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Delta Downs Picks & Predictions — October 22, 2026

October 22, 20268 racesAll Delta Downs picks

It's a beautiful Thursday afternoon at Delta Downs — clear skies, 82°F, and a fast dirt surface that should have speed horses loving life all day long. Eight races are on the card, stretching from quick 5-furlong sprints all the way out to a pair of one-mile routes, giving handicappers plenty of angles to work with.

The weather couldn't be cleaner for late October in Louisiana, and a dry, sealed surface typically rewards horses with early foot. Keep that in mind as you build your tickets — pace dynamics are going to matter a lot today, especially in the shorter sprints where a clean trip from the gate can be half the battle.

TrackWiz has broken down every race on today's card. Three races are available free to all readers, with full analysis on all eight unlocked for subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

9:40 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

An 11-horse claiming sprint with three horses clustered near the top of our ratings — the morning line favorite isn't our top pick, which sets up some legitimate value at the windows.

win5AlteranaML 8/1

Alterana tops our TrackWiz ratings at 79.79 despite being listed at 8/1 on the morning line — that's a meaningful gap between public perception and our model's assessment. She owns a 24% career win rate, one of the best marks in this field, and while her average speed figure of 53 is slightly off the pace leaders, her overall profile stands out in what is a wide-open claiming sprint. Trainer Isai V. Gonzalez has live runners at this level, and at 8/1 there's genuine value here if she fires her best effort.

place2One Whirlwind RideML 2/1

One Whirlwind Ride draws the morning line favoritism at 2/1 and backs it up with a solid 78.31 TrackWiz rating. Her average speed figure of 56 is tied for tops in the field, and while a 10% career win rate might give pause, her class and raw speed make her a logical contender to hit the board at a short price.

show8Runhappy d'OroML 8/1

Runhappy d'Oro rates third in the field at 77.75 and matches One Whirlwind Ride's average speed figure of 56 — this horse has the pure speed to be involved all the way through the stretch. At 8/1 on the morning line, she's an underlay relative to the favorite but a fair price compared to her actual ability, making her a solid exotic inclusion.

Race 2

10:08 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A mile claiming affair that looks like a two-horse battle at the top of the ratings, with a pair of double-digit morning liners lurking as potential spoilers in the early stretch run.

win4All Star ToutML 3/1

All Star Tout leads our TrackWiz ratings for this race at 82.14 and is rightfully installed as the 3/1 morning line choice. Trainer Randy Degeyter, Jr. sends him out with jockey Jansen Melancon, a productive combination at this level. His average speed figure of 52 is consistent with the field, but it's his overall profile and rating that separate him — in a race where no horse jumps off the page on raw numbers, a high composite rating at a fair price is exactly what you want.

place3Mo PumpkinML 6/1

Mo Pumpkin isn't far behind at 81.19 in our model and offers legitimate value at 6/1 on the morning line. Trainer David Bustamante sends this one with Colby J. Hernandez in the irons, and a 7% career win rate tells you this horse doesn't always get there — but at a mile, pace can be tricky, and a horse rated this highly that hasn't won often is the profile of a solid exotics horse who regularly hits the board.

show9Goodmorning GracieML 10/1

Goodmorning Gracie is the sneaky play here at 10/1, sitting third in our ratings at 76.88 — a significant jump over the rest of the field outside the top two. Harry Hernandez picks up the mount for trainer Jonas Gibson, and her average speed of 52 keeps her competitive in this field. Double-digit morning liners with ratings this strong deserve a spot in your trifecta.

Race 3

10:36 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

A maiden special weight sprint where two horses with actual published speed figures stand apart from a field of first-time starters and unraced youngsters — the race shape likely belongs to whoever gets out cleanly.

win9Visions of WarML 7/2

Visions of War dominates our TrackWiz ratings in this maiden field with an 86.35 — a massive advantage over most of the field. Jockey Devin H. Magnon has the call for trainer Chasey Deville Pomier, and notably this horse has an average speed figure of 53 already on record, suggesting prior experience and a foundation others in the field are lacking. At 7/2 on the morning line, the public respects this one, but our model says it may still be underpriced relative to the gap in ratings.

place7Rosie's GetawayML 5/2

Rosie's Getaway is the morning line favorite at 5/2 and checks in second in our ratings at 68.83 — she also has an average speed figure of 54, actually topping the field on that metric. Harry Hernandez, a familiar face in the winner's circle at Delta Downs, gets the mount for trainer Joe O. Duhon. If Visions of War has a troubled trip, this one is poised to capitalize.

show8Charming GailML 9/2

Charming Gail rounds out our exotics with a 54.17 rating and an average speed figure of 54 — matching Rosie's Getaway on raw pace. Trainer Lonnie Briley keeps the profile simple: a horse with experience, a decent speed baseline, and a reasonable 9/2 price in a field where most haven't run. She's the kind of show horse who sneaks onto the ticket when the top two split from a big field.

