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Free Delta Downs Picks & Predictions for Today — October 23, 2026

October 23, 20269 racesAll Delta Downs picks

It's a beautiful Friday afternoon at Delta Downs — clear skies, 83°F, and a fast dirt track that should reward horses with early speed. Nine races are on the board today, stretching from quick 5-furlong sprints all the way out to 7-furlong routes, with a mix of maiden claimers, allowance company, and claiming fields that give bettors plenty of angles to work with.

The card runs the full spectrum of conditions — maiden special weight youngsters finding their footing, seasoned claimers grinding for a win, and an allowance closer in Race 8 named Big Drinker sitting at a juicy 6/1 morning line that caught our eye immediately. On a warm, dry afternoon like this, pace scenarios should set up cleanly and the track is not expected to throw any curveballs.

TrackWiz analysis has rated all nine races and flagged the standouts. Three races are fully open to all readers — Races 1, 2, and 3 — and six premium races round out the full card for subscribers.

3 Free Races Today at Delta Downs

Race 1

9:40 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

A maiden claimer over seven furlongs where TrackWiz's model finds a clear class edge at the top, but the mid-range of this field is tightly bunched and capable of an upset.

win3ShinovarML 3/1

Shinovar draws the morning-line favorite role at 3/1 and backs it up with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 — the highest in the field by a comfortable margin. Trainer Jervon Broussard sends him out with Jamison Mudd in the irons, and his average speed figure of 54 is competitive for this maiden claiming level. At seven furlongs, horses that can settle and sustain pace tend to have an edge, and Shinovar's profile suggests he's built for that kind of trip.

place6Look At Me NahML 2/1

Look At Me Nah opens as the morning-line favorite at 2/1, which tells you the public agrees there's talent here — the TrackWiz rating of 75.36 is the second-best in the field. Jockey Isaac Castillo is a consistent presence at Delta Downs and gives this filly a reliable hand. She matches Shinovar on raw speed (53 average) and could easily take the place spot if the favorite gets into any trouble.

show1Taste of FreedomML 4/1

Taste of Freedom from the rail post draws 4/1 on the morning line and posts a solid 67.44 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field — making her a legitimate show candidate in what is otherwise a thin-looking race. Kevin Roman gets the call for trainer Isai V. Gonzalez, and her average speed figure of 53 keeps her in the same conversation as the top two. In maiden claimers at this level, don't sleep on horses with live odds who project to find a clean trip from post one.

Race 2

10:08 PM EDT

Allowance · 5 fur · Dirt

An allowance sprint over five furlongs that features a dominant top horse — but keep an eye on a price play lurking at 8/1 that could make the exacta very interesting.

win6Double SaltyML 2/1

Double Salty is the standout here by almost every measure: a 88.54 TrackWiz rating, a 42% career win rate, and the best average speed figure in the field at 56. Jansen Melancon is one of the sharper riders at this meet, and trainer Allen Landry clearly has this horse sharp — a 42% career win percentage is elite at any level. At 2/1 on the morning line, the price isn't fat, but this kind of profile is worth playing to win.

place5Ocean JackpotML 8/1

Ocean Jackpot is the most interesting horse in this field at 8/1 on the morning line — a TrackWiz rating of 57.29 that edges Scar Ship, and an average speed of 55 that matches Double Salty's stablemate. Isaac Castillo takes the mount for trainer Pedro Rodriguez-Torres, and a 18% career win rate doesn't fully capture the value here when the morning line is this generous. If Double Salty gets any heat up front, Ocean Jackpot could be the one to sweep past for second.

show3Scar ShipML 3/1

Scar Ship sits at 3/1 on the morning line with a 56.76 TrackWiz rating and a respectable 28% career win rate, making him a sensible show anchor for exotic tickets. Kevin Roman guides him for trainer Ricky Courville, and his average speed of 53 over five furlongs keeps him in range of the top two. In a five-furlong sprint, front-runners and closers can both get there — Scar Ship's profile suggests he'll be competitive enough to hit the board.

