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Delta Downs Picks & Predictions — November 5, 2026

November 5, 20268 racesAll Delta Downs picks

Best bets at Delta Downs today

Race 13Midnight HaloML 2/15:40 PM EST

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 6 races are for members.

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Midnight Halo in Race 1 is our best bet on today's free card — a TrackWiz rating of 88.54, the second-fastest recent speed figure in the field at 12.83 seconds per furlong, and a jockey who's hit the board 58% of the time over the past year. At a morning line of 2/1, the price isn't a screaming overlay, but the underlying numbers back it up.

The scene at Delta Downs today is about as good as it gets for November racing. Clear skies, 74°F, and what projects to be a fast, consistent dirt surface throughout all eight races. When conditions are this clean, speed figures from recent races become even more reliable predictors — and you'll notice our top picks across the card lean heavily on that edge.

Eight races, all on the dirt, mixing Claiming, Maiden Claiming, Maiden Special Weight, and an Allowance Optional Claiming sprint on the backend. There's plenty to dig into whether you're playing the free opener or going deep on the full card.

Best Bets

Race 1

5:40 PM EST

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A wide-open $5,000 claimer at a mile with the entire field listed as unproven in terms of run style — expect some early chaos sorting out before the top two in the ratings pull clear of a muddling bunch.

win3Midnight HaloML 2/1

Midnight Halo tops the TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 — a full four points clear of the second-ranked Due We Dare — and the connections here are genuinely strong. Jockey Harry Hernandez has a 22% win rate and hit the board in 58% of rides over the past year, an A-grade book of business at this level. The barn also dropped the claiming tag from $7,500 to $5,000, a signal they want a win today, and the horse posted the second-fastest recent race speed in the field at 12.83 seconds per furlong. The one flag is a sluggish workout line — ranked 8th in the field over the past month at 13.25 — but Hernandez's ability to put horses in position should compensate. Our simulations gave Midnight Halo a 29% win share, tops in the field.

place5Due We DareML 3/1

Due We Dare sits second in the ratings at 84.80 and has gone in the money in 7 of 13 dirt starts — real traction on the surface that matters today. The career win percentage is modest at 4%, but that in-money consistency at 39% suggests a horse that competes without necessarily sealing the deal, making Place a natural fit in exotics. Jockey Kevin Roman gets a C+ grade, so the ceiling here is capped, but the form profile is solid enough to land underneath Midnight Halo.

show9OnemotimeML 5/1

Onemotime at 5/1 on the morning line is intriguing as a show play — 11% career win rate and multiple wins at today's surface and distance give it legitimate class credentials in this $5,000 field. Trainer Ricardo Saul Castillo earns a B grade, a cut above most of the barn connections in this race, and the horse dropped from $10,000 claiming. The concern is a poor Delta Downs record (placed in just 1 of 8 starts here), but at a price, Onemotime rounds out the exotics nicely.

We ran Race 1 10,000 times. Most wins:

3Midnight Halo29%
5Due We Dare22%
9Onemotime12%

Full sims: exotics, pace scenarios, 3D replay

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 1 is where casual bettors and grinders alike can get started without a subscription. Midnight Halo sits atop our TrackWiz model with a sim win percentage of 29.41% — that's a meaningful edge over the field in a Claiming route going one mile on the dirt. The one-mile distance rewards horses who can sustain their pace, and that 12.83 sec/furlong recent speed figure suggests Midnight Halo has the raw ability to stay competitive deep into the stretch.

The clean, dry conditions today favor horses with consistent recent form over those who've been hiding behind excuses like off tracks. Midnight Halo's profile fits this kind of honest, fast surface well. It's not a slam dunk — no race ever is — but as a free look, this is exactly the type of play worth building your ticket around.

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

6:08 PM EST

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A twelve-horse sprint cluster at 6½ furlongs where the top-rated Gomarkgo carries a significant ratings edge but faces a wide field full of class droppers — the value beneath the top of the card is real, and pace could get complicated early.

win2GomarkgoML 3/1

Gomarkgo is the top-rated horse in this field at 87.08 and has placed in 6 of 11 dirt starts — a 54% in-money rate that is elite for this claiming level. The horse has also strung back-to-back in-the-money finishes coming in and posted the second-fastest recent race speed in the field (12.64 sec/furlong, tied for second). The main knock is jockey Kelvin Arana, who carries a C grade with a 7% win rate over the past year, so bettors will want to see this horse carry itself — but the talent is there, and our sims gave Gomarkgo a 21% win share to lead the field.