Our three free best bet races offer a nice cross-section of today's card — a pair of 5-furlong sprints and a one-mile claiming race. Alterana opens the card at an intriguing 8/1 morning line in Race 1, which is the kind of price that gets our attention when the TrackWiz rating supports it. All Star Tout (Race 2) is the morning-line favorite we actually agree with at 3/1 over a mile of dirt, and Visions of War is the one to beat in the Race 3 Maiden Special Weight — 7/2 feels fair to light for a horse our model rates at 86.

One thread connecting all three free picks: each figures to get a clean trip on what should be a speed-favoring strip today. On a dry, fast track with no rain in recent days, horses that can establish position early without burning themselves out are sitting in a prime spot. TrackWiz analysis leans toward horses with proven early pace in all three of these spots.

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Race 4

11:04 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

This 6½-furlong claiming race is a premium contest and offers a fascinating pace scenario — the morning line points to two heavy-hitters near the top, but our model flips the public's script entirely.

win10Cause I'm RollinML 8/1

Cause I'm Rollin checks in as our top-rated runner at 79.79 despite being listed at 8/1 — that's the kind of disconnect our model loves to exploit. Trainer Henry Guillory, Jr. puts Alex Birzer in the irons, a veteran who knows how to navigate a big field. His average speed of 54 is solid for the distance, and at 6½ furlongs there's enough ground for a quality mover to find the winner's spot without being first out of the gate.

place11Ripple's RocketML 3/1

Ripple's Rocket is the morning line favorite at 3/1 and our second-rated horse at 78.71 — trainer Sarah Martinez sends this one with Alexander Castillo, and the average speed figure of 55 is among the best in the field. The public sees this as the top contender, and while our model slightly favors Cause I'm Rollin, Ripple's Rocket is clearly legitimate and a logical place horse in exactas and trifectas.

show9Express LineML 7/2

Express Line rates third in our model at 76.3 and draws the 7/2 morning line, suggesting the public sees merit as well. Jamison Mudd aboard for trainer Dane Noel gives this one a competitive rider, and while the average speed of 53 trails the top two, Express Line profiles as a horse who can close into a pace duel and hit the board in a race that figures to be contested up front.

Race 5

11:32 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 5 fur · Dirt

A starter allowance sprint that looks like a clear top-two race on our ratings, with a massive gap separating the favorites from the rest of the field — the only question is whether the pace setup allows both to fire.

win3PondicherryML 2/1

Pondicherry is the standout of the entire race card in this spot, carrying a 88.54 TrackWiz rating that clears the field by more than 13 points. The 2/1 morning line is the right price for a horse of this profile — trainer Mark N. Hibdon gives the call to David Cardoso, and with an average speed figure of 57 (tops in the race), this one has the raw pace to control or press from the front. At five furlongs, that combination of speed and rating is a powerful edge.

place2Hurricane LassieML 3/1

Hurricane Lassie is the most compelling secondary horse in today's card with a career win rate of 41% — a number that stands out sharply in a field where most runners are in the single digits or low 20s. Trainer Isai V. Gonzalez, who is active on today's card, gives Kevin Roman the mount, and her average speed of 56 keeps her close to Pondicherry's profile. At 3/1, she's the logical place horse and a dangerous exacta partner.

show7SayyoulovemebabyML 8/1

Sayyoulovemebaby brings a 37% career win rate to the table — second in the field — and while her 69.75 rating trails the top two, she's clearly a battle-tested runner. Trainer Benard Chatters sends her with Edward Santiago at 8/1, making this a genuine value show play in a race that could set up for a late-running type if the top two go at each other early.

