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Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — September 19, 2026

September 19, 20268 racesAll Delaware Park picks

Delaware Park is dealing a clean 8-race card this Saturday, and the conditions couldn't be more cooperative. Partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 74°F means the turf should be playing true — great news on a day that features no fewer than three grass routes on the slate.

The card is a blend of claiming and starter optional claiming company, which means pace scenarios and class angles are going to matter more than pedigree alone. There's a legitimate spread of distance and surface combinations here — from 5½-furlong dirt sprints to turf routes going a mile and 70 yards — so there's something for every handicapping style.

Three races are open to all TrackWiz readers today, giving you a solid foundation to build your wagers. The back half of the card is where things really heat up, with five premium races featuring some of the strongest top picks — by TrackWiz rating — on the entire card.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:34 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A tight top-two battle shapes up here, with Ray of Lov and Gonzalo separating themselves from the field on TrackWiz ratings — but Twelve Nelson lurks as a sneaky third wheel in a race where the pace could get honest early.

win1Ray of LovML 9/2

Ray of Lov carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 84.9 and lands in the right spot at 9/2 on the morning line — that's genuine value for the top-rated horse. A 20% career win rate is respectable in claiming company, and Emanuel Rosario gets the call, a jockey who knows how to navigate a short 5.5-furlong sprint. The average speed figure of 54 matches the class level here, and with that rating edge, Ray of Lov is our best bet to wire this field.

place2GonzaloML 2/1

Gonzalo is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 and nearly matches Ray of Lov stride for stride — an 84.15 TrackWiz rating and a 21% career win rate are genuinely strong numbers for this field. Paul Luna gets the mount and the horse has the raw speed to compete wire to wire in a 5.5-furlong dirt sprint. The tight rating gap between these two makes Gonzalo a near-lock for the exacta.

show5Twelve NelsonML 6/1

Twelve Nelson is worth including in your exotics at 6/1 on the morning line. A 77.22 TrackWiz rating gives him a real edge on the bottom half of this field, and a 20% career win rate says he knows how to compete — Raul Mena takes the mount on a horse that should find a clear path in a field this size. If the top two hook up early and tire each other out, Twelve Nelson is positioned to sneak into the frame.

Race 2

5:06 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The morning-line favorite here is NOT our top-rated horse — Yes I Will gets overlooked at 5/1 despite leading the field in TrackWiz score, making this a potential overlay situation in a competitive six-furlong dirt sprint.

win1Yes I WillML 5/1

Yes I Will tops this field with an 84.17 TrackWiz rating and an impressive 28% career win rate — the highest win percentage in the field by a comfortable margin. At 5/1 on the morning line while carrying the best numbers, this is exactly the kind of overlay situation where the public underestimates a horse. Julio Hernandez takes the mount for trainer Michael Simone, and with consistent 55 average speed figures matching the field's pace, Yes I Will is our value play to win in Race 2.

place2RicheztooML 9/5

Richeztoo is the morning-line favorite at 9/5, which means the public likes this horse — but a 14% career win rate and a TrackWiz rating of 75.77 suggest the odds don't reflect the real picture. That said, the horse is capable of finding the board, and trainer Jose Gallegos has two horses in this race, which signals confidence in the barn's form. As the likely pace-setter given the short price, Richeztoo figures to be dangerous on the front end.

show4Close the GateML 3/2

Close the Gate opens at 3/2 but checks in third in our ratings at 75.72, nearly identical to Richeztoo's score. Joseph Rocco Jr. aboard for trainer John Salzman Jr. is a sharp jockey-trainer combination worth respecting. A 20% career win rate in optional claiming company says this is a horse who competes consistently, and at those odds, the show spot makes sense in your exacta and trifecta constructions.

Race 3

5:41 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Turf

A full field of twelve hits the turf for a mile and 70 yards in what looks like a wide-open optional claiming affair — three horses cluster at the top of the TrackWiz ratings with meaningful separation from the rest, setting up a potential trifecta play.

win6Daw SamaaML 6/1

Daw Samaa leads all turf runners today with a 78.08 TrackWiz rating and gets Martin Chuan in the irons for trainer Jamie Ness — a combination that commands respect in turf routes at this level. Opening at 6/1, this horse represents real value against a 12-horse field where the morning line doesn't always reflect the true ability order. The one-mile-plus distance on turf suits closers, and with a 54 average speed figure that matches the projected pace, Daw Samaa has the tools to come running late.

place11NilambarML 10/1

Nilambar is an intriguing play at 10/1 despite owning the second-highest rating in the field at 76.88. Julio Hernandez rides for trainer Bruce Kravets, and the horse's 54 average speed figure keeps pace with the likely leaders. An 8% career win rate on paper looks modest, but in a 12-horse turf field with short-priced horses drawing attention elsewhere, Nilambar is the kind of improving type who can sneak into the exacta at a price.

show12Don't Copy MeML 8/1

Don't Copy Me closes out our top three with a 72.51 TrackWiz rating and a notably strong 16% career win rate — solid for optional claiming turf company. Emanuel Rosario, one of the better jockeys on the Delaware circuit, picks up this mount for trainer Ramon Davila Aguayo, and the 55 average speed figure is actually the best among our top three picks. In a full field at a mile, pace scenarios get complicated fast, and Don't Copy Me offers a reliable hedge in your trifecta.

