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Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — August 13, 2026
It's a beautiful Thursday afternoon at Delaware Park — partly cloudy skies, 83°F, and ten races on the board. Conditions are about as good as it gets for a mid-August card, and with three turf routes sprinkled across the second half of the day, there's plenty to dig into whether you're playing for fun or grinding the exotics.
The card runs the full spectrum today: maiden claimers to allowance company, sprints to routes, and dirt to turf. That kind of variety is where sharp handicapping pays off — different surfaces and distances mean different pace scenarios, and TrackWiz analysis has broken down every angle so you're not flying blind.
First post is approaching, so let's set you up for the day.
Best Bets
Race 1
Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt
A wide-open maiden claimer over 5½ furlongs on the dirt, but one horse separates herself from the field on the ratings — expect Paris by Night to draw plenty of attention at the windows despite a nine-horse field full of first-timers and lightly-raced runners.
Paris by Night tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.9 — a full 15+ points clear of the next-best horse in the field — and Angel Cruz gets the call from post 9. Her average speed figure of 52 is right in line with the competitive range here, and in a maiden claimer at this level, that kind of ratings edge is hard to dismiss. With all horses sitting at zero career wins, this is all about projection and form, and Paris by Night projects as the class of the field by our metrics.
Sweet Bourbon Tea (No. 2) rates second in the field at 69.15 with an average speed figure of 53 — actually matching the top figure in this group. Trainer Jose Corrales also has Bangkok Blaze (No. 4) in the race, which can sometimes work in your favor from a stable perspective if one horse is meant to set pace for the other. At 4/1 on the morning line, Sweet Bourbon Tea offers solid place value in a race where the top two are separated from the rest.
Katz On Fire (No. 7) is the morning-line favorite at 3/1 and rates third in the field at 56.67 with an average speed figure of 53. Trainer Gary Capuano is a steady hand at Delaware Park, and jockey Emanuel Rosario gives this horse a live rider. The 3/1 ML suggests the market sees real ability here — including her in exotics as a show safety makes a lot of sense.
Race 2
Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt
Flee looks like a wire-to-wire winner on paper — she's installed as a heavy 3/5 morning-line favorite and dominates the TrackWiz ratings — but the real question is whether Essential Girl can keep her honest and whether the short price is worth playing.
Flee (No. 5) is the standout in this field with a TrackWiz rating of 90 — the highest mark in any of today's early races — and the top average speed figure in the field at 53. Jockey Emanuel Rosario has the call, and trainer Karin Wagner has her pointed here at a claiming level that looks well within reach. The 3/5 morning line tells you the market agrees — this is a horse you include in exotics and perhaps pass on at short odds for straight win play unless you're building tickets.
Essential Girl (No. 4) is the logical bridesmaid at 3/1 on the morning line, carrying a solid rating of 70 and a 10% career win rate that holds up in this company. Trainer Michael V. Simone has her set for a competitive effort, and while Flee may be tough to beat on the front end, Essential Girl's figures suggest she's got enough to secure the place spot. The 3/1 price makes her an attractive place investment if you're skeptical of laying short chalk.
Sweet and Feisty (No. 1) is a sneaky show play at 6/1 on the morning line, rated 42.99 with a career win rate of 4%. She's been on the board before and brings some experience into this spot. From the rail post, she could benefit from a ground-saving trip if the pace collapses — the kind of scenario where a live longshot sneaks into the exotics.
Race 3
Maiden Optional Claiming · 7 1/2 fur · Turf
A twelve-horse maiden optional claimer on the turf at 7½ furlongs features three legitimate contenders bunched near the top of the ratings, setting up a competitive pace scenario where post position and turf affinity could be the deciding factors.
Reppazz (No. 3) leads all runners with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 and an average speed figure of 54 — the highest in this field — and Angel Cruz, who also has Sister T in the race, gets the mount. At 3/1 on the morning line, Reppazz offers excellent value given the ratings edge, which sits nearly six points ahead of the second-best runner. Trainer Juanita Bennett has pointed this horse at a 7½-furlong turf route, a distance that rewards tactical speed — exactly the kind of setup that favors Reppazz's profile.
Voluntary (No. 5) rates just behind Reppazz at 81.43 with an average speed figure of 53 under the care of well-respected trainer Michael R. Matz, who has a strong record placing horses on turf. The 9/5 morning line makes Voluntary the public's choice, and Julio A. Hernandez gets the mount. If Reppazz softens in the stretch on the turf route, Voluntary is the most likely horse to catch her — a strong place play.
Firestreak (No. 2) checks in third in our ratings at 69.1 — a meaningful drop from the top two but still well ahead of the rest — and draws a sharp 2/1 morning line that implies significant market respect. Jose A. Batista handles the riding duties for trainer Nesvil Hernan Bailon, and with an average speed figure of 53, Firestreak has the figures to compete. Use her as a show key in trifectas given the price may drift post-time if money loads onto Voluntary.
The first three races are fully unlocked for every TrackWiz reader, and they tell an interesting story right out of the gate. Race 1 kicks things off with a maiden claimer on the dirt sprint — Paris by Night (9/2 ML, TrackWiz rating 84.9) is our top pick and offers a little more upside than a typical favorite in a wide-open field. In Race 2, Flee (3/5 ML, rating 90.0) is one of the stronger figures we've posted all week — heavy chalk, but the number justifies the price. Don't get cute fading this one just for value's sake.
Race 3 shifts to the turf at 7½ furlongs, and that's where we think there's a genuine opportunity. Reppazz comes in at 3/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08, and the surface switch to turf at this distance sets up a pace scenario that should suit closers. Keep an eye on how the turf is playing early in the card before you finalize your tickets — it can make a real difference in race shape.
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Bottom line: Flee is the standout of the free card and shouldn't need much convincing at her number, while Reppazz on the turf in Race 3 is the play we're most excited about for value seekers. Beyond those three free races, today's card has real depth — and the turf races in the premium half are where we see the most opportunity for exotic players. Full card analysis, pace projections, and ticket breakdowns are waiting for subscribers. Good luck out there.