Race 6

12:00 AM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

An allowance mile with a clear class standout at the top of our ratings, but a competitive middle tier that gives the race genuine depth — the exacta and trifecta pools could be generous if the favorite handles the distance.

win3Della DoML 7/2

Della Do leads the TrackWiz ratings at 83.34 and is backed by a 20% career win rate — above average for an allowance field. Harry Hernandez takes the mount for trainer Ronnie P. Ward, who also saddles Walksonwater in this race, suggesting he's well-represented. Her average speed of 54 is among the better figures in the field, and at a mile, a horse who can rate and build momentum is dangerous. The 7/2 morning line reflects legitimate confidence from connections.

place6Bronze LegacyML 8/1

Bronze Legacy is a fascinating price at 8/1 given his 79.79 rating — that's second-best in the field and nearly nine points clear of the next grouping. Trainer Clay Courville sends him with Timothy Thornton, and his 12% career win rate is modest but the rating gap suggests he's a more capable horse than his win percentage implies. At a mile on the dirt, he's worth targeting in exactas underneath Della Do.

show4Fade to GoldML 5/2

Fade to Gold holds the 5/2 morning line but rates third in our model at 74.8 — a slight mismatch with the public's confidence level. Trainer Kinnon LaRose teams with Colby J. Hernandez, and while the average speed of 52 is conservative, this profile fits the show position well. In a competitive allowance mile, having a public-backed horse in your show slot stabilizes trifecta tickets.

Race 7

12:28 AM EDT

Ratings Handicap · 5 fur · Dirt

A ratings handicap sprint that has one horse sitting well above the rest of the field in our model, though the win rate and pace figures for several rivals make this anything but a walkover.

win5AchromedoutcatML 9/5

Achromedoutcat is our top-rated horse in Race 7 with an 88.83 TrackWiz score — the highest single-race rating in the entire card today. Trainer Randy Degeyter, Jr. teams with Jansen Melancon, and that's a combination that knows how to get horses home at Delta Downs. The 28% career win rate is strong for a handicap field, the average speed of 56 is right in the mix, and the 9/5 morning line reflects the sharp money already pointing this direction. This is the best bet of the night.

place7Clear as a BeleML 4/1

Clear as a Bele checks in second in our model at 64.49 with a 26% career win rate — a solidly accomplished runner in this company. Timothy Thornton gets the call for trainer David Terre, who also saddles Strong Promise, giving the barn two shots in this spot. At 4/1, the value isn't explosive but it's fair, and a horse with this kind of win rate in a handicap field has earned a place spot on your ticket.

show3GavelML 10/1

Gavel is our show pick at 10/1 and offers genuine exotic value — a 59.15 rating that places him third in the field, with an average speed of 56 matching the top horses on raw pace. Trainer Cesar Govea gives the mount to Jose Luis Rodriguez, and while an 18% career win rate is modest compared to some rivals, the speed figure consistency makes him a live trifecta threat at a price.

Race 8

12:56 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint to close out the card — no horse in the field has won a race, but two runners with significantly higher ratings and a meaningful speed figure edge look set to separate themselves from a wide-open group of maidens.

win7YoucandoitboyML 3/1

Youcandoitboy tops our TrackWiz ratings in this maiden claimer at a dominant 87.08 — nearly 12 points clear of second-best. Trainer Alan Klanfer puts Javier Antonio Hernandez in the irons, and while the average speed figure of 52 is modest, the overall composite rating signals a horse who is significantly more accomplished in terms of overall preparation than most of his rivals. At 3/1, the morning line is accurate — this is a legitimate win candidate with a strong model edge.

place9Ay Ay RonML 4/1

Ay Ay Ron comes in second in our ratings at 75.51 and is priced at 4/1 — a fair price for a horse this close to the top of the field in a maiden claimer. Trainer Ernie Witt II sends him with Juan P. Vargas, and the average speed of 52 keeps him competitive on pure pace. With the top two so clearly separated from the rest, a Youcandoitboy–Ay Ay Ron exacta is the play.

show4Severus SquallML 6/1

Severus Squall rates third in the field at 69.95 and pairs a 53 average speed figure with a 6/1 morning line that offers fair value for a trifecta slot. Trainer Lee Thomas gives the mount to Carlos Lozada, and in a race where the top two are closely held, having a horse with real speed figures on your ticket at this price makes the trifecta much more manageable than leaning on longshots.

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Today's card has something for every level of bettor — a legitimate longshot angle with Alterana in Race 1, a clear top play in the MSW with Visions of War, and a stacked premium card headlined by Pondicherry and Achromedoutcat. The fast, dry Delta Downs surface ties everything together and sets up an exciting afternoon of racing.

Free picks are live for Races 1–3. Unlock the full eight-race card — including pace projections, exotic ticket structures, and premium ratings — with a TrackWiz subscription at /pricing. Good luck at the windows today.

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