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Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — August 22, 2026

August 22, 20268 racesAll Delaware Park picks

Delaware Park rolls out an eight-race Saturday card under partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 76°F — about as clean a racing day as you'll get in late August. The track is on dirt all day, which means pace scenarios and surface preferences are going to drive a lot of decisions from the first post to the nightcap.

The card mixes claiming races, a pair of maiden events, and a solid Allowance Optional Claiming in Race 7 that shapes up as the day's marquee spot. TrackWiz has crunched the numbers on all eight races, and there's genuine value hiding in a few spots that the morning line doesn't fully reflect.

Three races are open to everyone — no subscription needed. If you like what you see, the full card breakdown is waiting for subscribers, with pace projections and exotic strategies for Races 4 through 8.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

Sharp Wonder towers over this 1 1/16-mile dirt claimer with a rating nearly 33 points clear of the field, but the secondary battle for place and show money looks genuinely competitive with a cluster of horses bunched between 50 and 55.

win9Sharp WonderML 5/2

Sharp Wonder (9) is the standout selection here and it isn't particularly close — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating dwarfs the rest of this field. Going postward at 5/2 on the morning line, Angel Cruz gets the call, and this horse has the profile to handle the 1 1/16-mile dirt distance without fuss. When a horse grades this far above the competition in a claiming race, you have to respect the model — Sharp Wonder is your anchor for win wagers and the top of any exotics.

place3Tell 'Em I'm CominML 7/2

Tell 'Em I'm Comin (3) carries a 54.4 rating and a 7/2 morning line that makes her the logical bridesmaid candidate. Trainer Jose Corrales puts her out at a price that suggests connections are confident, and jockey Matilda Burnham should keep her in a comfortable spot behind what figures to be a Sharp Wonder-led pace. In a race where the win looks locked up, the value in exacta coverage runs through this one.

show6Soo HandsomeML 10/1

Soo Handsome (6) is an interesting show-price play at 10/1 morning line with a 54.05 rating — nearly identical to Tell 'Em I'm Comin on the TrackWiz scale. Gavin Ashton rides for trainer Beverly Strauss, and with a 5% career win rate this horse has hit the board enough times to be taken seriously as an exotic anchor. At double-digit odds, Soo Handsome spices up any trifecta ticket without breaking the bank.

Race 2

4:52 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claimer on the dirt mile where no horse has ever won, but the TrackWiz ratings reveal a clear three-horse top tier — and the morning-line favorite is not our top-rated horse.

win5I'mamaterialgirlML 4/1

I'mamaterialgirl (5) tops our TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 and goes at a juicy 4/1 morning line despite being the strongest number in the field — that's a value sweet spot. Trainer Jose Corrales and jockey Leandro M. Briceno team up, and with an average speed figure of 53, she's right in the mix on raw pace. In a maiden claiming mile where the chalk is not the top-rated horse, this is exactly the kind of overlay you build your ticket around.

place3Shes the Tall OneML 9/5

Shes the Tall One (3) is the 9/5 morning-line favorite and carries a 75.09 rating — second-best in the field — so she's not without merit. Trainer Cathal A. Lynch has a knack for placing horses well, and Vincent Cheminaud gets the mount. If the pace collapses, this filly's profile suggests she'll be in the mix for at least a place check, making her a logical part of exacta combinations underneath our top pick.

show1Santa LuziaML 5/2

Santa Luzia (1) rounds out our top three at a 69.07 rating with the 5/2 morning line, trained by Jose A. Gallegos — the same barn that saddles Sharp Wonder in Race 1. With an average speed figure of 52 on the dirt mile, she's capable of posting a competitive figure, and Jesus M. Rios gives her a live chance to hit the board. She's the show anchor for trifecta plays and a legitimate piece of any multi-horse exotic.

Race 3

5:24 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Izzy's Rock Star brings the highest TrackWiz rating and a career win percentage that screams class edge, but Noble Annie is the morning-line favorite — creating a genuine overlay opportunity if our numbers are right.

win2Izzy's Rock StarML 6/1

Izzy's Rock Star (2) is our top selection here, posting an 82.71 TrackWiz rating while going off at a generous 6/1 on the morning line. The 14% career win rate is the best in this field and tells you this horse has been to the winner's circle consistently throughout its career. Jesus M. Rios rides for trainer Pedro Posadas over a 1-mile-70-yard dirt route — a grinder's distance where a horse with real class will eventually assert itself. Betting against a horse who wins at 14% and grades this well at 6/1 odds is exactly the kind of spot savvy handicappers look to exploit.

place4Tea RoseML 9/5

Tea Rose (4) carries a 75.41 rating and gets Emanuel Rosario aboard for trainer W. Thomas McMahon at a tight 9/5 morning line. While she's the public's second choice, her rating supports that billing — she's a legitimate contender for the runner-up spot if Izzy's Rock Star gets to the front. She makes sense as the second horse in exacta combinations, particularly in the 2-4 pairing.

show6Noble AnnieML 3/2

Noble Annie (6) is the 3/2 morning-line favorite with a 10% career win rate, and Eliseo Ruiz will have her rolling from the rail for trainer Jose M. Santaella-Calderon. While our model has her third, that 10% career win figure and the morning-line support suggest the public sees real ability here — she's a logical show play and a trifecta piece you don't want to leave off.