Our free analysis covers Races 1 through 3, and there's a clear thread running through all three: early speed on a dry Delaware dirt track tends to hold up, but don't ignore closers on the turf. In Race 1, Ray of Lov (9/2 ML, TrackWiz rating 84.9) surfaces in a 5½-furlong dirt sprint where pace shape should play right into her hands. Race 2 stretches to 6 furlongs on the main track, and Yes I Will (5/1 ML, 84.17) is the kind of optionally placed veteran who can steal one at a price in starter optional claiming company.

Race 3 moves the action to the turf at a mile and 70 yards, where Daw Samaa (6/1 ML, 78.08) stands out — though it's worth noting that this is the lowest-rated top pick in the free trio, and the competitive turf field warrants some exotics coverage if you're building a trifecta here. Use Daw Samaa on top but spread underneath.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:14 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Chelsea Wall enters as a dominant class figure in this one-mile dirt claimer, boasting the top TrackWiz rating by a wide margin — the question is whether 2/1 morning-line odds leave enough meat on the bone, or if Patient Fi at 6/1 provides the smarter angle.

win1Chelsea WallML 2/1

Chelsea Wall is the standout in this field, full stop — an 88.54 TrackWiz rating is the highest mark in Race 4 by nearly seven points, and a 29% career win rate is elite for claiming company. Martin Chuan teams up with trainer Jamie Ness, the same combination we flagged in Race 3, and this barn is clearly in sharp form at Delaware. At 2/1 on the morning line, the public is onto Chelsea Wall, but the rating edge is substantial enough that we're still comfortable making this our top selection.

place5Patient FiML 6/1

Patient Fi is the value play in this race at 6/1 with an 81.73 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field and a legitimate threat to hit the board. A 17% career win rate for trainer Elliott Soto-Martinez suggests a horse that runs consistently without always getting to the winner's circle, which makes the place position an ideal landing spot. Anthony Salgado gets the call, and if Chelsea Wall has any hiccup, Patient Fi is right there to collect.

show6Miti Fast FlowerML 4/1

Miti Fast Flower opens at 4/1 with a 73.89 TrackWiz rating and the second-highest career win percentage in the field at 24% — that's a horse who knows how to compete and finish. Joseph Rocco Jr. takes the mount for Kelly Lynn Deiter, and the consistent 51 average speed figure puts this horse right in the mix pace-wise at a mile on dirt. As a show play or trifecta back-end piece, Miti Fast Flower is dependable enough to warrant inclusion.

Race 5

6:46 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

Ironsides and Sky's Not Falling look like a two-horse race at the top, but Cloud Music at 7/2 with a 27% career win rate adds an intriguing wildcard — this turf route could get really interesting if the chalk gets into trouble.

win5IronsidesML 3/2

Ironsides leads all horses in Race 5 with an 89.27 TrackWiz rating — the best mark we've seen through the first five races today. At 3/2 on the morning line, the public agrees this is the one to beat, and for good reason: a 55 average speed figure is sharp for 1 1/16-mile turf optional claiming company. Martin Chuan rides for Fausto Gutierrez, and while the short price limits upside, the dominant rating makes Ironsides our confident win selection.

place3Sky's Not FallingML 9/2

Sky's Not Falling is our preferred value angle at 9/2, delivering an 83.21 TrackWiz rating — less than six points behind Ironsides but at significantly longer odds. Emanuel Rosario takes the mount for trainer Emanuel Geralis, and a 20% career win rate on a turf router is genuinely respectable. A 55 average speed figure matches Ironsides tick for tick, meaning Sky's Not Falling has the raw speed to stay within striking distance through the stretch.

show8Cloud MusicML 7/2

Cloud Music is a horse worth serious exotic attention at 7/2. That 27% career win rate is the best in this field by a comfortable margin — this is a horse that has a knack for getting the job done. Madeline Rowland picks up the mount for Michael Gorham, and the 54 average speed figure suggests Cloud Music can stay engaged through a one-turn turf route without getting buried early. As a show play or trifecta fill, the win percentage alone makes this horse impossible to leave off your ticket.

