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Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — August 15, 2026

August 15, 20268 racesAll Delaware Park picks

This card ran on August 15, 2026.

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Best bets at Delaware Park, August 15, 2026

Race 13South Street SallyML 3/212:16 PM EDT

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Results are in — see the official Delaware Park chart and payouts (our top pick won 2 of 8)→

Delaware Park is open for business on a gorgeous Saturday, with clear skies and temperatures sitting at 83°F. Conditions like these tend to keep the main track playing fast and true, and the turf course should be near-perfect — good news given that three of today's eight races are contested on the grass.

It's a mixed bag of a card — maiden claimers, starter allowances, and optional claiming events — but don't let the modest condition labels fool you. There's genuine intrigue from the jump, and our TrackWiz ratings turned up some meaningful edges across the full card, including a 4/1 morning line shot on the turf that grades out as today's top-rated free pick.

Three races are fully unlocked for every reader. The remaining five are available to TrackWiz subscribers, where we dig into pace scenarios, exotic structures, and multi-race sequences that the casual line won't show you.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:16 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint where all six horses are winless and speed figures are razor-close at the top — the race hinges on which first-timer shows up ready to graduate.

win3South Street SallyML 3/2

South Street Sally draws our top rating at 59.17 in a field where the margins are tight, and the 3/2 morning line suggests the oddsmakers agree. Trainer John C. Servis is a seasoned conditioner who knows how to have a horse ready first off, and Vincent Cheminaud in the irons is a polished rider who can manage a green horse in a six-furlong dash. No average speed figure is on file, which in a maiden race often means a workout-based profile — and that kind of unknown can cut both ways, but Servis's experience gives us confidence the horse is pointed right at this spot.

place1Royal MistML 9/5

Royal Mist posts a solid 58.67 TrackWiz rating and matches the field's best average speed figure at 53, giving Jose R. Betancourt something to work with from the inside post. In a race of first-time and lightly-raced maidens, consistency in the workout tab and a reliable speed base can be the difference between finishing close and fading late — Royal Mist profiles as the type to hit the board even if she falls a nose short of the winner.

show2CentraML 3/1

Centra comes in with a 56.67 rating and the same 53 average speed figure as Royal Mist, sitting at 3/1 on the morning line under Carol Cedeno. The slightly longer odds make her an attractive exotics inclusion — in a field this bunched at the top, she has the raw speed to be running at the wire, and trainer Orlando Rose appears comfortable placing her competitively in this maiden claiming level.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

12:45 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

A starter allowance sprint where the favorite carries a massive ratings edge, but a big-number price horse lurks with a surprisingly strong profile — the pace scenario could shake things up.

win1Onyx TenML 4/5

Onyx Ten is the clear class of this field with a 84.55 TrackWiz rating and a 33% career win rate — that win percentage in a starter allowance is genuinely impressive and signals a horse who competes hard when asked. Gary Capuano is a sharp conditioner at this level, and Emanuel Rosario picks up the mount with plenty of reason to be confident. At 4/5, there's no value here, but if you're playing exotics, Onyx Ten has to be on top.

place6Missy SixtysixML 8/1

Missy Sixtysix is the value angle in this race — an 8/1 morning line horse with a 79.79 rating that is neck-and-neck in our model with the third pick but priced far higher. Julio A. Hernandez has the call for trainer Michael M. Moore, and a 16% career win rate shows this mare has hit the board before against winners. If Onyx Ten gets into any early trouble or the pace collapses, Missy Sixtysix has the profile to swoop and collect the place.

show4Drink This CupML 7/2

Drink This Cup carries a 59.08 rating and a 20% career win figure, meaning she earns her share of checks. Carol Cedeno rides for Michael Stidham, a trainer who tends to have his horses fit when they run, and the 7/2 morning line reflects the public's respect for this entry. She's a sensible show include in trifectas if you're trying to nail down the bottom end of a ticket.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

The three free races span both surfaces and all three feel like distinct puzzles. Race 1 is a dirt maiden claimer at six furlongs where South Street Sally opens as the 3/2 morning line choice — a reasonable price in a wide-open field. Race 2 steps up in class to a starter allowance at the same trip, and Onyx Ten is installed as a heavy 4/5 favorite; our rating of 84.55 backs up that favoritism, though value hunters will want to look underneath. Then comes the most interesting free race of the bunch: Race 3, a maiden claimer going 1 1/16 miles on the turf, where Starmetal opens at 4/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 85.62 — the highest mark of any free-race pick today. On a firm turf course under clear skies, that price looks generous.