Our three free picks anchor the early part of the card and they share a common thread: distance suits horses who want to run all day. Sharp Wonder (Race 1, 5/2 ML) opens things up going 1 1/16 miles, and our TrackWiz rating of 87.81 makes her the class of the day through the free windows. In Race 2, I'mamaterialgirl gets a shot at maiden company going one mile — at 4/1 on the morning line, she represents the kind of price you want when your model shows an 85.62 rating in a field that figures to be wide open. Then in Race 3, keep an eye on Izzy's Rock Star at 6/1. That price looks generous for a horse our analysis rates at 82.71 in a claiming mile-and-seventy-yards — if the pace collapses up front the way we think it will, she could be rolling late.

The dirt surface is consistent today, and with no weather concerns, raw ability should win out over trip luck in these early claimers. No exotic excuses — just talent sorting itself out.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:56 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

Fifteen first-time starters (or lightly-raced maidens) flood this 5-furlong MSW sprint, making pace and connections the primary handicapping tools — this is a trainer-and-draw puzzle as much as anything else.

win8WinterscapeML 2/1

Winterscape (8) tops our TrackWiz ratings at 58.33 and carries the 2/1 morning-line favoritism to match, trained by the accomplished Michael Stidham — a barn with the resources and know-how to win first out at a maiden special weight level. Joshua J. Radosevich gets the call, and in a 15-horse maiden sprint, breaking cleanly and getting to a good position early will be critical. When a Stidham-trained maiden draws interest as the morning-line favorite and grades as the top-rated horse, the public is usually onto something.

place6Maxie's MunnyML 5/2

Maxie's Munny (6) sits just behind Winterscape at a 57.5 rating and goes at 5/2 with Julio A. Hernandez up for trainer Daniel G. Eubanks. An average speed figure of 53 gives her something tangible to work with in a field full of question marks, and the 5/2 price makes her excellent value in exacta plays underneath or even on top. In a race this large and this unpredictable, having two horses grading closely together at the top of the field is reassuring.

show1Infinite AuraML 3/1

Infinite Aura (1) deadlocks with Occupy and Hay Hay Renee at a 56.67 rating but gets the nod for show honors based on the Michael Stidham barn connection — same trainer as our top pick Winterscape. Carol Cedeno, one of the sharper jockeys in the mid-Atlantic colony, handles the mount. The rail draw in a short sprint can be tricky with traffic, but Cedeno is experienced enough to navigate it, and Stidham having two in the race suggests he's loaded up because he likes his chances.

Race 5

6:28 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A deep 13-horse claiming field on the dirt mile where the top of the market is genuinely competitive — Concealed Carry and Styner are separated by less than two rating points, setting up a potential pace duel between two live favorites.

win3Concealed CarryML 5/2

Concealed Carry (3) leads our TrackWiz ratings in this race at 84.26, goes at a fair 5/2, and has Jaime Rodriguez up for the reliable Jamie Ness stable. The 13% career win percentage is solid for a claimer, and the average speed figure of 53 puts her right at the top of the field's pace range. Ness is a trainer who consistently puts horses in spots where they can succeed, and this looks like another well-placed effort — make Concealed Carry your win single.

place5StynerML 7/2

Styner (5) is no throw-in at 7/2 — an 82.8 rating and a jaw-dropping 25% career win rate from Angel Cruz's irons make this one of the more intriguing horses on the card. That career win percentage is the highest in the entire field by a significant margin, indicating a horse who knows how to get his nose down in front when it counts. If pace pressure compromises Concealed Carry, Styner looks like the most likely beneficiary.

show1Gametime GladiatorML 6/1

Gametime Gladiator (1) brings a 78.56 rating and a 12% career win rate for trainer Michael V. Simone at a 6/1 morning line — that price represents real value given the rating. Ronaldo Rodriguez gets the call from the rail, and with an average speed figure of 52, he should be forwardly placed throughout. In a race with this much pace potential, a horse who can track the leaders and pounce late is a strong exotic play.