Race 3

10:36 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

Wide-open maiden claimer at five furlongs where no horse has a speed figure on record and the TrackWiz ratings are tightly clustered — this is a race where post position and pace setup could decide everything.

win2Leo's ChicML 5/2

Leo's Chic earns the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 57.5 and opens at a fair 5/2 on the morning line, suggesting the public money is already pointing in this direction. Trainer Keith G. Bourgeois sends her out with Timothy Thornton, a reliable combination at Delta Downs. Without published speed figures for any horse in this field, the model's composite rating becomes the most reliable separator — and Leo's Chic leads that category.

place5Spitfire CatML 9/2

Spitfire Cat at 9/2 is worth including on tickets as a place horse — her 54.17 TrackWiz rating puts her in a cluster just behind Leo's Chic, and trainer Richard L. Mocklin Jr. is a familiar name at this oval. Erica M. Murray takes the mount, and the 9/2 morning line offers solid value for a horse whose rating suggests she belongs among the top finishers. In wide-open maiden fields, horses that rate consistently tend to hit the board even when they don't win.

show3Golden PenelopeML 5/1

Golden Penelope opens at 5/1 with a 53.33 TrackWiz rating and jockey Javier Antonio Hernandez booked for trainer Antonio Alberto — Hernandez is one of the busiest and most capable riders in this meet. She rates third-best in the field and, in a race where the top three horses are separated by only a few rating points, a clean trip from the middle of the pack could easily land her in the show spot. At 5/1, she represents fair value for exacta and trifecta construction.

Our three free best bets today center on the early portion of the card, and there's a nice thematic thread running through them: speed on a fast dirt track. Shinovar (Race 1, 3/1 ML, rated 87.08) and Double Salty (Race 2, 2/1 ML, rated 88.54) are both strong top-line picks in races where TrackWiz projections show clear pace advantages. Double Salty's 88.54 rating is the highest of the free-race group and makes her the most confident play of the trio.

Race 3 is a tighter maiden claiming sprint at 5 furlongs where Leo's Chic (5/2 ML) lands as our top pick with a 57.5 rating — a notably lower figure that signals a wide-open field. In competitive maiden races like this, the morning line can mislead casual bettors. Treat it with caution and look for value underneath.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

11:04 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

A full field claiming test at seven furlongs with a clear one-two punch at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — the battle for the win may come down to which of the two top-rated horses gets the better pace scenario.

win2Stormy LouML 5/2

Stormy Lou rates as the top horse in the field with an 87.81 TrackWiz score and opens at 5/2 on the morning line — a fair price for what the numbers say is a standout. Jansen Melancon is an excellent fit, and trainer Randy Degeyter Jr. sends her out with a 21% career win rate that shows she's been hitting the board consistently. At seven furlongs on dirt, a horse that combines a high rating with a reliable jockey-trainer combo deserves respect at any price.

place3D'buskerML 7/2

D'busker is no throw-in at 7/2 — his 84.10 TrackWiz rating is a whisker behind Stormy Lou and well clear of the rest of the field. Trainer Ronnie Averett puts Harry Hernandez up, and a 12% career win rate understates his board-hitting ability in this kind of spot. If the pace scenario sets up differently than expected, D'busker is absolutely capable of turning the tables on the top pick.

show5Diamond CountryML 8/1

Diamond Country at 8/1 is the best value play in the show slot with a 66.49 TrackWiz rating that's comfortably clear of the next tier. Isaac Castillo takes the mount for trainer Kevin Joseph Thompson, and a 10% career win percentage in claiming company means she's competitive without being elite — exactly the profile you want for a show anchor. At 8/1 morning line, she's priced as an afterthought but the numbers say she belongs in the exotic discussion.

