miguel's BelleML 4/1

Miguel's Belle (7) posts an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and opens at 4/1 on the morning line with Cipriano Gil in the irons for trainer Michael V. Simone. The 17% career win rate is respectable, and the 55 average speed figure is the field's best alongside Dine and Dash. In a race where the top two rated horses are separated by just 1.5 points, Miguel's Belle is a legitimate threat to win and a near-certainty to hit the board.

show6PerugiaML 6/1

Perugia (6) checks in at 78.01 — third in the field and a meaningful gap above the morning-line favorite Ritabook — with a 21% career win rate and consistent 54 average speed figure. Martin Chuan gets the mount for Jamie Ness, who has been active throughout today's card and tends to put horses in position to compete. At 6/1 morning line, Perugia is an excellent trifecta anchor and shouldn't be overlooked in exactas if the top two run into each other.

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Delaware Park is giving us ideal conditions and a card with real angles on both surfaces. Start with Yodel E. A. Who, Fabia, and Rylnnslookinglucky on the free side, then let TrackWiz's premium analysis guide you through the back half — especially Tuff Luck in Race 7 and the value case for Code of Silence in Race 6. Good luck at the windows today — and remember, no single card is a lock. Manage your bankroll, look for overlays, and trust the process.

← Back to all picks

Best Bets

Race 1↗

Race 2↗

Race 3↗

Full Card Analysis

Get the Full Card Analysis

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3