Race 6

7:00 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Capitaine dominates the ratings in this Starter Optional Claiming route and is trained by the same Cathal A. Lynch barn that also saddles Blackfoot Bounty — when a trainer goes two-deep and one is this much better on paper, the stable intentions are worth noting.

win10CapitaineML 3/1

Capitaine (10) is the clear top selection here, posting an 87.08 TrackWiz rating that's more than 16 points clear of the next best competitor. Emanuel Rosario — one of the sharpest pilots in this colony — climbs aboard for trainer Cathal A. Lynch, and the 14% career win rate confirms this horse can close the deal when pointed correctly. At 3/1 on the morning line, you're getting a legitimately top-rated horse at a price that still offers value over the field — this is your race-to-race win play.

place7Real Men ViolinML 4/1

Real Men Violin (7) is a 4/1 price that represents genuine value — a 70.8 TrackWiz rating puts him clearly second in our rankings, and trainer Josue Arce sends him out with Jose A. Batista in the irons. The 3% career win rate is modest, but in a Starter Optional Claiming route where the goal is to hit the board, a horse grading this cleanly as the second-best runner is worth including in all exacta tickets.

show2Our Ham SandwichML 6/1

Our Ham Sandwich (2) sports a 16% career win rate — among the highest in this field — and brings a 62.71 rating that makes him a legitimate third option. Trainer Miguel Vera and jockey Jaime Rodriguez pair up, and the 51 average speed figure is the one slight concern at this distance. Still, a horse who wins at 16% over his career knows how to get competitive, and at 6/1 he's a trifecta inclusion that makes plenty of sense.

Race 7

7:32 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Small field, big favorite — Tallmar enters this 6-furlong allowance optional claimer with a 75% career win rate and an 89.27 rating that makes this look like a near-formality, but Change My World at 7/2 offers a legitimate alternative for those who want to fade the chalk.

win2TallmarML 3/2

Tallmar (2) is simply extraordinary on paper — a 75% career win rate is the kind of number that makes you rub your eyes and look again, and the 89.27 TrackWiz rating is the highest of any horse on today's card. Carol Cedeno gets the mount for trainer Juan Carlos Avila, and with a 55 average speed figure matching the field's pace level, there's no reason to think distance or pace will be an issue. At 3/2, you're not getting a bargain, but fading a horse with these credentials in a five-horse field is a tough ask.

place1Change My WorldML 7/2

Change My World (1) is the main alternative at 7/2 and brings an 80.73 rating — respectable, though still 8+ points behind Tallmar. The 13% career win rate and a 55 average speed figure suggest this horse can generate competitive numbers, and trainer Mary E. Eppler sends her out with Angel Cruz, a reliable handler. If Tallmar encounters any trouble in this short five-horse field, Change My World is right there to collect.

show3RippedML 9/5

Ripped (3) looks like the third-best option at 9/5 on the morning line, though our 58.66 rating has him ranked third behind the top two — an interesting price discrepancy worth monitoring. Trainer Robert Mosco puts Dexter Haddock aboard, and the 56 average speed figure is actually the highest in the race on that metric. At 9/5, he's overpriced relative to his rating position, but he's a logical trifecta closer if the top two run their races.

Race 8

8:04 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Farooq stands alone at the top of the ratings in this 5.5-furlong maiden claiming sprint, yet he's only the 3/1 second choice behind the morning-line favorite Savvylicious — that gap between market position and TrackWiz grade is exactly where we want to be.

win6FarooqML 3/1

Farooq (6) leads this field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — identical to Capitaine's top mark in Race 6 — and goes at 3/1 with Angel Cruz up for trainer Katharine M. Voss. The 55 average speed figure ties for best in the field alongside Hawksbury Hustler, but it's the composite rating that sets Farooq apart by a significant margin. Cruz is in strong form on the card today, and in a short maiden claimer where pace and ability matter most, betting the top-rated horse at an overlay price is a straightforward play.

place3Hawksbury HustlerML 6/1

Hawksbury Hustler (3) is the sneaky value in this race at 6/1 morning line — a 69.85 rating puts her clearly second in TrackWiz's assessment, and that 55 average speed figure matches Farooq's raw pace number. Trainer Gina Perri sends her out with Wilfredo Corujo, and this filly profiles as the kind of horse that can sit just off a fast pace and pounce late in a sprint. At 6/1, she's the exacta play you want underneath Farooq.

show1Apollo BossML 4/1

Apollo Boss (1) checks in at a 55.0 rating for trainer Gregory D. Sacco — a name that has produced plenty of winners at tracks up and down the East Coast. Jaime Rodriguez has the mount, and the 54 average speed figure gives him a legitimate competitive figure in this company. At 4/1, he's a reasonable show ticket holder and an exotic piece worth including in trifecta spreads behind the top two.

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Saturday at Delaware looks like a genuine player's day — solid conditions, a full eight-race card, and a few morning-line prices our models disagree with in the best possible way. Sharp Wonder, I'mamaterialgirl, and Izzy's Rock Star are your free best bets to kick things off, and Tallmar in Race 7 is the name to know when the afternoon heats up. For pace breakdowns, exotic tickets, and full analysis on every race, subscribers have everything they need waiting inside. Good luck at the windows today.

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