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Delaware Park Picks & Predictions — September 26, 2026

September 26, 202610 racesAll Delaware Park picks

Rain is falling at Delaware Park this Saturday, and the track is going to play a starring role today. With temperatures sitting at 60°F and steady rain in the forecast, expect a wet, sealed, or muddy dirt surface by the time the first horse breaks from the gate. That changes everything — pace scenarios, pace biases, who's got a wet-track pedigree and who doesn't. Ten races are on the card, and there's plenty to dig into.

The headline today is a three-stakes bonanza stretching from Race 6 through Race 10, capped off by what looks like a terrific matchup at 1 1/8 miles on dirt. Sprints dominate the early card, but two turf routes — Races 5 and 9 — are worth watching closely. Rain this heavy often forces turf events to the dirt, so keep an eye on any surface switches before you lock in your tickets.

TrackWiz has you covered across all 10 races. Three races are fully open to every reader, and our premium subscribers get the complete deep-dive on the remaining seven, including the full stakes card.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:25 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claimer on the dirt at six furlongs, but one horse stands well clear on our ratings — the question is whether the pace scenario sets up for the closers to make a run.

win1UniquenessML 7/2

Uniqueness is the standout in this field by a wide margin, posting a TrackWiz rating of 86.35 — nearly 31 points clear of the second-ranked horse. Trained by Jamie Ness and ridden by Martin Chuan, this is a powerful connections combo in a spot where the horse clearly profiles as the class of the field. With an average speed figure of 53, matching the top speed marks in the race, Uniqueness looks like the one to beat at 7/2 on the morning line. In a maiden claimer, this level of separation in the ratings is rare and hard to ignore.

place7Brisk AlleyML 4/1

Brisk Alley sits second in our ratings at 55.0 and also clocks in at an average speed of 53, matching the top tier of this field. Trainer Pedro Nazario saddles this one, and at 4/1 on the morning line, there's a reasonable chance the market underestimates the horse's ability to at least fill a spot. With a solid speed profile, Brisk Alley looks like a logical exacta underneath Uniqueness.

show5A Little OffML 5/1

A Little Off checks in with a TrackWiz rating of 53.33 under trainer Andrew L. Simoff and jockey Julio A. Hernandez, a dependable rider in this circuit. The average speed of 51 is a tick below the top horses, but at 5/1, this one offers value in trifecta construction and could easily stumble into a placing if the pace scenario bunches the field late.

Race 2

5:03 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

The morning line heavily favors the favorites, but our analysis flips the script — the 12/1 shot tops the TrackWiz ratings, setting up a potential overlay scenario in this six-furlong dirt allowance.

win6Charmed HourML 12/1

Charmed Hour is our top-rated horse in this field with a TrackWiz score of 73.96, yet the morning line has her posted at 12/1 — that's a significant disconnect that screams value. Trainer Erin C. McClellan puts Inoel Beato aboard, and with a career win rate of 33%, this filly brings legitimate winning form to the table. Her average speed of 54 matches the mid-tier of the field, but the overall rating suggests she's been doing more with less. If the public loads up on Gridlock and Irish Jig, Charmed Hour at double-digit odds could be the score of the card.

place7Irish JigML 2/1

Irish Jig is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 for good reason — a career win rate of 50% tells you this horse knows how to find the winner's circle. Vincent Cheminaud gets the call for trainer Kelly Lynn Deiter, and with a rating of 68.82, Irish Jig is well within range to hit the board even if she doesn't win outright. At even money to place, she's a natural underneath anchor.

show8GridlockML 8/5

Gridlock is the public's choice at 8/5 on the morning line, and while our ratings slot her third at 66.93, she's dangerous enough to factor in exotics. Trainer Michael V. Simone sends her out with Samuel Marin, and at an average speed of 55 — tied for the top mark in the field — she has the raw quickness to be forwardly placed throughout. A show ticket here is essentially a hedge against the public being right.

