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Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — August 1, 2026

August 1, 20268 racesAll Delaware Park picks

This card ran on August 1, 2026.

Best bets at Delaware Park, August 1, 2026

Race 13Driven by MagicML 4/112:20 PM EDT

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Welcome to Delaware Park on August 1st, where a partly cloudy afternoon at 83°F has things feeling comfortable out at the oval. Eight races are on the board today, mixing maiden claimers, a handful of starter optional claiming events, a turf stakes, and some straight dirt sprints — plenty of variety to keep your card interesting from first post to last.

The turf is seeing action in three races today, and with overcast skies keeping the heat from getting brutal, the going should remain consistent. That matters when you're mapping out pace scenarios and figuring out whether closers or front-runners have the edge on this particular surface. Our TrackWiz ratings span from 79 to nearly 89 today, meaning the field quality is tightly bunched — that's exactly the kind of day where sharp handicapping separates the winners from the also-rans.

Race 7 brings the marquee moment: a Stakes event at 7½ furlongs on the turf, a unique distance that will put a premium on horses who can rate comfortably before turning for home. And keep an eye on Race 4, where Dream Eagle enters as our highest-rated runner on the entire card at 88.54. It's shaping up to be a full day of good racing — let's dig in.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:20 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A maiden claiming mile on the dirt where TrackWiz ratings create a clear two-horse advantage at the top — but the morning line disagrees, making this one worth a closer look before betting the chalk.

win3Driven by MagicML 4/1

Driven by Magic earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 85.62, a significant gap over the morning-line favorite Up On the Rock (59.17). Trainer Anthony Pecoraro sends him out with Jose R. Betancourt in the irons, and the 4/1 morning line actually represents solid value given how far ahead of the pack our model has him. In a maiden field where no horse has ever visited the winner's circle, that kind of rating separation is hard to ignore at a mile on the dirt.

place8Soo HandsomeML 4/1

Soo Handsome checks in with an 81.85 TrackWiz rating — second best in the field — and at 4/1 on the morning line he's reasonably priced for place exotics. Trainer Beverly Strauss sends him out with Gavin Ashton up, and while his average speed of 51 trails the top two slightly, his overall profile suggests he should be running on late. If Driven by Magic falters or gets caught in traffic, Soo Handsome looks like the most likely beneficiary.

show5BodineML 8/1

Bodine at 8/1 is the sneaky inclusion here — his TrackWiz rating of 69.04 puts him third in the field, a clear step ahead of the rest of the pack. Trainer Pedro Nazario keeps him competitive at this level, and Angel Cruz is an experienced hand who can navigate a full eight-horse field over a mile. At 8/1, he's a worthwhile show bet and a legitimate piece in trifecta coverage.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

12:52 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A sprinting claiming affair at six furlongs where the morning-line favorites don't match up with the TrackWiz ratings — creating a juicy upset scenario headed by an overlay with strong numbers.

win6True SunshineML 8/1

True Sunshine is our top play at a potentially generous 8/1 morning line, posting a 79.79 TrackWiz rating that leads this field. Her 21% career win rate is among the best in the race, and her average speed figure of 54 ties for the top mark in the field alongside Peak of Chic and Dine and Dash. Trainer Pedro Nazario also saddles Mabee Luckynwild here, showing barn confidence in the race, and Martin Chuan gets the call — if True Sunshine can get a good trip in this six-furlong sprint, the value at 8/1 is outstanding.

place3InfastuationML 6/1

Infastuation brings a 76.84 TrackWiz rating and a 16% career win percentage under trainer Carlos M. Sepulveda, who also runs Magnolia Wind — suggesting the connections are serious about this race. Jockey Jose A. Batista climbs aboard, and at 6/1 she offers solid place value. Notably, Sepulveda running two horses here could set up an interesting pace dynamic within the barn.

show2Magnolia WindML 4/1

Magnolia Wind rounds out the top three in TrackWiz ratings at 74.38 and is trained by the same Carlos M. Sepulveda barn that saddles Infastuation. At 4/1 on the morning line she'll likely be well-bet, but her 13% career win percentage and consistent speed figures make her a reliable show ticket. Cipriano Gil handles the riding duties, and in a nine-horse field with pace questions, she profiles as the type who finds the board.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Our three free races today — Races 1, 2, and 3 — span a mile on dirt, a six-furlong dirt sprint, and a mile-and-70-yard turf route, giving you a solid cross-section of the card right out of the gate. Driven by Magic heads into Race 1 as our top maiden claimer, posting an 85.62 TrackWiz rating at a fair 4/1 morning line. On a cloudy day where the track should play evenly, pace setup in that one-mile dirt race will be key — watch how the early fractions develop.