place10QuikonthetriggerML 4/1

Quikonthetrigger (No. 10) has back-to-back in-the-money finishes and ranks second in the TrackWiz ratings at 76.96, posting the third-fastest recent race speed at 12.64 sec/furlong. The layoff concern is real — 64 days off, and this horse historically prefers shorter rests — but the class drop from $10,000 to $5,000 is a meaningful signal from trainer Donald Melancon that today is a targeting race. At 4/1 on the morning line, the place price should be fair.

show1Life's RideML 6/1

Life's Ride (No. 1) gives you an A-grade jockey in Jansen Melancon — 23% wins, 61% in-money over the past year — and the horse has hit the board in 4 of its last 6 races to bring legitimate recent form. The workout line is strong, ranking first in the field at 11.80 sec/furlong this month. The concern is a 0-for-3 record at both Delta Downs and at this exact 6½-furlong distance, so it's a show play rather than a win single.

We ran Race 2 10,000 times. Most wins:

2Gomarkgo21%
10Quikonthetrigger16%
1Life's Ride12%

Full sims: exotics, pace scenarios, 3D replay

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

6:36 PM EST

Maiden Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint where the top two in the ratings — Here Comes Benny and Ohm Namo — are separated by nearly six points and backed by the best connections on the card; the question is whether Tears for Thee's strong local form can keep them honest.

win7Here Comes BennyML 5/2

Here Comes Benny leads all horses in this field with a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 and brings the most dangerous jockey-trainer combination on the ticket. Jansen Melancon (23% wins, 61% in-money) and trainer Allen Landry have teamed up for a 28% win rate and 65% in-money rate together over the past year — a remarkable partnership angle. The workout line is second-fastest in the field at 12.45 sec/furlong, suggesting Benny is sharp right now. Our sims put this horse winning 27% of the time — by far the highest probability in the race — and the 5/2 morning line feels like fair value given the credentials.

place2Ohm NamoML 5/1

Ohm Namo sits second in the ratings at 82.00 and posted the fastest recent race speed in the field at 12.77 sec/furlong — a figure that stands out in a maiden event. Jockey Alex Birzer earns an A grade with an 18% win rate and 50% in-money mark over the past year, and the third-fastest workout in the field suggests fitness. The 0-for-4 record at Delta Downs is the concern to flag, but the raw speed profile makes this a logical underlier.

show6Tears for TheeML 8/1

Tears for Thee at 8/1 on the morning line makes a compelling show inclusion based purely on local form — 2 of 3 at Delta Downs is as good a track record as you'll find in a maiden field, and the horse has hit the board in 3 of its last 5 races and 3 of 5 on dirt. The jockey concern is real (Julio Ramirez, Jr. carries a 7% win rate), which suppresses the win upside, but the horse clearly knows how to compete at this oval. For show and exacta-bottom duty, Tears for Thee at the price is worth a look.

We ran Race 3 10,000 times. Most wins:

7Here Comes Benny27%
2Ohm Namo19%
6Tears for Thee14%

Full sims: exotics, pace scenarios, 3D replay

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 4

7:04 PM EST

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A tightly contested 6½-furlong claimer where the top-rated Periphery is a genuine class standout on figures, but morning-line favorite Cheyenne Moon arrives with momentum and sharp recent workouts — expect a duel between two horses that have no real local form to lean on.

win4PeripheryML 9/2

Periphery tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.90 and brings the best raw speed figure in the field — fastest recent race speed at 12.45 sec/furlong, tied with Cheyenne Moon — but Periphery's 55 average speed is the highest in the race. Jockey David Cardoso has a 20% win rate and 59% in-money over the past year (A-grade), and the jockey-trainer combo with Mark Hibdon hits at 23% wins and 61% in-money. The 22% career win percentage and 66% in-money rate are exceptional at this level. The 0-for-2 record at Delta Downs is worth noting, but the talent and connections profile suggest a bounce-back spot here, with 26% of our sims landing in the win column.

place8Cheyenne MoonML 9/5

Cheyenne Moon is the morning-line favorite at 9/5 and comes in with consecutive in-the-money finishes, the second-fastest recent race speed (12.45 sec/furlong), and the second-best workout (12.60 sec/furlong) in the past month. Jockey Chris R. Rosier earns a B+ grade, adding capable pilot support. At the favorite's price, the win single may be thin on value, but securing a place ticket gives you the form horse at a price that holds up.

show3Shining AwayML 7/2

Shining Away (No. 3) is the third pick here and benefits from the best jockey in the race — Harry Hernandez at an A grade, 22% wins, 58% in-money. At 7/2 on the morning line and ranked third in the ratings at 58.79, there's upside here, though the workout line (ranked 6th at 13.25 sec/furlong) doesn't suggest a horse that's peaking. As a show play or exacta-bottom option, Shining Away offers a reasonable price with live connections.