Race 3

5:37 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Trainer Derek S. Ryan doubles up with two entries in this maiden claimer at 5.5 furlongs, and his top horse Pining draws the rail with solid ratings separation — but Of Course and Cosmic Angel keep this from being a foregone conclusion.

win1PiningML 5/2

Pining tops the TrackWiz ratings in this field at 57.5 and carries the best average speed of any horse in the race at 55 — a meaningful edge at a sprint distance where early pace matters. Derek S. Ryan is a sharp conditioner when he singles up, but when he doubles, the leading horse often gets the stronger rider setup, and Axel Concepcion is exactly that here. The 5/2 morning line reflects the public's respect, but the combination of top rating, top speed, and a crafty jockey makes this a confident top selection.

place5Of CourseML 7/2

Of Course rates second in the field at 55.83 under trainer McLean Robertson, with Julio A. Hernandez — one of the more active riders on the Delaware circuit — in the irons. At 7/2, the price is fair for a horse that profiles as a legitimate runner-up threat in a field where the margins between horses two through five are relatively tight. A place ticket here covers the scenario where the rail bias works against Pining.

show4Cosmic AngelML 9/2

Cosmic Angel checks in third on our ratings at 54.17 for trainer Greg Compton, who has a feel for placing horses effectively at this level. Jareth Loveberry is a capable jockey and this one could benefit from tracking the pace and pouncing in the final strides of this 5.5-furlong sprint. At 9/2, Cosmic Angel makes a sensible show play or trifecta fill.

Our three free best bets today span the opening three races — all sprints on dirt — and the rain-soaked surface is a common thread worth flagging. In maiden claiming company (Races 1 and 3), wet tracks can be equalizers that scramble expected form, which makes our top ratings even more meaningful when a horse earns them despite questionable track conditions. Uniqueness tops Race 1 at 7/2 morning line with an 86-plus TrackWiz rating — that's a strong number for the maiden claiming ranks. Charmed Hour is the eye-catcher in Race 2: a 12/1 morning line price in an allowance field with a rating of nearly 74 screams value play, the kind of price you'd kick yourself for missing. And Pining takes the top spot in Race 3 as the 5/2 morning line choice — a modest rating of 57.5 reflects a wide-open field, so go in with eyes open there.

The early sprint bias on a wet Delaware track is real and worth playing into. Horses that can get out and run their race without getting dirt kicked in their face early tend to hold on. Keep pace scenario in mind as you build your tickets on these first three.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:12 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

This is a premium race with a locked-in TrackWiz analysis — a clear top choice emerges with a dominant rating, and the value slots underneath offer legitimate upside at double-digit odds.

win8Doin ThisML 3/1

Doin This scores an 87.08 on our TrackWiz scale — the highest rating in this ten-horse allowance field by a comfortable margin — and the morning line of 3/1 actually makes this a fair price rather than an overbet favorite. Ramon F. Moya takes the mount for trainer Rory K. Huston, and the horse's average speed of 56 is tied for the top mark in the race, matching only Nothing Personal from the ten-post. With a career win rate of 17% in what figures to be a competitive field, Doin This is the class of the group and our strongest play in Race 4.

place4WoodlineML 6/1

Woodline rates second at 71.63 with a career win rate of 17% and an average speed of 55 for trainer Kieron Magee. Jose A. Batista picks up the mount, a useful combination in the mid-Atlantic region, and at 6/1 on the morning line, there's real overlay potential if the public overlooks this one in favor of the top two choices. Woodline's profile as a consistent speed-type makes the place slot a comfortable landing spot.

show2Try HarderML 10/1

Try Harder sits third in our ratings at 67.93 — just a hair behind Woodline — and Silvestre Gonzalez takes the controls for trainer Richard Vega. The 10/1 morning line is eye-opening for a horse this well-rated, and a career win rate of 18% suggests this one has hit the board before at similar spots. In a deep field, Try Harder offers outstanding trifecta value at a price the market seems to be sleeping on.

Race 5

6:53 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A sprawling fifteen-horse turf allowance at 1 1/16 miles gives bettors plenty of options, but two horses pull clear on ratings — and both are at digestible prices, making the exacta the natural approach here.

win8Our NotionML 4/1

Our Notion tops the entire field with a TrackWiz rating of 85.62, and at 4/1, trainer Jamie Ness sends out one of the most consistently well-prepared horses in the barn. Martin Chuan, who also rides for Ness regularly, knows this horse's patterns and the 1 1/16-mile turf trip plays right into the profile of a grinder who can settle and close. A career win rate of 21% in allowance company shows this isn't a fluke — Our Notion has been here and produced. This is our top selection on the grass today.

place2SlobberknockerML 3/1

Slobberknocker rates second in this loaded field at 76.95 for trainer McLean Robertson, with Julio A. Hernandez aboard — a pilot who has thrived in the mid-Atlantic turf game. At 3/1 on the morning line, this horse is already respected by the oddsmakers, and a career win rate of 14% in what is often a larger field than this horse prefers actually understates the consistency. Expect Slobberknocker to stalk the pace and make a genuine run at the leaders in the stretch.

show9Patrol Squad SixML 5/1

Patrol Squad Six rates third at 72.82 and catches trainer Michael Stidham in good form — a name that carries real weight when the conditions line up. Jose A. Batista rides, and with the best average speed figure in the field at 55, this horse has the raw pace to be dangerous if the race falls apart up front in a large turf field. The 5/1 morning line offers legitimate show-ticket value and trifecta upside.

