Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — August 22, 2026

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.