We ran Race 4 10,000 times. Most wins:

4Periphery26%
8Cheyenne Moon23%
3Shining Away15%

Full sims: exotics, pace scenarios, 3D replay

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 5

7:32 PM EST

Maiden Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A short maiden claimer at 6½ furlongs that is wide open by definition — no winner in the field — with every horse carrying an unproven run style and form lines that are thin at best; first-time and lightly raced runners make pace projection murky.

win2Shots From AboveML 3/1

Shots From Above (No. 2) tops the field in the TrackWiz ratings at 56.67 and leads the entire group in recent race speed at 13.07 sec/furlong — in a race where the form is thin, pace figures matter. Harry Hernandez, an A-grade rider with a 22% win rate and 58% in-money, is a strong booking, and the horse also logged the fastest workout in the field over the past month (12.80 sec/furlong), pointing to a fit, ready runner. Our sims gave Shots From Above a 20% win share, the highest of any horse in the race. The only concern worth noting is a single no-show effort last out, but in this maiden field, the upside is real.

place3Ella B BeautifulML 5/1

Ella B Beautiful (No. 3) owns the second-fastest recent race speed in the field (13.08 sec/furlong) and comes in with a class drop from $20,000 to $10,000, which is a meaningful targeting move by trainer Benard Chatters. The jockey concern is legitimate — Julio Ramirez, Jr. is a low-percentage rider — which is why the place play makes more sense than the win single here. At 5/1 on the morning line, the price should hold up well in the place pool.

show5Mo Belle PowerML 8/1

Mo Belle Power (No. 5) is an interesting show inclusion at 8/1 morning line — trainer Isai V. Gonzalez earns an A-minus grade, and the horse logged the second-fastest workout in the field (13.00 sec/furlong). The third-fastest recent race speed (13.43 sec/furlong) keeps Mo Belle Power competitive on figures, and the class drop from $20,000 to $10,000 echoes the same targeting signal as the place pick. At the price, it's a worthwhile exotics piece.

We ran Race 5 10,000 times. Most wins:

2Shots From Above20%
6Brilliant Deal16%
3Ella B Beautiful16%

Full sims: exotics, pace scenarios, 3D replay

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 6

8:00 PM EST

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Coco Bella Blue enters as a clear ratings standout in this one-mile dirt claimer, but a field full of class droppers and question marks around local form at the distance keeps this from being a simple chalk-cashing exercise.

win3Coco Bella BlueML 5/2

Coco Bella Blue is the top-rated horse in this field at 87.81 — a significant margin over the second-ranked Eskenforave and Ak at 77.51 — and the connections are excellent. Jansen Melancon (A-grade, 23% wins, 61% in-money) is one of the best riders in the barn area, and trainer Randy Degeyter, Jr. earns an A-minus. The horse also appears on today's TrackWiz Top 50 Horses list and posted the third-fastest recent race speed at 13.21 sec/furlong. The concern is a 0-for-3 record at this exact one-mile distance, so the class profile is there but the route conversion is unproven; our sims still gave Coco Bella Blue a 29% win share, the highest in the field.

place5Eskenforave and AkML 7/2

Eskenforave and Ak (No. 5) is the natural underlier here — rated second in the field at 77.51 and owns 1 win in 5 dirt starts with a 3-of-5 in-money record on the surface. The concern is a short 14-day turnaround when this horse performs better on 30-plus days of rest, which tempers the win case. At 7/2 on the morning line, though, the place ticket on a horse with proven dirt form is a reasonable hedge.

show8Air SaharaML 15/1

Air Sahara (No. 8) looks like a live longshot for show at 15/1 morning line. The horse posted the fastest recent race speed in the field at 12.87 sec/furlong — a figure that stands out — and the jockey-horse combination of Elio J. Barrera has a 16% win rate and 51% in-money history together. The layoff concern (only 15 days, prefers 30-plus) mirrors the second pick's issue, and the dirt record is thin (3 of 13), but the top speed figure at this price deserves a spot in the exotics.

