Delta Downs Picks & Predictions — August 21, 2026

Ocho Rojo (No. 3) is the morning-line favorite at even money and boasts a remarkable 50% career win rate — that kind of strike rate demands respect at any distance. Trainer Ramiro Aboytes-Suarez clearly knows how to spot spots, and Jorge Javier Garcia should have this one ready to fire from the gate. The only reason he's not our top pick is Jess Joseph M's slight edge in the TrackWiz model.

Chill Chill (No. 4) rates out at 80.89 — third-best in the field — and carries a 22% career win rate into a race where three horses are tightly bunched at the top. J.R. Ramirez aboard for trainer Carlos Gabriel Castro gives this one a competent pilot in a sprint that demands a clean getaway. At 6/1, she's a natural exotic play behind the top two.

Tee Jolie (No. 3) rates second in this field at 77.40 and is the morning-line second choice at 3/1 under trainer Ernesto Gonzalez. Jockey Eddi Emanuel Martinez has a strong book on this card, and backing the second-best-rated horse in a maiden field at 3/1 offers solid place value. If Jtf Rubi faces any traffic at the break, Tee Jolie is right there to capitalize.

A Fabulous Moon (No. 2) slots third among the top picks with a 75.21 TrackWiz rating and runs at 9/2 for trainer Larry D. Keith. Juan Francisco Garcia Jr. handles the mount, and while A Fabulous Moon has yet to break through like the rest of this field, the rating suggests she's been competitive against tougher. In a 350-yard dash, a clean break by the three top-rated horses is the most likely scenario — she rounds out the exotic tickets nicely.

Jrs Shes Macho (No. 9) is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 75.54, and trainer Ramiro Aboytes-Suarez is the same conditioner behind Ocho Rojo in Race 3 — someone who clearly knows this short-sprint game. Randy Edison Jr. takes the call, and a 25% career win rate is perfectly respectable at allowance level. She's a strong place-bet candidate if the top pick draws her wide.

She B Zoomin (No. 5) ties Miss Incredible for the third-best rating in this field at 75.27 and is trained by Preston Jourdan — one of the more active barns on this card. Rolando Cabrera handles the mount, and a 33% career win percentage matches the top pick. At 6/1 on the morning line, she offers excellent show value and fits naturally into trifecta coverage alongside the top two.

Mi Luci 123 (No. 9) is the TrackWiz value play of this race — a 73.96 rating that grades out second-best in the field, yet she's posted at 12/1 on the morning line. Trainer Kenneth L. Roberts Sr. gives the mount to Leonardo Palomo, and while every horse in this maiden field is looking for breakthrough No. 1, this kind of ratings-to-odds discrepancy is exactly what TrackWiz is built to identify. She's a must-use in exactas.

Dlj Dashing Millie (No. 5) rates at 62.30 — third-best in this maiden field — and represents a familiar combination with trainer Ray Robbins and jockey Donell Blake, who also team up in Race 8. The Robbins barn is active on this card, which typically signals horses in good form. At 6/1, she rounds out the trifecta coverage without breaking the bank.

Full Vision (No. 9) is a genuine value angle in the place slot at 8/1 — his 73.56 TrackWiz rating slots him comfortably in the middle tier of this field, but the morning-line price dramatically overestimates how far back he truly is. Trainer Preston Jourdan is sending out two horses in this race, and jockey Ubaldo Luna has a strong feel for the 440-yard distance. At those odds in an optional claimer, he's a natural exacta and trifecta stalwart.

Sheza Fast Piloto (No. 3) rates at 67.67 under trainer Danny Hoda and jockey Rene Hernandez, a combination that's appeared multiple times on this card. A 13% career win rate is in the conversation for optional claiming level, and the 7/2 morning line suggests the public already respects her. She slots into the show position as a horse whose consistency makes her a reliable trifecta inclusion even if she doesn't get there first.

Jessa Dashin Cowgirl (No. 4) rates at 69.91 — second in this field — and carries a 25% career win percentage into a 300-yard allowance under Randy Edison Jr. for trainer David Bustamante. She's posted at 6/1, which respects her without being outright generous. If Ella de Cos wins this race, Jessa Dashin Cowgirl has the rating profile to be right there in second, making her an excellent exacta partner.

Ragnar the Great (No. 6) is the morning-line favorite at 9/5 for trainer Dustin Rhodes, and his 69.84 TrackWiz rating is essentially tied with the place pick. Bobby Ransom handles the mount, and a 33% career win rate is among the best in the field. The favorite has to be respected, but with Ella de Cos rated higher and going off at 10/1, Ragnar is best used in the show spot — or as a saver in exotic tickets.

A Tres of Politics (No. 3) is the morning-line second choice at 2/1 with a 58.33 TrackWiz rating — more than 10 points back of the top pick, but meaningful separation from the rest. Trainer Viviane Hill teams with jockey Leonardo Rodriguez, who is active throughout this card. At 2/1, the place ticket doesn't offer great value on its own, but he's a natural exacta partner with the top pick if you want to structure the bet properly.

Bad Boy Cowboy (No. 5) rates at 54.55 — third in this maiden field — and goes at 5/1 for trainer Phillip Calais Jr., a barn that knows this circuit well. Randy Edison Jr. handles the mount and has had a busy day on this card. In a maiden race where upsets can come from anywhere, Bad Boy Cowboy's rating puts him in the conversation, and 5/1 in the show slot makes the trifecta a reasonable play.