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Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — July 29, 2026

July 29, 20269 racesAll Delaware Park picks

This card ran on July 29, 2026.

Best bets at Delaware Park, July 29, 2026

Race 13As the Bell TolesML 8/512:20 PM EDT

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 7 races are for members.

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Delaware Park is open for business on a gorgeous Wednesday afternoon — clear skies, 78°F, and what looks like a lightning-fast dirt strip. Nine races are on the board today, stretching from sprints all the way out to a mile and 70 yards, and the mix of claiming, allowance, and maiden company gives every type of bettor something to work with.

Conditions like these tend to favor horses with early pace — when the sun is out and the track is dry, front-runners can be tough to run down. Keep that in mind as you build your tickets today. Our TrackWiz ratings span from 82 to 90 across the card, which tells us there's genuine separation between the top contenders and the rest of the fields. That's good news for straight bets and bad news for chalk-busters hoping for chaos.

Three races are open to everyone today, with the full nine-race breakdown reserved for TrackWiz subscribers. Let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A deep 10-horse claiming field going a mile and 70 yards, but two horses separate themselves on the ratings — the question is whether the morning-line favorite can hold off a capable stalker.

win3As the Bell TolesML 8/5

As the Bell Toles tops the TrackWiz ratings at 89.12 and carries the sharpest morning line at 8/5, backed by Paco Lopez — one of the more reliable riders in the mid-Atlantic circuit. A 27% career win rate is a standout figure in a claiming field, meaning this horse has been a consistent performer at this level. The distance of a mile and 70 yards suits horses that can rate off the pace, and the overall profile here screams class advantage over most of this group.

place10Back Wall BanditML 5/2

Back Wall Bandit (program #10) slots in as our place pick with an 81.63 TrackWiz rating and a 20% career win rate — solid credentials in a field where several runners are well below 50 on the board. Xavier Perez picks up the mount, and with the second-best rating in the field, this horse should be competitive deep into the stretch even if the favorite proves too tough to catch.

show8Forget TomorrowML 10/1

Forget Tomorrow at 10/1 is the show value play here, holding a 58.67 rating that puts it squarely in the second tier of this field. Joshua J. Radosevich takes the mount, and the 12% career win rate is modest but respectable for a claiming runner. At double-digit odds, this horse makes sense as an exotic piece — particularly in trifecta builds where you need coverage on a closer type.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

12:52 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Six furlongs of dirt sprinting with a clear top choice on the numbers, but a mid-pack cluster from roughly 59 to 64 in ratings makes the exacta and trifecta genuinely interesting.

win7Latest EditionML 3/1

Latest Edition (program #7) stands well clear at the top of the TrackWiz ratings with an 87.08 and draws the 3/1 morning line — a price that represents real value given the rating gap. Marvin Fernandez is in the irons, and while the 11% career win rate might raise an eyebrow, the speed figures here are what matters most in a six-furlong sprint. This horse has the profile of a closer-to-pace type who can take over in the stretch — trust the number.

place2Little CrybabyML 7/2

Little Crybaby (program #2) is our place selection at 7/2, rated 64.15 — second-best in the field. Jose A. Batista gets the mount, and a 12% career win rate paired with an average speed of 53 suggests this horse knows how to run. At the price, Little Crybaby represents reasonable value if Latest Edition sucks up all the money and inflates the exacta payouts.

show6Bottle RocketML 6/1

Bottle Rocket (program #6) squeaks into the show spot at 6/1 with a 59.91 rating and the same trainer as Style to Follow — Bruce M. Kravets sending out two in this race. Martin Chuan takes the call, and the 12% career win rate is workable in a sprint. Bottle Rocket's edge over Golden Philly in the ratings is slim but real, making it a solid trifecta option underneath the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

The opening three races set the table nicely. As the Bell Toles (Race 1, 8/5 ML) earns our highest free-race rating at 89.12 and faces a claiming field going a mile and 70 yards on dirt — a distance that should let her class edge show up late. In Race 2, Latest Edition (3/1 ML) brings a solid 87.08 rating into a six-furlong claiming sprint, exactly the kind of short, sharp race where our pace modeling tends to shine. Then in Race 3, maiden claimers go a mile and 70 yards, and Hotter Than Fire (5/1 ML) is a live longshot with an 84.17 rating — not a lock, but the kind of price that makes the exacta worth attacking.