In Race 2, True Sunshine is the kind of value angle we love flagging for our readers: an 8/1 morning line price on a horse our model rates at 79.79 in a short-field claiming sprint. Overlays in six-furlong dirt sprints are where you can build your bankroll. Then Race 3 heads to the turf, where Woodruff draws our attention at 2/1 — the morning line favorite for a reason. The starter optional claiming conditions over a mile and 70 yards on the turf should play right into the hands of a class-consistent horse who knows this surface.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

1:24 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Turf

A full and competitive turf route — thirteen runners in a Starter Optional Claiming going a mile and 70 yards on the grass — where the morning-line favorite carries legitimate class separation but the field is deep enough to complicate exactas.

win4WoodruffML 2/1

Woodruff is the class of this field on TrackWiz ratings at 84.83 and draws the short 2/1 morning line to match. Trainer Lindsay Schultz sends him out with Martin Chuan — a solid jockey-trainer pairing at this level — and his 25% career win percentage is the best among the top-rated horses in the field. The lone concern is his average speed figure of 52, which doesn't lead the pack, but on turf over a route, raw speed numbers can be deceptive and overall rating often wins out.

place5MinariML 4/1

Minari comes in at a 79.79 TrackWiz rating under the care of Keri Brion, a trainer who knows how to place horses on the turf. Angel Cruz gets the mount, a significant booking for a horse at 4/1 on the morning line. His 16% career win rate is workmanlike, and with an average speed of 54, he figures to be involved late — the classic profile for a place horse in a full turf field.

show11EachpeachpearplumML 6/1

Eachpeachpearplum — great name, legitimate contender — rates at 79.0 for trainer Anthony Pecoraro and comes in at 6/1 on the morning line. His average speed figure of 55 is actually the highest among the top-three picks, suggesting raw ability that could surface in this spot. A 20% career win percentage adds credibility, and Joshua J. Radosevich riding for Pecoraro gives this entry a sharp look for show tickets and trifecta use.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 13 runners

Race 4

1:56 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

Maiden Special Weight sprinters going six furlongs on the dirt — a race where one horse separates himself dramatically from the field on TrackWiz ratings, but several first-time starters add the wild-card factor that makes maiden races genuinely unpredictable.

win4Dream EagleML 2/1

Dream Eagle is the standout here with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — by far the highest mark in this maiden field and backed up by an average speed figure of 55, tops in the race. Trainer McLean Robertson sends him out with Jose A. Batista aboard, and the 2/1 morning line suggests the public agrees with our analysis. In a Maiden Special Weight, this kind of rating gap is rare and meaningful — he's the clear top pick, though maiden races always carry some unpredictability.

place5Yo PhillyML 3/1

Yo Philly rates at 58.08 under trainer Jamie Ness — one of the more experienced conditioners in the field — with Martin Chuan handling riding duties. His average speed of 53 is mid-pack, but Ness has a reputation for placing horses in spots where they can run, and 3/1 morning line odds suggest the market agrees there's a real chance here. In a maiden sprint, pace positioning often matters as much as raw ability, and this horse should get a clean enough trip from post five.

show7Charmed HourML 5/1

Charmed Hour at 5/1 is an interesting inclusion — trainer Erin C. McClellan sends her out with Inoel Beato, and her 53.33 TrackWiz rating puts her third among horses with actual speed figures on record. She has no published average speed, which introduces uncertainty, but in a maiden field this wide open beyond the top choice, she's worth a spot in trifectas. The 5/1 morning line offers fair show value if she handles the six-furlong distance.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 5

2:28 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Turf

The largest field on the card — sixteen runners going a mile and 70 yards on the turf in a Starter Optional Claiming — and the morning-line favorite doesn't match the top TrackWiz rating, setting up an overlay situation in a wide-open grass marathon.

win3Royal RenegadeML 8/1

Royal Renegade earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 79.79 despite going off at 8/1 on the morning line — a significant overlay versus Freedom Glider at 7/5. Trainer Elizabeth M. Merryman sends him out with Angel R. Rodriguez, and his average speed figure of 55 ties for the highest in this sixteen-horse field. A 7% career win rate is modest, but in a field this large and competitive, the combination of top rating and big price is exactly the kind of angle TrackWiz analysis is built to find.

place6Freedom GliderML 7/5

Freedom Glider is the 7/5 morning-line chalk under trainer John E. Salzman, Jr., and Joseph Rocco, Jr. gets the mount — a strong jockey booking that reflects connections' confidence. His TrackWiz rating of 72.04 is second in the field, and an average speed of 54 keeps him competitive in a turf route. Even if Royal Renegade beats him, Freedom Glider is the type who consistently finishes in the money, making him a solid place bet on his own terms.

show15Oxford UnionML 6/1

Oxford Union comes in at 68.12 on the TrackWiz scale with an average speed of 54 and draws the 6/1 morning line for trainer Valora A. Testerman. Angel Cruz is aboard, which is a meaningful jockey upgrade angle worth noting in a field this large. His 4% career win percentage is low, but in a sixteen-horse turf route, show money is realistic for a horse with top-five ratings, and the 6/1 price makes him a live exotic piece.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 16 runners

Race 6

3:00 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Six furlongs on the dirt in a Starter Optional Claiming with a legitimate pace battle brewing — the morning-line favorite and the TrackWiz top-rated horse are two different animals, and the race shape could prove decisive.