Race 6

7:14 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Braquet sits atop the TrackWiz ratings despite being third in the morning line, while Neolithica brings an eye-catching 38% career win rate — trainer Bruce Kravets saddles two horses in this six-furlong dirt sprint and clearly has the hot hand.

win5BraquetML 4/1

Braquet tops our ratings with an 85.62 TrackWiz score and opens at a workable 4/1, making this our best-value win pick of the race. Ricardo Chiappe climbs aboard for trainer Bruce Kravets, who also runs Neolithica in this same race — when a trainer doubles up, it usually means confidence in the barn's form. A 20% career win rate in starter optional claiming company is solid, and the 53 average speed figure is right in the mix for six furlongs on dirt.

place1Don't ListenML 3/1

Don't Listen has the second-highest TrackWiz rating at 75.34 and the second-best career win percentage in the field at 27% — this is a horse that competes hard and finishes. Anthony Salgado gets the mount for trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, who also runs Pink Rose in this race, which again signals a confident barn. At 3/1 on the morning line, Don't Listen is fairly priced and should be included on any exacta or trifecta ticket in Race 6.

show6NeolithicaML 6/1

Neolithica is the show play that demands your attention — a 38% career win rate is the highest on the entire Delaware card today. That number doesn't lie: this is a horse that has a habit of hitting the board. Martin Chuan rides for Kravets, giving the trainer a legitimate one-two punch in this race, and the 55 average speed figure is the best in the field. At 6/1 on the morning line with those credentials, Neolithica is a legitimate contender across the board.

Race 7

7:55 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Turf

Two heavy hitters square off in what looks like a match race — Americandreammaker and Racey Ruby both carry elite TrackWiz ratings and are likely to dominate, but the pace shape at a mile and 70 on turf could determine which one gets the upper hand.

win5AmericandreammakerML 8/5

Americandreammaker edges into our top spot with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating and an eye-popping 37% career win rate — that's a horse that consistently delivers. Martin Chuan rides for Barry Foley, and the 55 average speed figure is the best in the field. At 8/5 on the morning line, the price is short but the credentials are undeniable — in a race this top-heavy, backing the highest-rated horse with the best win percentage is the disciplined play.

place1Racey RubyML 7/5

Racey Ruby is an elite horse in her own right — an 87.52 TrackWiz rating and a 33% career win rate are numbers most horses on this card would envy. Gavin Ashton gets the mount for trainer Michael Catalano Jr., a sharp outfit that knows how to position a turf router. If Americandreammaker hits any traffic or gets away slowly, Racey Ruby has more than enough class to collect the place spot, and at 7/5 on the morning line, the exacta with our top two looks like a strong play.

show2Chilling FactorML 10/1

Chilling Factor opens at 10/1, and at those odds, this horse is worth a small investment in trifecta tickets. A 55.23 TrackWiz rating places Chilling Factor well behind the top two, but in a small seven-horse field, staying within shouting distance of the pace could set up a sneaky third-place finish. Jose Batista takes the mount for trainer Monica McGoey, and if the favorites get tangled up in a pace duel through the long turf stretch, Chilling Factor could be the surprise ticket puncher.

Race 8

8:30 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Maiden claiming affairs are always tricky — no horse in this field has won, and in a six-furlong dirt sprint, first-time starters and lightly-raced maidens often surprise. Velveteen carries a massive rating edge that's hard to overlook.

win3VelveteenML 9/5

Velveteen is the standout in this maiden claimer with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — a number that would be competitive in several allowance races on today's card. Martin Chuan rides for Bruce Kravets, who has proven himself a top trainer on today's card with multiple live runners. A 54 average speed figure in a maiden field where most horses have limited records is meaningful, and at 9/5 on the morning line, the public and our model are aligned on this one being the one to beat.

place4Molly the CatML 6/1

Molly the Cat opens at 6/1 with a 71.66 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field and a meaningful gap between her and the rest below. Joseph Rocco Jr. picks up the mount for McLean Robertson, and the 54 average speed figure matches Velveteen's mark, which means this horse can stay competitive through the stretch. In a maiden race where upsets are always possible, Molly the Cat at 6/1 is the kind of place play that can pay off nicely in exactas.

show5Ivey My LoveML 5/2

Ivey My Love checks in with a 68.59 TrackWiz rating and a morning line of 5/2 — third in our ratings and reasonably priced. Barrington Bell rides for Steven Dye, and while the 52 average speed figure is slightly below the top two, in a six-furlong sprint that number can play just fine from a stalking position. As the third wheel in a maiden race with a dominant favorite, Ivey My Love offers a sensible show play and a logical trifecta piece.

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Bottom line: Delaware Park is offering a well-structured card today with genuine opportunities across both surfaces. Ray of Lov, Yes I Will, and Daw Samaa anchor the free card, while Ironsides and Americandreammaker headline a premium slate that's worth the deeper dive. Full pace projections, exotic strategies, and complete analysis for all 8 races are available to TrackWiz subscribers — visit /pricing to unlock the full card. Good luck out there today.

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