Race 6

7:26 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/8 mi · Dirt

A short but deep stakes field at 1 1/8 miles on dirt, headlined by two horses who are separated by less than two rating points at the top — expect a genuine two-horse battle with the rest of the field fighting for third.

win2Barbadian RunnerML 3/2

Barbadian Runner leads our TrackWiz ratings at 89.27 — the second-highest rating we're assigning across the entire card today — and the 3/2 morning line reflects exactly how seriously the oddsmakers are taking this horse. Forest Boyce rides for trainer Henry Walters, and a career win rate of 37% in stakes company is an exceptional number. At 1 1/8 miles on dirt, this is a horse that sets up beautifully to grind it out in the late stages, and the rating alone makes Barbadian Runner a near-lock for a strong effort.

place5BendoogML 9/5

Bendoog comes in at 87.36, just two rating points behind Barbadian Runner, with trainer William I. Mott — one of the premier craftsmen in the business — sending this one out at 9/5. Samuel Marin knows how to ride this distance, and a career win rate of 26% in stakes fields speaks to consistent quality. If the pace scenario doesn't set up perfectly for Barbadian Runner, Bendoog has every tool needed to beat that horse or run it close.

show3Cool IntentionsML 8/1

Cool Intentions rates third in the field at 59.87, a notable step below the top two but well ahead of the remainder. Trainer Jorge Delgado puts Daniel Centeno up, and a career win rate of 36% is strong for any level. At 8/1 on the morning line, this horse could easily be overlooked by bettors fixated on the top two, making Cool Intentions a legitimate show play and trifecta anchor in what looks like a three-horse race.

Race 7

8:02 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 mi · Dirt

An intriguing stakes mile on dirt where multiple horses carry perfect career records but limited experience, creating genuine uncertainty about who steps up — our top pick wins on ratings despite a modest overall score.

win3Westbound CatML 5/2

Westbound Cat rates highest in this field at 58.05, a modest top number reflecting how competitive and experience-thin this stakes field actually is. Trainer Gary Capuano puts Emanuel Rosario aboard — a live combination at Delaware Park — and a career win rate of 33% shows this horse has delivered when asked. At 5/2 on the morning line, Westbound Cat is appropriately priced as the top choice, and the one-mile distance on dirt sets up for a horse with a reliable pace style that Rosario can leverage.

place8Hammerin HenryML 3/1

Hammerin Henry checks in second on ratings at 56.67, trained by the formidable Brad H. Cox — whose horses frequently run well fresh or off a setup race. Samuel Marin handles the mount, and a career win rate of 50% is an eye-catching number, even acknowledging the sample size caveat. At 3/1, this horse is the clear second choice in the market and a natural exacta partner with Westbound Cat.

show1Full AccessML 4/1

Full Access carries a perfect career win rate and draws the rail with Axel Concepcion in the irons for trainer Riley Mott. The TrackWiz rating of 55.0 places this horse within striking distance of the top two, and the combination of unbeaten form and a sharp jockey on the inside post makes this a compelling show option and trifecta fill. At 4/1, the market hasn't dismissed Full Access, and neither should you.

Race 8

8:34 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 mi · Dirt

Gary Capuano saddles two of the top three horses in this stakes mile, and both rate above the field — making trainer barn loyalty a real handicapping angle in a race where the public may be leaning elsewhere.

win2Whitten WayML 6/1

Whitten Way leads all horses in Race 8 with a TrackWiz rating of 82.71, and the career win rate of 66% is simply elite for a stakes-level horse at this distance. Trainer Gary Capuano keeps Emanuel Rosario in the irons, a rider who knows exactly how to get the best out of this horse over a one-mile dirt trip. At 6/1, the morning line presents legitimate value given the ratings edge, and this is a horse that — based on the numbers — should not be at that price.

