Daily Picks

Delta Downs Picks & Predictions — July 23, 2026

Thursday, July 23, 20268 racesDelta Downs

Delta Downs saddles up an 8-race Thursday card on July 23, and conditions are about as cooperative as Louisiana gets in July — partly cloudy skies and a manageable 85°F. The track is all dirt today, and with the heat staying steady rather than spiking, we're not expecting the kind of late-day surface shift that can scramble a card. What you see is what you get.

It's a heavy quarter-horse flavor today, with most races running at 330 yards or less — pure burst-and-go sprints where gate speed is everything. The lone outlier is Race 4, which stretches out to 770 yards and adds a whole different wrinkle to the pace puzzle. Eight races, plenty of angles, and TrackWiz has you covered from the first gate break to the final photo.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:15 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claiming sprint at 330 yards where TrackWiz ratings separate a clear top tier from the rest of the field — but with all zeros in the speed figure column, the clock will do the talking for the first time.

win5A Fabulous MoonML 2/1

A Fabulous Moon draws the morning-line favoritism at 2/1 and backs it up with the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 62.65 — a meaningful gap above the nearest challenger. Trainer Larry D. Keith puts up Leonardo Rodriguez in the irons, a straightforward combo for a short sprint. In a maiden field where most entrants are unknown quantities, the ratings edge here is hard to ignore as the most logical win candidate.

place7First Tee DownML 7/2

First Tee Down checks in with a solid 55.83 rating and draws a respectable 7/2 morning line from the oddsmakers. Trainer Jose U. Lopez sends out Humberto Vital, a workmanlike pairing for a 330-yard dirt sprint. If A Fabulous Moon falters at first asking, First Tee Down has the profile to fill the exacta spot.

show8Trippin On a ShotML 4/1

Trippin On a Shot posts a 55.0 rating — virtually identical to First Tee Down — and comes in at 4/1 on the morning line, giving you a little more value in the exotics. Trainer Trey Ellis teams with Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr., a jockey who appears multiple times on today's card, suggesting comfort with the conditions. Use this one underneath in trifectas as a live price.

Race 2

11:40 PM EDT

Maiden · 250 yd · Dirt

Three horses cluster near the top of the TrackWiz ratings in this maiden sprint at 250 yards, setting up a competitive tri-horse battle with legitimate separation from the bottom half of the field.

win5Gotta CommentML 5/2

Gotta Comment tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 and is installed at a fair 5/2 on the morning line — not a huge overlay, but the best-figure horse in the race. Trainer Jaime E. Gonzalez sends out Pedro Chavarria Espinosa, who is also riding in multiple races on the card, signaling a live book. At 250 yards, it's pure explosiveness out of the gate, and this one's numbers say she has it.

place3Blondies Gonna FlyML 8/5

Blondies Gonna Fly is the morning-line favorite at 8/5 and owns a 84.77 rating, just a tick behind the top pick. Trainer Ray Robbins and jockey Donell Blake give this filly a seasoned team for her first start, and the public clearly agrees she's in the conversation. The slight ratings gap to Gotta Comment is what drops her to the place slot, but she's a perfectly logical exacta partner.

show1Gia I Hear a CoronaML 9/2

Gia I Hear a Corona rates third in this field at 79.09 and offers some value at 9/2 on the morning line given her legitimate score. Trainer Gilberto Rosales also has Dix Zee Rogue in this race, and the stable clearly prefers Gia — Rene Hernandez, a jockey active throughout this card, gets the call here. She's a solid show ticket and a worthwhile addition to trifecta keys.

Race 3

12:05 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

The morning-line favorite isn't the highest-rated horse in this maiden claiming 330-yarder — that disconnect between public odds and TrackWiz ratings makes this one of the more interesting betting races on the early card.

win6The Strong AllianceML 5/1

The Strong Alliance is the clear TrackWiz top pick at 81.75, yet goes off at 5/1 on the morning line — a notable gap from the 2/1 chalk. Jockey Francisco Giles and trainer Salvador G. Flores team up for what looks like a legitimately underestimated runner. When the ratings say one thing and the public says another, that's where value lives — and 5/1 on the best-rated horse in a maiden claiming field is worth attacking.

place8Executive SassyML 2/1

Executive Sassy is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 with a 60.19 rating — respected by the oddsmakers, but a significant step below The Strong Alliance's 81.75. Trainer Francisco Campos Sr. gives her to Juan Garcia-Gonzalez, a capable pilot for a short dirt sprint. She's a natural place option if the public money is right and the top pick faces any trouble at the break.

show1Lm Piloto PerryML 3/1

Lm Piloto Perry checks in at 56.67 on the TrackWiz scale and is pegged at 3/1 on the morning line — suggesting the early market also sees something here. Trainer Anthony Arey uses Randy Edison Jr., a jockey who knows this track well after multiple appearances today. At an expected short price, she's primarily a show or trifecta piece rather than a standalone win bet.

