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Emerald Downs Picks & Predictions — June 26, 2026

June 26, 20267 racesAll Emerald Downs picks

This card ran on June 26, 2026.

Best bets at Emerald Downs, June 26, 2026

Race 15Colonel BrockML 8/110:00 PM EDT

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It's a crisp Friday afternoon at Emerald Downs — partly cloudy skies and 64°F temperatures are about as good as it gets in the Pacific Northwest for racing. Conditions look ideal for the dirt surface, and with seven races on the card, there's plenty of action to work through from first post to finale.

Today's card is heavy on claiming races, which means trainers are maneuvering for position — class drops, sneaky layoff horses, and pace matchups are all in play. We've got a mix of sprint distances dominating the card (mostly 6 furlongs), plus a route to close things out in Race 7. Plenty of angles to attack.

Our TrackWiz ratings have separated some clear top horses across the card, but there's also legitimate intrigue in the morning lines — including an 8/1 shot in Race 1 carrying one of our stronger ratings on the day. Don't sleep on the overlays.

Best Bets

Race 1

10:00 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claimer where the morning-line favorite gets outrated by two rivals — TrackWiz numbers point to a potential upset in the opener.

win5Colonel BrockML 8/1

Colonel Brock is the most intriguing play in this maiden claimer at 8/1 on the morning line. His TrackWiz rating of 79.79 tops every horse in the field by a meaningful margin, yet the oddsmakers have him as a mid-range price — that's the kind of disconnect we love. With an average speed figure of 56, he's got the fastest feet in the field heading into the six-furlong dirt sprint, and trainer Heath Lawrence is sending him out with Silvio Ruiz Amador aboard, a capable pilot who knows how to rate a horse in a maiden field. If he breaks cleanly and sits off the pace, he could be finishing strongest of all.

place4Bull TizML 6/5

Bull Tiz is the morning-line favorite at 6/5, and while his TrackWiz rating of 69.31 trails Colonel Brock's by ten points, he's still a cut above the bottom half of this field. Kevin Krigger is a reliable hand in these spots, and an average speed figure of 55 keeps Bull Tiz competitive at this maiden claiming level. He's a solid place coverage play, particularly if he gets the early jump and avoids traffic.

show6Love Da GigML 9/5

Love Da Gig is the second choice on the morning line at 9/5 and posts the field's top average speed figure at 57 — that's a legitimate edge in a sprint. Her TrackWiz rating of 61.23 is third-best in the field, and with Alex M. Cruz in the irons, she profiles as a horse that could be on or near the lead throughout. She's worth including in the show slot of any exotics ticket as a pace-controlling factor who could hold on for a piece.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

10:26 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Eyelight looks like a horse in a class of her own here — the question is whether any of the closers can muster enough to make it interesting at the wire.

win1EyelightML 9/5

Eyelight is a clear standout in this six-furlong claiming sprint, and the TrackWiz numbers back it up loudly. Her rating of 88.83 is the highest in the field by more than 20 points, and a career win percentage of 47% is absolutely elite for this level — nearly one in two starts results in a win. Trainer Frank Lucarelli is running two horses in this race, which signals confidence, and Isaias D. Enriquez gets the mount on the barn's top choice. Even at 9/5, the form here is hard to argue with.

place3Ms Flashy HarborML 5/2

Ms Flashy Harbor offers a bit of a value angle in the place slot at 5/2 on the morning line. Her TrackWiz rating of 65.92 is second-best in the field, and she posts the highest average speed figure of any runner at 56 — meaning she may be faster in the open than her win percentage of 11% suggests. Karlo Lopez, a consistent rider at Emerald, gets the call for trainer Steve Bullock, and she could find herself in the right spot tracking the pace.

show5Flyin ByML 9/2

Flyin By at 9/2 morning line is a sneaky show play with an average speed figure of 57 — the best in this field. Her TrackWiz rating of 63 is third-best, and she's won 21% of her career starts, which gives her legitimate credentials at this level. If Eyelight goes to the front and gets pressured, Flyin By's closing ability could punch her ticket for a piece of the purse.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

The first three races are fully unlocked for every reader, and they're a solid warm-up to the card. Eyelight in Race 2 carries our highest rating among the free picks at 88.83 — on a 6-furlong dirt sprint, that kind of edge in a claiming field is worth noting. In Race 3, Bella Ciao Ciao opens as the 8/5 morning line favorite at 5 furlongs, and our numbers back that up at 81.62. Short sprints on this surface tend to favor horses with early foot, so pace shape will matter.

