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Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — September 25, 2026

September 25, 20268 racesAll Delaware Park picks

Delaware Park rolls out an eight-race Friday card under cloudy skies and a comfortable 68°F — conditions that should keep the dirt surface honest and playing fairly all afternoon. No rain in the mix means we're not chasing a bias today, just good old-fashioned handicapping.

The card is a nice mix of maiden specials, claimers, and a turf route that gives us something to dig into across every level. Race 5 heads to the grass for a mile and 70 yards of Starter Optional Claiming action, while the back half of the card features three consecutive six-furlong dirt sprints that could set up some serious multi-race wager opportunities.

TrackWiz analysis covers all eight races today. The first three are on us — free for every reader. The final five are part of the full premium breakdown.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:33 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Dirt

A wide-open maiden special weight mile on dirt where none of these horses have broken their maiden yet — TrackWiz ratings separate the contenders from the wishful thinkers in a field where the top figure holder goes off at a generous 5/1.

win3Sound CheckML 5/1

Sound Check tops our TrackWiz ratings at 65.01 — the highest mark in this six-horse maiden field by a clear margin — and at 5/1 on the morning line, that's a number worth circling. Trainer Michael E. Gorham puts him over Raul E. Mena, and in a race where nobody has won before, raw rating edges matter. The average speed figure of 53 is modest, but when you're the top-rated horse in a maiden field this thin, the edge is real. If he handles the one-turn mile, this is a value play worth keying in exactas.

place2Sol MayorML 8/5

Sol Mayor is the morning-line favorite at 8/5 and carries a 59 TrackWiz rating — solid, but a step below our top pick. Trainer Jorge Delgado sends him out with Cipriano Gil aboard, and the market clearly respects this one. He's a logical place option if the favorite's price compresses at the windows, offering a safer landing spot in the exotic pool.

show5Six StitchesML 2/1

Six Stitches checks in at 58.33 on the TrackWiz scale and draws the rail-adjacent 5 post with Paco Lopez up — a significant jockey upgrade that shouldn't be overlooked. Lopez is one of the sharper sticks in this circuit, and trainer Juan Carlos Avila also runs Mucho Oro in the same race, suggesting he's confident in his stable's chances. At 2/1, Six Stitches will likely be underlaid in the win pool, but as a show horse in trifectas, the Lopez factor makes this one worth including.

Race 2

5:04 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The top two TrackWiz-rated horses — Precious Cat and Derby Hangover — carry significantly higher figures than the rest of this starter optional claiming field, setting up a potential two-horse battle that could leave short-priced exotics on the table if one of them fires.

win2Precious CatML 5/2

Precious Cat leads all horses in this field with a 87.81 TrackWiz rating and gets Paco Lopez in the irons — this combination alone makes her hard to beat. Trainer Michael Dini has a solid operation, and at 5/2 on the morning line, the price is reasonable for a horse with a class-leading figure. Her 16% career win rate is modest, but speed figure edges in sprint races tend to hold up, and Precious Cat owns the numbers here.

place5Derby HangoverML 8/5

Derby Hangover is the 8/5 morning-line favorite and rated nearly as high at 85.47, so the market and our model are aligned — this is a two-horse race at the top. The 7% career win rate is low for a favorite, which is the only pause, but Cipriano Gil gives her a reliable pilot and the matching average speed figure of 55 with Marriedtothegame suggests she's got the pace to keep up if pressured. A strong place candidate if she can't quite collar Precious Cat.

show1MarriedtothegameML 7/2

Marriedtothegame brings the best career win percentage in the field at 33% — that's a legitimate hit rate that signals a horse who knows how to finish. Trainer John J. Robb sends him out with Daniel Centeno, and the 76.11 rating is a solid third-best behind the top two. At 7/2, there's some value here as a show play or underneath in the exacta if the top two fill the top spots.

Race 3

5:34 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

This six-furlong claiming sprint hides two legitimately live longshots near the top of the TrackWiz ratings — our win and place picks both go off at 8/1 or better despite carrying the field's highest figures, making the exacta a compelling value target.

win1Marlas DreamML 8/1

Marlas Dream tops the TrackWiz ratings in this field at 79.79 and goes postward at a juicy 8/1 morning line — that's a significant disconnect between our model and the oddsmaker. Trainer Mark V. Salvaggio puts Jomar Torres aboard, and while the 9% career win rate is nothing flashy, the figure edge here is substantial over most of this field. At 8/1, you're getting real value for the top-rated horse in the race — this is the kind of situation where overlay bets pay off over time.

place8Let'em HateML 6/1

Let'em Hate comes in at a 77.36 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and is also going off at 6/1, suggesting the crowd is sleeping on another strong figure horse. Yabriel O. Ramos picks up the mount for trainer Bruce M. Kravets, and the 5% career win rate is the main concern here. Still, in a claiming sprint where the pace can get chaotic, a closer with solid ratings can sweep late, and Let'em Hate looks the part as a place play.

show2FleeML 5/1

Flee draws the 2 post with Paco Lopez, which is the biggest jockey name on the board in this race, and that kind of pilot doesn't take cold mounts. The 69.91 rating is third-best in the field, and while the 9% career win rate mirrors the top pick, Lopez's presence suggests trainer Michael V. Simone sees a live chance here. At 5/1, Flee is a reasonable show play in trifectas, especially with Lopez applying early pressure that could set the race up nicely.