Our three free races give you a solid early-card foundation. Race 1 sends out A Fabulous Moon at 2/1 morning line in a 330-yard maiden claimer — a fair price for a horse our ratings like at 62.65. The action picks up fast in Race 2, where Gotta Comment earns our highest free-race rating (87.81) going a short 250 yards. In a sprint that's over in roughly 13 seconds, that kind of edge matters. Race 3 gives us our best overlay candidate of the free group: The Strong Alliance is posted at 5/1 on the morning line but carries an 81.75 TrackWiz rating — if that price holds into post time, it's worth a hard look.

One theme connecting these early sprints: in this heat, horses that break clean and establish position immediately tend to hold on. Don't overthink pace scenarios in races under 330 yards — it's about who fires first and stays clean out of the gate.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:30 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 770 yd · Dirt

The longest race on the card at 770 yards — a real test of stamina for a quarter-horse-style field — features a tight cluster of highly rated horses where the pace scenario and stamina will sort out the order of finish.

win3Dash Master PopML 7/2

Dash Master Pop tops the TrackWiz ratings at 86.35 and draws a 7/2 morning line, making him a solid value proposition as the top-rated runner in this 770-yard maiden claiming test. Trainer Nason Eschete gives the call to Jose Ariel Rodriguez, a dedicated pairing for an extended distance that demands more than pure gate speed. At 770 yards, horses need to both break well and sustain — and Dash Master Pop's figure suggests the well-rounded profile to handle it.

place4Carter GML 4/1

Carter G is right on Dash Master Pop's heels at an 82.3 rating and offers real value at 4/1 on the morning line. Trainer Manuel H. Macias deploys Pedro Chavarria Espinosa, an active presence throughout today's card. The slim ratings gap between the top three horses here makes Carter G a natural exacta partner — don't sleep on this one at a square price.

show7Poppin OffML 5/2

Poppin Off rates at 82.25 — virtually identical to Carter G — and is actually the morning-line second choice at 5/2, which suggests the market may be smarter on this one than the ratings differentiation implies. Trainer Jose U. Lopez is again represented by Noe Castaneda, giving this horse a solid local connection. The tight cluster of three horses at 82-86 means any of them could land in the exotics — Poppin Off rounds out the trifecta play nicely.

Race 5

12:55 AM EDT

Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

The first claiming race with prior race history for the horses — and career win percentages tell a sharp story, with the top-rated horse entering on the worst career record but the biggest class-and-figure edge.

win3Jrs Hiclass CartelML 9/5

Jrs Hiclass Cartel tops this field at an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — the highest mark across any horse in today's first five races — and is installed as the 9/5 morning-line favorite. Trainer Mardonio Flores, Jr. and jockey Humberto Vital present a focused, compact team for a 330-yard claiming sprint. The 3% career win rate won't scare anyone, but this is a claiming field and the ratings gap is hard to overlook — this is the best bet on the first half of the card.

place1Pilot MemoryML 3/1

Pilot Memory brings a 69.4 rating and a 4% career win rate to the table, slotting in as the solid second option at 3/1 on the morning line. Trainer Dustin Rhodes gives the mount to Adrian X. Morales, who also pops up later on the card today. In a short sprint, Pilot Memory has enough quality to hit the board and makes an excellent exacta companion underneath the top pick.

show7Sonjas Stellar LunaML 8/1

Sonjas Stellar Luna is the longshot angle worth mentioning at 8/1 on the morning line with a 60.51 rating — third-best in this field and well clear of the bottom half. Trainer Trey Ellis and jockey Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr. are one of the busiest combos at Delta Downs today, and that usually means confidence from the barn. At 8/1, she's pure value in the show position and a trifecta must-use.

Race 6

1:20 AM EDT

Maiden · 330 yd · Dirt

Lota Streakin Blood enters as the dominant ratings standout in a nine-horse maiden 330-yard field, but the wide field and a morning line that has three horses at 5/1 or lower suggests the public sees a competitive race — making the ratings gap even more meaningful.

win2Lota Streakin BloodML 5/2

Lota Streakin Blood leads all entrants with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and is the 5/2 morning-line choice — a fair price for the top figure in the field. Trainer Juan Manual Vidal puts Leonardo Palomo aboard, a jockey who's seen active duty at this meet. In a nine-horse maiden field at 330 yards, clean break and gate explosiveness matter most, and the ratings say this filly has the edge over a wide-open group.