One thread connecting the early dirt races: with warm, dry weather and no recent rain to slow the strip, speed figures earned on similar fast tracks should translate well. Don't automatically discount horses who've shown early pace ability — the conditions are set up to reward it.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

1:26 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A full field of maiden claimers going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf — sixteen runners with zero career wins between them makes this a puzzle, but our model finds two horses that tower over the rest.

win10StarmetalML 4/1

Starmetal tops our ratings at 85.62 in a field where the next-best horse is nearly five points behind — that's a meaningful gap in a race full of unknowns. Trainer Michelle Nihei saddles Starmetal at 4/1 on the morning line, and jockey Ciara Walsh gets the call, a combination worth noting. The 53 average speed figure is competitive in this group, and on a turf route where pace management and settling ability matter, Starmetal's profile sets up nicely for the distance.

place8Both Sides of BadML 6/1

Both Sides of Bad rates second in the field at 80.88 and goes off at a generous 6/1 — that's a horse our model respects highly at a price that makes him a legitimate value play. Trainer Richard J. Hendriks puts Elizabeth Scully up, and the 53 average speed figure is right in the mix with the top contenders. In a wide-open turf maiden full of question marks, having the second-best rating at 6/1 is exactly the kind of place overlay to target in exactas.

show5PujolML 12/1

Pujol is the sneaky longshot here at 12/1 with a 68.49 rating — third-best in the field and priced like a throw-in. Nicolas I. Marin-Tapia gets the mount for trainer Kelly Lynn Deiter, and while the 51 average speed figure is on the modest side, turf routes can flatten out the speed curve and reward horses who run an honest, even pace. At those odds, Pujol is a strong show bet and a logical third leg in trifecta tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 16 runners

Race 4

1:57 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A competitive starter optional claiming sprint where the top-rated horse carries a legitimate class edge but faces multiple rivals who know how to win — the pace figures to be honest and the finish tight.

win4Java TalesML 7/2

Java Tales leads our ratings at 86.35 and brings a career win rate of 36% — that's the best strike rate in the field and the kind of number that tells you this horse competes confidently against winners. Trainer Bruce M. Kravets puts Ricardo Chiappe in the irons, and the combination of a 55 average speed figure and an optimal 5½-furlong distance for a horse with proven closing ability makes this the most well-rounded résumé in the race. At 7/2, there's real value here for the top-rated horse.

place5For the LadiesML 8/1

For the Ladies is the big-price standout in this field — 8/1 on the morning line for a horse with a 77.99 rating and a 33% career win rate that matches Java Tales' top mark. Jose A. Batista has the call for trainer Pedro Nazario, and a horse winning a third of her starts doesn't end up at 8/1 without some recency questions. If she's right on this day, she's more than capable of running Java Tales down or hanging close enough for the place.

show3J CandyML 9/5

J Candy sits third in our ratings at 76.83 and is priced at 9/5 — the morning-line second choice who brings a 33% career win rate to a race where she can clearly run. Trainer Jose S. Rodriguez has her in the right spot at this level, and Paul A. Luna gets the mount. The 9/5 price limits the value on top, but she's a firm show anchor and the kind of horse that makes exacta boxes tidy when paired with Java Tales.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

2:31 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

An all-maiden turf route for fillies and mares loaded with runners, but two horses separate themselves from the pack on ratings — expect a pace scenario where the closers have the advantage over a mile-and-a-sixteenth.

win6Hotter Than FireML 6/1

Hotter Than Fire tops our ratings at 82.71 in this field, a significant jump above most of her rivals, and trainer Jamie Ness is a sharp turf conditioner at this level. Martin Chuan gets the mount and the 6/1 morning line gives you real value for the top-rated horse — in maiden turf routes, pace can compress late and a horse with this kind of ratings edge often finds the right spot to strike. This is our best value play on the turf for the afternoon.

place5Tiz ComplexML 8/1

Tiz Complex rates at 71.81 — second-best in the field — and comes in at 8/1 for trainer Cathal A. Lynch, who has a solid reputation on the grass. Vincent Cheminaud picks up the mount, which is a notable rider booking for an 8/1 shot in a maiden race. The 53 average speed figure is competitive, and a horse with this kind of ratings profile at double-digit morning-line odds is exactly the type to target in exactas and trifectas behind Hotter Than Fire.

show3Kinda CleverML 7/2

Kinda Clever checks in at 52.88 on our ratings scale and is the morning-line second choice at 7/2 under Julio A. Hernandez for trainer Michael R. Matz — a Hall of Fame conditioner who still knows how to place a maiden filly. The 52 average speed figure is middle-of-the-pack, but Matz's experience landing first-out winners gives this filly an edge on form readiness. She's a logical show anchor and exotics piece if you're building tickets around the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 14 runners

Race 6

3:03 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A starter optional claiming sprint where the favorite carries by far the highest rating in the field — but three horses cluster in the mid-70s on ratings and could make this more competitive than the morning line suggests.