Race 5

11:32 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

A Maiden Special Weight sprint where every horse is looking for their first career victory and no published speed figures exist — TrackWiz ratings and trainer angles are doing all the heavy lifting in separating the contenders.

win8MerlotML 3/1

Merlot opens at 3/1 with the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 56.67, making her the model's top choice in a genuinely difficult race to handicap. Trainer Brett A. Brinkman already has two other horses in this race, which signals confidence in the barn — and Thomas L. Pompell is an experienced hand in the irons. In MSW sprints without prior speed figures, backing the highest-rated horse at a reasonable morning line is a disciplined approach.

place4BernaiseML 4/1

Bernaise offers solid value at 4/1 on the morning line with a 55.0 TrackWiz rating — close enough to Merlot that a different pace scenario could flip the result. Carlos Perez takes the mount for trainer Brett A. Brinkman, and it's worth noting that Brinkman saddles three horses here, suggesting he's feeling out the conditions with multiple bullets. Bernaise's rating edges out Maximum Truth for the place spot, and 4/1 is a workable price for exotic construction.

show6Maximum TruthML 9/2

Maximum Truth at 9/2 is the third piece of the puzzle, rated 54.17 by TrackWiz and trained by W. Bret Calhoun — who also sends out Twisted Zydeco. Calhoun having two runners in this field is an angle worth noting, as trainers with multiple entries often have a clear preference and a secondary horse that's sharp enough to hit the board. Colby J. Hernandez gets the call here, and at 9/2 the morning line reflects a competitive but honest price for show ticket purposes.

Race 6

12:00 AM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

A twelve-horse Starter Optional Claiming field at seven furlongs that's loaded with overlapping pace scenarios — three horses rated in the 82-84 range make this a genuine three-way battle at the top.

win7Chupapi MunyayoML 7/2

Chupapi Munyayo earns the win call with an 83.40 TrackWiz rating and draws 7/2 on the morning line — fair value in a big field. Isaac Castillo rides for trainer Jonathan Wong, and the horse's 20% career win rate over multiple starts tells you this isn't a fluke. His average speed of 54 keeps him right in the mix at seven furlongs, and the inside draw position (7) gives Castillo options early in a field that figures to spread out.

place10Wise VerdictML 6/1

Wise Verdict is barely a point behind the top pick at 82.71 and opens at 6/1 — that's a mild overlay given how close the ratings are. Harry Hernandez picks up the mount for trainer Jonas Gibson, and a 20% career win rate mirrors the top pick's profile almost exactly. The 10-hole draw means he'll need to navigate traffic early, but 6/1 on a horse this close to the top of the ratings column is worth playing for place.

show9TwofexusnexusML 5/1

Twofexusnexus rates third in the field at 77.76 and brings the highest average speed figure of the top three contenders at 55 — that's a meaningful edge in terms of raw sustained pace. Jose Luis Rodriguez pilots him for trainer Keith G. Bourgeois, and a 17% career win rate in starter optional claiming company is respectable. At 5/1, this horse fills out trifectas and exacta boxes nicely as the third wheel in a strong top tier.

Race 7

12:28 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

An eleven-horse claiming field at six and a half furlongs where the TrackWiz ratings cascade sharply from top to bottom — a dominant top horse at a price could make this race a strong single for bettors.

win2Freckles ForeverML 5/1

Freckles Forever is the standout in this field with an 84.17 TrackWiz rating — nearly six points clear of the next horse — and an eye-catching average speed figure of 57, the best in the race by a wide margin. David Cardoso gets the call for trainer Mark N. Hibdon, and a 25% career win rate confirms she's a consistent performer. The 5/1 morning line looks like an opportunity: the model says she's the best horse here, and the price gives you room to make real money.

place7She's No AngelML 3/1

She's No Angel opens as the morning-line second choice at 3/1 with a 78.28 TrackWiz rating and a 15% career win rate — Isaac Castillo rides for trainer Jonathan Wong, who has multiple horses on the card today. She rates second-best in the field and, at six and a half furlongs, her average speed of 54 matches what's needed to sustain a competitive run. If Freckles Forever gets into trouble, She's No Angel is well-positioned to benefit.

show5Katies FactorML 8/1

Katies Factor at 8/1 is the value piece of this ticket — a 74.56 TrackWiz rating and a 28% career win rate that is actually the third-best in the field by that metric. Kevin Roman rides for trainer Isai V. Gonzalez, a sharp combination that knows how to place horses. In a field where the top three rated horses are realistically in a class by themselves, Katies Factor's profile says she belongs in that conversation and the morning line may be underestimating her.