Our free picks span the first three races and give you a solid foundation for the early card. Sound Check opens the day in a one-mile Maiden Special Weight at 5/1 on the morning line — an interesting price for a horse our model rates at 65.01. Maiden routes on dirt can be tricky to solve, but there's a clear angle here worth exploring.

From there, Precious Cat (Race 2, 5/2) earns our highest free-race rating at 87.81 in a six-furlong Starter Optional Claiming sprint — that's the kind of number that commands attention in the early going. And don't sleep on Marlas Dream in Race 3: an 8/1 morning line with a 79.79 TrackWiz rating screams potential overlay. If the crowd underestimates her, the win mutuel could be very friendly.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:05 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The morning line favorites in this six-furlong claiming dirt sprint are not the horses our model likes best — TrackWiz ratings point strongly toward two double-digit overlays, making Race 4 one of the day's most intriguing betting opportunities.

win4Bermuda TriangleML 10/1

Bermuda Triangle is our top pick at a 76.88 TrackWiz rating and goes off at 10/1 on the morning line — a substantial overlay when you consider that's the highest figure in a full field of ten. Trainer Bruce M. Kravets pairs with Yabriel O. Ramos, and the 15% career win rate is respectable for the claiming ranks. The pace scenario in a large sprint field can get congested early, which could benefit a horse with legitimate figure superiority if he gets a clean trip.

place3Risk FactorML 10/1

Risk Factor rates second-best in this field at 71.96 and is also going off at 10/1 — our model sees two significant overlays occupying the top two spots in our ratings. Francisco Martinez gets the call for trainer Josue Arce, and a 13% career win rate in the claiming game is workmanlike. The value case here is simple: a figure horse at double-digit odds is worth including in the exacta and trifecta regardless of the pace scenario.

show6EnforcerML 6/1

Enforcer checks in with a 67.96 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field — and while 6/1 is more market-accurate, there's still some juice here as a show play. Anthony Salgado rides for trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, and the 15% career win rate ties several horses in this field at that level. With the top two both going at long prices, an Enforcer show ticket could land in a high-payout trifecta if our ratings sort this out correctly.

Race 5

6:35 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Turf

Seventeen horses entered for this turf route make Race 5 one of the most chaotic handicapping puzzles on the card — pace will be brutal to predict with this many runners, but one horse stands clear on TrackWiz ratings and looks like the class of the field.

win10Flamenco StarML 9/2

Flamenco Star carries the highest TrackWiz rating in this massive field at 84.90 and brings an impressive 22% career win rate over turf routes — that's a meaningful hit rate in grass routing company. Paco Lopez grabs the mount for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr., and this is exactly the kind of rider-trainer combo you want sorting out traffic in a large field. At 9/2 on the morning line, there's still some value here given the figure dominance, and Lopez's ability to find a trip in a crowded turf race is a genuine asset.

place13Red Sky MorningML 8/1

Red Sky Morning rates at 61.50 and goes off at 8/1 — that's a price that makes sense as a place play in a sprawling 17-horse turf field where the winner might come from anywhere. Julio A. Hernandez pilots for trainer Michael Dini, who is no stranger to turf routing, and a 14% career win rate suggests this isn't a throwaway. In exotics with this field size, getting a 61.50-rated horse underneath at 8/1 is solid value.

show11Apollo ElevenML 5/2

Apollo Eleven is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 and rates third in the field at 60.38 — the market agrees with our model that he's legitimate. Trainer Michael Stidham is a sharp conditioner, and a 22% career win rate mirrors Flamenco Star's rate, which is notable. At 5/2, the win price is thin, but as a show horse underneath Flamenco Star in the exotic plays, Apollo Eleven provides a reliable safety net in a race where chaos is inevitable.