The connecting thread across all three free races: distance matters. Races 1 and 3 both stretch out to that mile-and-70 trip, which rewards horses with stamina and a clean trip. On a clear, fast afternoon at Delaware, pace pressure will come early — horses that can settle just off the speed and accelerate through the lane are your friends today.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

1:24 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claiming field of first-time winners going a mile and 70 yards — with zero career wins across the board, this one comes down entirely to speed figures and trainer connections.

win1Hotter Than FireML 5/1

Hotter Than Fire (program #1) leads all runners with an 84.17 TrackWiz rating and draws the 5/1 morning line despite having the top number. Paco Lopez takes the mount, which is a key confidence signal — Lopez doesn't take random rides, and trainer Jamie Ness has a strong reputation developing young horses. The combination of top rating, a sharp conditioner, and a proven jockey makes this horse the clear top pick in a maiden field where experience at the barn matters.

place11Gotta Be Da ShoesML 6/1

Gotta Be Da Shoes (program #11) is our place pick with a 71.67 rating — second-best in the field — and the highest average speed figure in the race at 55. Raul E. Mena rides for trainer Damon R. Dilodovico, and at 6/1, there's genuine value here if this horse fires on debut or shows improvement. The speed number alone separates this horse from the rest of the mid-pack.

show13Quality SwagML 8/1

Quality Swag (program #13) at 8/1 rounds out the show spot with a 60.83 rating — good enough for third in this field. Martin Chuan is up for trainer Horacio De Paz, and while the average speed of 52 is modest, the rating says this horse is doing something right in the mornings. As a show play or trifecta piece, 8/1 on the third-best number in a maiden field is worth the ticket.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 13 runners

Race 4

1:56 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Shane's Wonder enters this allowance optional claiming sprint as a prohibitive morning-line favorite, but Bouncer and Yahoo Omar give the field some teeth at bigger prices.

win2Shane's WonderML 3/5

Shane's Wonder (program #2) is about as clear-cut a top selection as you'll find on this card — a perfect 90.00 TrackWiz rating, a 3/5 morning line, and a remarkable 75% career win rate that speaks for itself. Eliseo Ruiz gets the mount for trainer Alfredo Velazquez, and the combination of dominant numbers and elite winning history makes this the closest thing to a lock on the card. At 3/5 the win bet is thin, but this horse anchors every exotic play in the race.

place5BouncerML 4/1

Bouncer (program #5) is our place selection at 4/1, rated 73.08 with a 25% career win rate and an average speed of 55 — matching Shane's Wonder's top figure. Martin Chuan rides for the productive Jamie Ness barn, and if the favorite hits any traffic or gets loose in a pace battle, Bouncer has the tools to collect. A sensible exacta key underneath the chalk.

show1Yahoo OmarML 5/1

Yahoo Omar (program #1) rounds out the show spot at 5/1 with a 71.62 rating and the best career win percentage in the supporting cast at 35%. Julio A. Hernandez rides for Andrew L. Simoff, and the 55 average speed ties with the top two in the field. In a six-furlong sprint, pace scenarios can scramble the order — Yahoo Omar's profile suggests a horse that can get to the front and hang on for a piece.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 5

2:28 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

The top of this starter optional claiming mile-plus has two horses bunched tightly on the TrackWiz ratings, setting up a genuine duel between Alrasikh and Specialagentjonson with a value play lurking on the outside.

win5AlrasikhML 3/1

Alrasikh (program #5) earns the top spot with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and the 3/1 morning line — a price that reflects confidence without being short. Jose A. Batista takes the mount for trainer Victor Carrasco, Jr., and the 11% career win rate is the only slight caveat, but speed figures carry more weight in route races than raw win percentage. At a mile and 70 yards, Alrasikh's rating advantage over the field makes this a strong top selection.

place3SpecialagentjonsonML 9/5

Specialagentjonson (program #3) checks in at 82.40 on the TrackWiz scale — just 4.68 points behind the top pick — and draws the shortest price in the field at 9/5. Julio A. Hernandez rides for William Downing, and the 8% career win rate is low, but the figures suggest this horse runs hard every time. The tight rating gap with Alrasikh means the place spot is the comfortable landing zone here.

show1Majestic BlueML 8/1

Majestic Blue (program #1) at 8/1 is our show play with a 64.60 rating and an impressive 22% career win rate. Joseph Rocco, Jr. takes the mount for John E. Salzman, Jr., and the 54 average speed ties the top trio in the field. In a route race where pace can get hot, a 22% career winner with a legitimate figure has every right to be in the exacta conversation — and 8/1 makes the show bet feel like found money.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 6

3:00 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A full ten-horse starter optional claiming sprint at five and a half furlongs, and the morning-line chalk is the only horse with a dominant TrackWiz number in the room.

win9Double Edge SwordML 8/5

Double Edge Sword (program #9) is the clear top of the field with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating — a full 22 points clear of the next best — and carries a 29% career win rate that anchors the confidence. Paco Lopez is up for trainer Brett A. Brinkman, and the 8/5 morning line reflects what everyone at the track already suspects. The average speed of 56 is also the best in the race, giving Double Edge Sword a legitimate edge at every level of analysis.

place2WoraML 12/1

Wora (program #2) is a genuine value spot on our ticket at 12/1, checking in with a 66.76 TrackWiz rating that is comfortably second-best in the field. Marvin Fernandez rides for trainer Renaldo Richards, and the 22% career win rate is among the better supporting figures in this sprint. At a double-digit price on a horse with real form, Wora is exactly the kind of place play that inflates the exacta.