Race 8

12:56 AM EDT

Allowance · 7 fur · Dirt

A seven-furlong allowance with a genuine overlay hiding in plain sight — the morning-line favorite isn't the top-rated horse, which means there's a value play waiting for bettors who trust the numbers.

win7Big DrinkerML 6/1

Big Drinker tops the TrackWiz ratings at 82.71 but opens at a generous 6/1 on the morning line — that gap between model rating and public price is exactly the kind of edge TrackWiz is built to find. Isaac Castillo gets the mount for trainer Jonathan Wong, who has shown plenty of confidence in this horse at this level. A 18% career win rate in allowance company is respectable, and his average speed of 52 may actually understate his ceiling given the class of competition.

place3Warrior RichardML 4/1

Warrior Richard earns the place call with a 76.74 TrackWiz rating and a 4/1 morning line — the second-highest rating in the field and one of the shorter prices. Harry Hernandez rides for trainer Robertino Diodoro, who is a name that demands attention whenever he ships in. A 19% career win rate and an average speed of 54 give Warrior Richard the tools to run a big race at seven furlongs on dirt, and he's the most natural landing spot if Big Drinker comes up short.

show9FunnyflameML 5/2

Funnyflame at 5/2 on the morning line is the public's choice to win, but our analysis positions him third — his 74.79 TrackWiz rating is strong but trails both Big Drinker and Warrior Richard. Timothy Thornton rides for trainer Richard L. Mocklin Jr., and a 17% career win rate in this class is honest. In exotic wagering, placing him in the show slot while the public loads up on him to win creates inefficiency you can exploit in exactas and trifectas.

Race 9

1:24 AM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A ten-horse claiming sprint at five furlongs where two horses are head and shoulders above the rest on the TrackWiz ratings — this shapes up as a two-horse race with a significant drop-off to the rest of the field.

win5Tarkington SunriseML 5/2

Tarkington Sunrise shares the top TrackWiz rating in the entire day's card at 87.81 — tied with Stormy Lou from Race 4 — and opens at a very fair 5/2. Timothy Thornton takes the mount for trainer Miguel Garcia, and a 23% career win rate shows this horse wins more than its share. The average speed figure of 55 leads the field and, at five furlongs where early pace matters most, that raw speed advantage could prove decisive from the gate.

place6TapperML 7/2

Tapper at 7/2 is the clear second horse in this race — a 79.46 TrackWiz rating that's well clear of everything below, and an average speed figure of 57 that is actually the highest in the race. David Cardoso rides for trainer Mark N. Hibdon, who also has Freckles Forever running in Race 7 today — a barn clearly in good form. If the pace scenario sets up in a way that allows Tapper to roll late, the 7/2 price could look very good at the wire.

show9Quick SandML 8/1

Quick Sand is the value piece at 8/1 — a 51.49 TrackWiz rating that's modest but comes with a 25% career win rate, one of the better marks in the field by that metric. Elio J. Barrera takes the mount for trainer George Leonard III, and an average speed of 55 puts Quick Sand in the same range as the top two on raw pace alone. In a field where the top two horses dominate the ratings but the rest is bunched, Quick Sand's win percentage and pace profile make him the most dangerous of the longshots for exotic tickets.

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Bottom line: Delta Downs is dealing a clean, fast track today and TrackWiz has done the work across all nine races. Shinovar and Double Salty are the marquee free plays, and the premium card is loaded with value — especially Big Drinker at 6/1 in Race 8. Grab the full analysis, ticket breakdowns, and pace projections at TrackWiz Premium. Good luck today — let's cash some tickets.

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