win4Sugar On FireML 4/1

Sugar On Fire tops the TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 despite going off at 4/1 on the morning line — a meaningful overlay versus the 2/1 favorite Eyes On the Ground. Trainer Kelly Lynn Deiter puts Eddie Dominguez in the irons, and Sugar On Fire's 9% career win percentage suggests she's been running against tougher. Her average speed of 54 ties for tops in the field, and in a six-furlong sprint, that kind of raw speed paired with the top overall rating is a powerful combination.

place1Eyes On the GroundML 2/1

Eyes On the Ground is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 under trainer Steve Klesaris — one of the sharper trainers in the Mid-Atlantic — with Jose A. Batista in the saddle. Her 16% career win percentage and 73.85 TrackWiz rating both speak to consistent form, and a 54 average speed figure keeps her honest against the top pick. Even if Sugar On Fire beats her, Eyes On the Ground profiles as the kind of professional campaigner who rarely runs off the board.

show6Couches BurningML 3/1

Couches Burning brings a 71.47 TrackWiz rating and a 20% career win percentage — the joint best in the field along with Freely Held — under trainer Kelly J. Breen. Cipriano Gil handles the riding, and at 3/1 on the morning line, this horse will be well-bet, but that popularity is earned. In a race with pace pressure expected up front, Couches Burning could be running into a pace collapse and grab the show spot with a late run.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 7

3:32 PM EDT

Stakes · 7 1/2 fur · Turf

Stakes action on the turf at seven and a half furlongs — a field of ten where the TrackWiz top-rated horse is not the morning-line favorite, and a legitimate pace question at the top of the field makes the race shape fascinating.

win4Smithwick's SpiceML 4/1

Smithwick's Spice leads the field with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating and brings the best average speed figure in the race at 56 — a significant edge in a turf stakes sprint. Trainer Douglas Nunn sends him out with Jorge Luis Gonzalez aboard, and his 25% career win percentage in a stakes field is respectable. At 4/1 on the morning line, he's underlaid relative to some of the action but overlaid versus his ratings position — our analysis says he's the one to beat.

place3DerbynessML 7/2

Derbyness is a fascinating horse in this spot — a 36% career win percentage that stands alone as the best in the field, paired with a 79.0 TrackWiz rating and 7/2 morning line. Trainer Brittany T. Russell teams up with Julio A. Hernandez, a jockey who knows Delaware Park well. That win percentage is a number you just don't often see at this level, and even if Smithwick's Spice has the superior overall rating, Derbyness looks like a genuine threat to fill the exacta slot.

show6Picture ThisML 2/1

Picture This draws the 2/1 morning line — the public's favorite — with trainer Steve Klesaris and Jose A. Batista, one of the best jockey-trainer combos going at Delaware. His 72.21 TrackWiz rating and 19% career win percentage are solid, and an average speed of 55 keeps him in the speed figure conversation. If the pace gets honest and the front-runners tire, Batista has the tactical intelligence to swoop in for at least a show check.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 8

4:04 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A nine-horse claiming sprint at six furlongs on the dirt that looks like a three-horse race at the top — but the TrackWiz ratings suggest the morning-line hierarchy may be off, with one lightly raced horse sitting on a monster figure.

win3Lady CatalinaML 7/2

Lady Catalina posts the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 86.35 — ahead of even the more experienced horses — for trainer Michael V. Pino with Marvin Fernandez in the irons. Her 4% career win percentage looks low at first glance, but that suggests she may be lightly raced or running against tougher competition than this field represents. The 7/2 morning line is fair value for a horse sitting on the top number, and Fernandez is a capable pilot at this level.

place7The Great MaybeML 4/1

The Great Maybe comes in with an 80.15 TrackWiz rating and an average speed figure of 54 — best in the field — for trainer Carlos A. Mancilla with Angel Cruz up. His 7% career win percentage echoes Lady Catalina's pattern of running against tough fields, and at 4/1 he's reasonably priced. Cruz is one of the most in-demand riders at Delaware and his presence here is a positive sign — this horse should be running on at the end of six furlongs.

show1Mighty LindseyML 5/2

Mighty Lindsey is the 5/2 morning-line favorite with a 78.42 TrackWiz rating, trained by the reliable Jamie Ness and ridden by Martin Chuan. Her 14% career win percentage and average speed of 53 are workmanlike numbers for a claiming sprinter, and Ness rarely runs horses short of fitness. Even slotting third in our ratings, she's the type who consistently finds a check — making her a comfortable show selection and a must-include in trifectas.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

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Today's card at Delaware Park has genuine top-to-bottom interest — from the maiden opener featuring Driven by Magic to the turf stakes showdown headlined by Smithwick's Spice. Our top-rated runner of the day, Dream Eagle, is one you won't want to miss in Race 4. The three free previews above are a strong start, but the real edge is in the full-card analysis. Subscribers get pace scenarios, exotic tickets, and every angle we've identified across all eight races. Good luck out there — race smart.

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