We ran Race 6 10,000 times. Most wins:

3Coco Bella Blue29%
5Eskenforave and Ak21%
2Balitrix13%

Full sims: exotics, pace scenarios, 3D replay

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 7

8:28 PM EST

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

An allowance optional claiming sprint at 5 furlongs where I Forgot the Time holds a commanding ratings advantage, but the field is laced with horses posting 100% in-money figures from limited starts — small samples make this more competitive than the numbers suggest.

win7I Forgot the TimeML 7/2

I Forgot the Time (No. 7) is the clear top pick here with a TrackWiz rating of 86.35 — 15 points clear of the next horse — and owns the fastest recent race speed in the field at 12.11 sec/furlong. The dirt form is excellent: 1 win and in the money in 4 of 5 starts on the surface. Jockey Alex Birzer gets an A grade with 18% wins and 50% in-money over the past year. The one wrinkle worth watching is that this horse is not using Lasix while seven rivals in the race are — a medication flag worth noting — but the raw talent here is undeniable, and our sims gave I Forgot the Time a 24% win share to pace the field.

place8Kason's BuckarooML 12/1

Kason's Buckaroo at 12/1 on the morning line is a genuine value play for the place slot. The horse is a perfect 4-for-4 in-the-money on dirt and brings an A-grade jockey in David Cardoso (20% wins, 59% in-money), who also teams with trainer Mark Hibdon at a 23% win and 61% in-money clip. The workout line is a concern — ranked last in the field at 12.90 sec/furlong — but that in-money dirt consistency at 75% is impossible to ignore. At that morning-line price, the place value here is excellent.

show3Levee NativeML 6/1

Levee Native (No. 3) earns the show nod by way of consistent, well-rounded form — in the money in 2 of 3 dirt starts and 2 of 3 sprint races, with 1 win in 3 lifetime starts. Trainer Eric Ramaekers earns an A grade, one of the better barn angles in this field. The horse has also hit the board in 2 of its last 3 races, keeping the form line fresh. At 6/1 morning line, Levee Native is a natural exotics piece underneath the top two picks.

We ran Race 7 10,000 times. Most wins:

7I Forgot the Time24%
6Mo Sippi13%
3Levee Native12%

Full sims: exotics, pace scenarios, 3D replay

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 8

8:56 PM EST

Maiden Special Weight · 7 fur · Dirt

A tightly bunched maiden special weight at 7 furlongs where the top three in the ratings — Cassy Cassy, Sweet Kantha, and Zarlana — are separated by just five points, setting up a genuine three-way battle among horses with real credentials but no wins yet.

win2Cassy CassyML 5/2

Cassy Cassy leads the TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 and is the only horse in this race appearing on today's Top 50 Horses list — a meaningful endorsement. Jockey Isaac Castillo earns a B-minus grade and carries a 20% win rate and 52% in-money mark over the past year, solid support for a maiden event. The horse posted the third-fastest recent race speed in the field at 13.09 sec/furlong and owns a 40% in-money career mark. Our sims gave Cassy Cassy a 26% win share, narrowly ahead of Sweet Kantha — the edge is thin, but Cassy Cassy is the top of the ticket here.

place3Sweet KanthaML 7/2

Sweet Kantha (No. 3) is a razor-thin second in the ratings at 85.78 and benefits from the best pilot in the race — Jansen Melancon, A-grade, 23% wins, 61% in-money. The horse posted the second-fastest recent race speed at 12.72 sec/furlong, and a 167-day freshening suggests there may be improvement on the horizon from a barn that sends them back ready. With 22% of our sims projecting a win, this is as close to a co-top pick as you get — the place ticket makes sense regardless of your win preference.

show1ZarlanaML 4/1

Zarlana (No. 1) rounds out the top three in the ratings at 82.74 and owns the best in-money record in this field — placed in 2 of 3 dirt starts, 2 of 3 sprint races, and 2 of its last 3 overall. That 66% in-money career mark is exceptional for an MSW field. The jockey concern (Misael Alvarez, 7% win rate over the past year) limits the win upside, but Zarlana's form consistency makes it a natural exotics anchor for the show position at 4/1.

We ran Race 8 10,000 times. Most wins:

2Cassy Cassy26%
3Sweet Kantha22%
1Zarlana20%

Full sims: exotics, pace scenarios, 3D replay

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

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Bottom line: Midnight Halo in Race 1 is the free play worth circling today on a beautiful Delta Downs afternoon. The dirt is fast, the conditions are ideal, and the numbers point clearly in one direction. For the full eight-race breakdown — including pace angles, exotic strategies, and every top pick from Race 2 through Race 8 — subscribers have everything they need waiting inside TrackWiz. Good luck at the windows.

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