win7Plausible DenileML 3/2

Plausible Denile is the standout of today's entire card with an 89.27 TrackWiz rating — a number that dwarfs the field. Trainer Greg Compton sends her out at 3/2 with Angel Cruz in the irons, and while the 13% career win rate is modest, the quality of our rating suggests she's running into the right spot here. The 55 average speed figure matches the best in the field, and in a six-furlong dirt sprint, a horse with this kind of edge doesn't often get beaten.

place4NewyearsblockpartyML 5/2

Newyearsblockparty rates at 75.78 and brings a 19% career win rate to the table — respectable numbers for a starter optional claimer. Trainer Jeffrey A. Poole gives Cipriano Gil the mount, and the 55 average speed figure puts her right on par with the top-end speed in the field. At 5/2, she's not a screaming value, but she profiles as the most likely horse to stay close to Plausible Denile and collect the place dough.

show6Diamond HeistML 7/2

Diamond Heist rates at 74.32 and carries a 23% career win rate — the best win percentage among the contenders in the mid-70s range. Julio A. Hernandez gets the mount for trainer Miguel A. Rodriguez, and the 55 average speed figure is right in line with the pace-setters. At 7/2, she's a sensible show bet and worth including on the bottom of trifecta tickets in a race where the top two look fairly defined.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 7

3:36 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

A five-furlong turf maiden claimer with a packed field of thirteen, but the morning line tells the story — one horse is installed at 8/5 in a field of 20/1 shots, signaling a potential lone-class standout.

win7BalticML 8/5

Baltic comes in with a 89.12 rating — the highest of any horse in Race 7 by a wide margin — and is rightly installed as the 8/5 morning-line favorite. Vincent Cheminaud is a smooth, tactical rider who excels on the turf, and trainer Cathal A. Lynch has a well-earned reputation for presenting turf horses ready to fire. The 56 average speed figure ties Repurpose for the field's best, and over a short five-furlong turf dash where speed and positioning matter enormously, Baltic looks like a horse on a different level.

place2QuamashML 5/1

Quamash draws our attention at 5/1 with a 76.41 rating — the second-best in the field and a solid gap above the rest. Trainer Victor Carrasco, Jr. gives Jose A. Batista the mount, and a 55 average speed figure is right in the range where a horse can press or sit just off a pace that might collapse. In a five-furlong turf sprint, a horse with this rating at a workable morning-line price is well worth including on your place tickets.

show3AndolinML 3/1

Andolin rates at 64.20 and is installed at 3/1 — third choice on the morning line — under Joshua J. Radosevich for trainer Lynn A. Ashby. The 53 average speed figure is a step below the top two, but a 3/1 morning-line horse in a maiden turf sprint with this kind of field depth has every chance to land in the money without winning. She's the logical third option for trifecta construction and a reasonable show play if you want downside protection.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 13 runners

Race 8

4:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Tonight's finale is a five-and-a-half furlong dirt claiming sprint where the morning line is split wide between a 3/2 favorite and a 3/1 horse our model rates as the clear best — expect fireworks in the stretch.

win2Little GussieML 3/1

Little Gussie tops our ratings at 87.08 in this six-horse field and is a legitimate value play at 3/1 — especially when the 3/2 favorite, Golden Sovereign, rates a full 42 points lower. Trainer Ben Ramos sends her out with Ubardo Casique up, and a 55 average speed figure — highest in the field alongside Bulle Babe — gives her every tool to control or stalk the pace over 5½ furlongs. A 12% career win rate might look modest, but this is exactly the kind of race where our model sees a mis-bet, and Little Gussie is our best bet of Race 8.

place6Bulle BabeML 9/5

Bulle Babe rates at 62.26 and matches Little Gussie's 55 average speed figure, making her the most natural pace partner or stalker in the field. Trainer Daniel Velazquez gives Teshawn Hazelwood the call, and a 12% career win rate is similar to Little Gussie's, meaning she earns her share of checks without dominating. At 9/5 — the morning-line second choice — she's not a value bomb, but she's likely to be in the thick of it late and is a reasonable place bet to back.

show1CitifiedML 8/1

Citified is the interesting show value at 8/1 — a horse with a 54.08 rating who finds himself priced like a long shot despite sitting third on our leaderboard in this modest six-horse field. Trainer Don L. Bryant sends out Ajhari Williams on a horse with a 10% career win rate, which is admittedly thin, but the 51 average speed figure on dirt at this distance gives him a path to hang around for third money. At 8/1 for a horse in a six-pack claiming race, the show overlay is real.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

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Bottom line: it's a solid Saturday card at Delaware with real angles to exploit, especially on the turf. Starmetal is our marquee free play at 4/1 in Race 3, while the premium side of the card features back-to-back high-rated contenders in Races 6 and 7 that deserve serious attention. As always, nothing is a lock — but the setup today is as clean as the weather. Good luck out there, and if you want the full picture, the complete card breakdown is waiting for you at TrackWiz Premium.

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