Race 6

7:09 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Olivia's Legacy looks like a class standout in this allowance optional claiming sprint, carrying a massive rating advantage over her rivals — the question is whether the 6/5 morning line price makes the win ticket worth playing or if exotic construction is the smarter route.

win1Olivia's LegacyML 6/5

Olivia's Legacy leads this six-horse field with a 89.71 TrackWiz rating — a dominant edge over the next-best horse at 55.83 — and backs it up with a 33% career win rate, the best among the contenders with multiple starts. Paco Lopez aboard for trainer Anthony Pecoraro is a formidable combo in this class of race, and the figure separation here is simply too large to dismiss. Yes, 6/5 is a short price, but when the gap between horses is this wide, win tickets on chalk can absolutely be justified.

place5KholuluML 7/2

Kholulu rates second-best in this field at 55.83 and brings a perfect career win rate in limited starts — a detail worth flagging even if the sample is small. Cipriano Gil rides for trainer Kathleen O'Connell, and at 7/2, this horse offers meaningful place value underneath a heavy favorite. If Olivia's Legacy is going to be pressed early, Kholulu has the tactical speed to hang around late.

show2Funny MusicML 6/1

Funny Music has a 100% career win rate — again, likely a small sample, but unbeaten horses in allowance company deserve a line. The 51.67 TrackWiz rating is tied for third in the field, and Christian Maragh is a competent pilot. At 6/1, the win price has some appeal if you're looking for a sneaky upset, but as a show horse in trifectas, Funny Music's undefeated record makes her an interesting inclusion.

Race 7

7:43 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Infamy enters as a massive morning-line favorite at 6/5 in this six-furlong claiming sprint and backs it up with a rating that towers over the rest of the field — this one might come down to whether the chalk runs her race or gets into trouble in an otherwise competitive group.

win7InfamyML 6/5

Infamy sports a 89.71 TrackWiz rating — by far the best in this seven-horse field — and gets Paco Lopez, one of the circuit's top riders, for trainer Michael V. Simone. A 20% career win rate in the claiming ranks is respectable, and at 6/5, the market has priced her nearly off the board. Speed figure separation of this magnitude in a claiming sprint is often decisive, and with Lopez dictating terms from post 7, she should get a clean setup.

place4Country EconomicsML 9/2

Country Economics rates fourth in the field but brings an interesting angle — a 1% career win rate is unusually low, suggesting this horse has been close without finishing the deal, which often means the right race finally clicks. Daniel Centeno picks up the mount for trainer Jose Juan Vazquez, and at 9/2 on the morning line, there's value in the place pool if Country Economics runs to her figure of 65.42. A closer profile could benefit from Infamy setting the early tempo.

show3Chestertown JaneML 6/1

Chestertown Jane rates 64.97 — just a tick below Country Economics — and gets Marvin Fernandez for trainer Benjamin W. Perkins, Jr., a solid barn at this level. The 9% career win rate and 6/1 morning line suggest a horse that competes but hasn't found her optimal spot yet. In trifectas, Chestertown Jane makes sense as a third-leg inclusion at a price that offers real payout upside if the top two fill the top spots.

Race 8

8:17 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

This maiden claiming sprint over 5½ furlongs looks like a two-horse race at the top of the TrackWiz ratings, but the morning-line prices tell different stories — our top pick is a heavy favorite while our place pick is a live overlay at 4/1.

win1My Little Nico GML 8/5

My Little Nico G leads all horses with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating — the highest figure of any horse in this six-horse maiden field — and goes off as the 8/5 morning-line choice. Christian Maragh picks up the mount for trainer Silvino Ramirez, and while none of these horses have won yet, figure dominance in maiden sprints is one of the most reliable edges in handicapping. This is a case where the favorite deserves to be the favorite, and the price, while short, reflects genuine ability.

place5Why Me LordML 4/1

Why Me Lord rates second in this field at 71.16 and is trained by Wayne Potts, who also sends out Rogue Prince — running two horses in the same maiden race signals stable confidence. Martina Rojas picks up the mount, and an average speed figure of 54 is competitive in this sprint distance. At 4/1 on the morning line, Why Me Lord offers solid place value as an underlier to the heavy favorite and makes an obvious exacta partner with My Little Nico G.

show2El PapacitoML 8/1

El Papacito rates third in the field at 67.47 and goes off at 8/1 — that's a generous price for the third-best figure in a six-horse maiden field where the first two picks may not finish exactly as planned. Emanuel Rosario takes the mount for trainer Somraj Singh, and the average speed figure of 53 keeps him in the pace picture at this sprint distance. In trifectas, El Papacito at 8/1 is exactly the kind of third-leg play that turns a moderate exotic ticket into a meaningful payout.

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Delaware Park is serving up a workable Friday card with some genuine value angles scattered throughout. Precious Cat and Marlas Dream headline the free plays, while Olivia's Legacy is the horse to beat on the full card. For pace projections, exotic strategies, and the complete eight-race breakdown, the full analysis is waiting for subscribers — head to TrackWiz Premium and make the most of today's card.

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