place4MartiniwithatwistML 6/1

Martiniwithatwist rates second in the field at 77.18 and is also trained by Gary Capuano, making this a powerful barn double. Cipriano Gil rides, and the 50% career win rate backs up what the raw rating says — this horse competes. At 6/1, the same odds as our win pick, Martiniwithatwist offers tremendous exacta value in both directions, and the consistent speed average of 54 keeps this one dangerous throughout.

show8My Hometown GalML 8/1

My Hometown Gal rates third in the field at 69.91, with trainer Michael E. Gorham sending out Raul E. Mena at 8/1. A career win rate of 33% is solid in stakes company, and the average speed of 54 matches the field's core cluster. At 8/1, this is a horse that fits perfectly in trifecta and exacta boxes — a reliable third option in a race where the top two are from the same barn.

Race 9

9:09 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi 70 yd · Turf

A massive seventeen-horse turf field over a mile and 70 yards creates a chaotic pace scenario — but two horses separated by just a fraction of a rating point emerge as our top picks, both at prices that reward patience.

win17Let's Dance AgainML 8/1

Let's Dance Again tops our ratings in this sprawling field at 77.14, and at 8/1 on the morning line, this is one of the most attractive overlays of the entire card. Trainer Jonathan Maldonado puts Ismerio Villalobos up, and a career win rate of 31% in turf routes shows this horse has real grass pedigree that translates to results. In a seventeen-horse field, pace will be chaotic, and a horse with this rating profile and the ability to settle mid-pack is exactly the type that benefits from late-race attrition.

place4Yes PicnicML 10/1

Yes Picnic rates just a hair behind at 76.88, with trainer Jamie Ness sending out Martin Chuan — a well-oiled connection — at 10/1 on the morning line. A career win rate of 44% on turf is genuinely impressive, and the fact that this horse is going off at double-digit odds reflects how wide-open large fields feel to bettors. Yes Picnic could easily win this race, let alone place, and an exacta combining the top two picks offers serious potential return.

show15Racey RubyML 5/1

Racey Ruby rates third at 75.47 for trainer Michael L. Catalano, Jr., with Gavin Ashton in the irons at 5/1. The 36% career win rate in turf company is the third-best in this entire field, and the average speed of 53 keeps this horse in the conversation through the far turn. In a chaotic seventeen-horse turf route, including Racey Ruby in your trifecta coverage is about as sensible a hedge as you'll find on the card.

Race 10

9:45 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/8 mi · Dirt

The finale at Delaware Park is a quality stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt, and for once the top TrackWiz pick aligns with one of the morning-line favorites — but two longshot angles lurk in the undercard of ratings.

win5EunomiaML 3/1

Eunomia scores an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — the highest mark in Race 10 by more than fifteen points — and trainer Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. is one of the sharpest minds in the mid-Atlantic stakes game. Micah J. Husbands gets the mount at 3/1, and a career win rate of 31% in stakes company is strong and consistent. At 1 1/8 miles on dirt, Eunomia has the profile of a horse that runs her race every time and rarely runs below expectations — our top selection to close the card.

place11Miss AuthenticML 10/1

Miss Authentic rates second at 71.25 under Hall of Fame trainer Eddie Kenneally, who rarely runs horses without intent at this level. Jareth Loveberry takes the mount, a rider who has been sharp at Delaware Park lately, and a career win rate of 26% in stakes company backs up the rating. At 10/1 on the morning line, this is an outstanding value play in exotics — a horse that could realistically finish anywhere in the top three and would pay handsomely in the exacta.

show9Social FortressML 15/1

Social Fortress posts a 68.46 rating and draws an intriguing profile — the best average speed in the entire field at 56 for trainer Gregory D. Sacco. Cipriano Gil picks up the mount at 15/1, and while the morning line price suggests the market isn't sold, the raw speed number means this horse could carve out a lead and make it uncomfortable for closers in a true pace scenario. A show ticket at 15/1 is a speculative but defensible play in the race-ten exotic pool.

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A rainy Saturday at Delaware sets up as one of the more interesting cards of the meet. Don't sleep on Charmed Hour at a big price in Race 2, and the three-stakes stretch starting in Race 6 is must-watch racing. Barbadian Runner is our highest-rated horse on the day, but our premium analysis has the full picture — pace angles, exotic plays, and the longshot spots worth attacking. Head to TrackWiz premium to get it all before first post.

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