place5Dlj Shes Ivory GirlML 7/2

Dlj Shes Ivory Girl rates at 55.83 and draws a 7/2 morning line — trainer Ray Robbins, who also runs Blondies Gonna Fly in Race 2, appears to have a good read on this track right now. Jockey Donell Blake is another repeat name throughout today's program, adding confidence to the booking. She won't have the pure ratings firepower to challenge the top pick head-to-head, but finishing second in a nine-horse sprint is a realistic outcome.

show1One Fabulous IvoryML 4/1

One Fabulous Ivory comes in at a 55.0 rating — virtually even with the place pick — and draws 4/1 on the morning line, offering slight value over Dlj Shes Ivory Girl at nearly the same rating level. Trainer Bonifacio Bustos gives the ride to Leonardo Rodriguez, a competent pilot for the distance. In a deep field like this, three horses at similar ratings levels can easily jumble the exotics — One Fabulous Ivory is a logical show ticket.

Race 7

1:45 AM EDT

Claiming · 350 yd · Dirt

The best career win percentages on the entire card show up in this claiming race — Petacona's 40% win rate is eye-popping — and combined with a dominant TrackWiz rating, this race has a clear standout despite a competitive nine-horse field.

win1PetaconaML 8/5

Petacona is the most compelling profile on the full card: an 89.12 TrackWiz rating — tops in this race — combined with a 40% career win rate that is genuinely exceptional for a quarter horse claiming runner. Trainer Josue Ponce puts Jorge Javier Garcia up, and the 8/5 morning line reflects significant market confidence in this horse's ability. When you find a horse with both the highest figure and the best win percentage, you back it — Petacona is the best bet of the evening.

place6Blue BlizzardML 3/1

Blue Blizzard rates a strong 84.58 and draws 3/1 on the morning line, making him the clear second-best figure horse and a legitimate threat to Petacona. Trainer Luis R. Martinez, Jr. and jockey Eddi Emanuel Martinez are a family-style local pairing with familiarity at this circuit. A 9% career win rate won't wow you, but in a claiming field, consistent competitiveness is what you're buying — and Blue Blizzard fits the bill.

show5Eyesa War EagleML 9/2

Eyesa War Eagle brings a 69.06 rating and a respectable 13% career win rate to this spot, checking in third-best by TrackWiz's numbers. Trainer Gilberto Rosales is also represented by Gia I Hear a Corona earlier in the card today, showing an active hand in the barn. At 9/2, Eyesa War Eagle is the logical third wheel in trifectas behind the top two — no need to overthink it.

Race 8

2:10 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

A ten-horse maiden claiming sprint with a fascinating ratings story — the top TrackWiz pick comes in at 9/2 while a 2/1 morning-line favorite rates notably lower, suggesting possible market overreaction to a horse the numbers don't fully endorse.

win9Alekca CjML 9/2

Alekca Cj tops the TrackWiz ratings in this ten-horse field at 84.9, yet goes off at 9/2 on the morning line — a full board lower than the 2/1 chalk Skinny Boy Stone, who rates at just 58.33. Trainer Preston Jourdan sends out Pedro Chavarria Espinosa, one of today's most active and successful jockeys on the card. The ratings-to-odds discrepancy is the entire story here — when the best-figure horse isn't the favorite, you get value, and Alekca Cj at 9/2 is the best overlay in the back half of the card.

place6Blood PolicyML 6/1

Blood Policy rates at 77.08 — comfortably second-best in this field — and draws 6/1 on the morning line, adding another value layer to the exotic structure. Trainer Wade L. Hall III gives the mount to Eddi Emanuel Martinez, who has multiple rides today and clearly knows the conditions. As a place ticket or exacta bottom underneath Alekca Cj, Blood Policy at 6/1 represents excellent expected value.

show2B One Wild CardML 10/1

B One Wild Card checks in at 65.06 — third-highest in the field — and is listed at 10/1 on the morning line, making this a legitimate value play in the show spot and trifecta exotics. Trainer Trey Ellis and jockey Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr. are arguably the most active trainer-jockey combo on the entire card today, appearing in multiple races. In a maiden claiming sprint where things can get chaotic at the gate, having B One Wild Card underneath at a double-digit price is exactly the kind of trifecta angle that pays.

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Eight races, fast dirt, and some genuine value hiding in a card that looks straightforward on the surface. Gotta Comment headlines the free plays, while Petacona and Jrs Hiclass Cartel anchor the premium half of the card with the two strongest TrackWiz ratings of the day. Full pace breakdowns, exotic ticket structures, and the complete 8-race analysis are waiting for subscribers — check out /pricing to get started. Good luck at the windows.

← Back to all picks

Best Bets

Race 1↗

Race 2↗

Race 3↗

Full Card Analysis

Get the Full Card Analysis

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3