show6Reverend MoonML 4/1

Reverend Moon (program #6) at 4/1 sits third on the TrackWiz board at 60.88 with an 18% career win rate and a 54 average speed. Martin Chuan rides for Bruce M. Kravets — the same trainer sending out two others in the race today — and while the shorter-priced favorites draw more attention, Reverend Moon's consistency makes it a reliable show play and trifecta anchor underneath the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 7

3:32 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

A maiden special weight route with a split in the odds between two co-favorites and a 4/1 runner who tops the TrackWiz ratings — trainer and figure watchers will have a field day here.

win2Off the DeckML 4/1

Off the Deck (program #2) leads all runners on the TrackWiz board with an 85.62 rating while drawing a 4/1 morning line — meaning the market is undervaluing this horse relative to the numbers. Andy Hernandez rides for trainer Guadalupe Preciado, and in a maiden field where no horse has yet broken through, the rating edge is the most reliable indicator available. There's real value at that price, and this is the kind of spot where TrackWiz analysis finds a winner the crowd has overlooked.

place7Drop ShotML 3/2

Drop Shot (program #7) is one of the co-morning-line favorites at 3/2 with a 77.75 rating — second-best in the field — and a 54 average speed. Martin Chuan picks up the mount for Gregory D. Sacco, a trainer who knows how to point a maiden for a big effort. The gap between Drop Shot and No More Kings in the ratings (77.75 vs. 60.74) reinforces the place selection — this horse should be finishing, even if Off the Deck has the edge at the top.

show3No More KingsML 3/1

No More Kings (program #3) rounds out the show spot at 3/1 with a 60.74 rating and a 54 average speed. Paco Lopez is up for Greg Compton, and the 3/1 morning line suggests the public respects this horse's chances in a maiden field that lacks a clear dominant figure behind the top two. The jockey switch to Lopez alone is worth noting — he doesn't take mounts without a reason.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 8

4:04 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

An allowance mile that shapes up as a three-horse battle at the top of the TrackWiz ratings, with The Beach Goes On sitting on a legitimate upset angle at a generous price against the morning-line chalk.

win1The Beach Goes OnML 6/1

The Beach Goes On (program #1) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 82.71 while going off at 6/1 — a significant overlay given the number. Andy Hernandez rides for trainer Guadalupe Preciado, who also has the top selection in Race 7 today, suggesting the barn is in good form. A 40% career win rate is outstanding for an allowance runner and easily the best in this field — this horse wins more than it loses, and at 6/1, the value case is strong.

place7Pam PamML 8/5

Pam Pam (program #7) draws the 8/5 morning-line favoritism and is rated 81.48 — just a fraction behind the top selection. Martin Chuan rides for Jamie Ness, and a 25% career win rate is solid in allowance company. The nearly identical ratings between Pam Pam and The Beach Goes On set up a natural 1-7 or 7-1 exacta, and Pam Pam's lower odds confirm the public trusts this runner to finish near the top.

show5Ms SophisticationML 4/1

Ms Sophistication (program #5) at 4/1 rates third on our board at 77.56 with a 20% career win rate. Paco Lopez gets the mount for Jorge Duarte, Jr., and the 53 average speed is consistent with the top tier of this field. In an allowance mile where pace can string out, a closer profile like Ms Sophistication has plenty of opportunity to run into a piece at a fair price.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 9

4:36 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

Spikezone enters this starter allowance sprint as the dominant selection on both the numbers and the odds board — the real question is who fills out the exotics behind a horse that profiles as the most formidable runner on the card today.

win1SpikezoneML EVN

Spikezone (program #1) is one of the most dominant figures we've seen across the entire card — a 90.00 TrackWiz rating, a 47% career win rate, and a 56 average speed that leads the field. Paco Lopez takes the mount for the red-hot Jamie Ness barn, and the even-money morning line just tells you what the numbers already say. In a nine-horse starter allowance sprint, this is as close to a banker as Delaware Park will offer today.

place7No Easy DaysML 5/1

No Easy Days (program #7) is our place selection at 5/1, rated 69.92 — second-best in this field by a comfortable margin. Wesley Ho rides for Daniel Velazquez, and a 27% career win rate paired with a 55 average speed makes this horse a credible second-best on the board. If Spikezone handles the top half of the ticket, No Easy Days looks like the natural exacta partner.

show2S S SinatraML 5/1

S S Sinatra (program #2) at 5/1 slots in third on the TrackWiz ratings with a 58.24 and a 55 average speed matching No Easy Days. Raul E. Mena rides for Kerry Hohlbein, and a 16% career win rate is respectable for a starter allowance runner in this spot. With two 5/1 horses in the second and third positions, the trifecta could return a nice number if Spikezone does the heavy lifting up front.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

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Bottom line for today at Delaware Park: the free plays give you a strong starting point with As the Bell Toles, Latest Edition, and Hotter Than Fire leading the way. The full nine-race card — pace projections, exotic strategies, and all — is waiting for subscribers. It's a clean, clear afternoon at Delaware, and the horses are loaded. Let's make it count. Go Premium to unlock the complete TrackWiz breakdown.

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