The real eyebrow-raiser in the free races is Colonel Brock in the opener — an 8/1 morning line in a maiden claiming sprint with a 79.79 TrackWiz rating suggests the market may be underestimating him. Maiden claimers can be volatile, but when our model and the price point in the same direction, it's worth a hard look before you dismiss it.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

10:52 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

Three horses are bunched within a razor-thin two-point spread at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — pace scenario and post draw could decide this one.

win2Bella Ciao CiaoML 8/5

Bella Ciao Ciao heads our analysis with a TrackWiz rating of 81.62, the top mark in the field, though Obsidian Storm is just half a point behind at 81.04 — so this is genuinely close. The edge we give Bella Ciao Ciao comes from the connections: trainer Faustino Patino hands the reins to Kevin Krigger, who is one of the most experienced and decorated riders in the Pacific Northwest circuit. Her average speed figure of 55 is right in the mix for a five-furlong sprint, and at 8/5 the market agrees she's the one to beat.

place4Obsidian StormML 5/1

Obsidian Storm is an outstanding place pick at 5/1 on the morning line, offering real value relative to his rating of 81.04. The one concern is his average speed figure of 51 — the lowest among the top contenders — but his career win rate of 11% on a tough circuit suggests he knows how to be competitive. Trainer Francisco Rodriguez has him ready, and Blake Nunnally is capable of engineering a trip from the fourth post that keeps him in striking range.

show6Omache GirlML 8/1

Omache Girl is a price play worth adding to your exotics at 8/1 morning line, backed by a TrackWiz rating of 79.79 — third-best in the race and only two points off the top. She's won 16% of her career starts, which is respectable, and her average speed figure of 55 matches the pace setters evenly. Silvio Ruiz Amador aboard gives her a strong pilot, and if the two favorites get into a speed duel up front, Omache Girl has the profile to collect a piece late.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 4

11:18 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Mister O is the short-priced morning-line chalk, but West Coast Bull's superior TrackWiz rating makes this a fascinating clash between numbers and oddsmaker opinion.

win4West Coast BullML 7/2

West Coast Bull lands at the top of our TrackWiz analysis with a rating of 85.56 — outpacing the morning-line favorite Mister O by nearly five points. He's won 22% of his career starts and posts an average speed figure of 56, matching the field's top figures. Trainer Steve Bullock, who also saddled Ms Flashy Harbor in Race 2, keeps a busy and productive barn, and Karlo Lopez is a go-to rider for competitive six-furlong dirt spots at Emerald. At 7/2 with superior numbers, he represents the best value in the race.

place5Mister OML 7/5

Mister O is the morning-line favorite at 7/5, and his credentials are real — a career win percentage of 28% is the highest in this field, and he's got a TrackWiz rating of 80.73 to back it up. His average speed figure of 56 ties him with West Coast Bull on raw pace, and trainer Kendra S. Lyons keeps him competitive at this level. Even if he gets outgunned for the win, his consistency makes him a reliable place selection.

show2Lucky CodeML 8/1

Lucky Code is a price play worth a look at 8/1 on the morning line — his TrackWiz rating of 79.79 is third in the field and well above the remaining runners. Trainer Scott Freeman sends him out with Blake Nunnally in the irons, and an average speed figure of 55 means he's not going to be spotted any meaningful pace deficit at six furlongs. For exotic bettors building trifectas, Lucky Code at that price is a smart stab at the bottom slot.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 5

11:44 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Mo Grey's TrackWiz rating towers over this field, but Regarding Harry is right behind him and offers a price that's hard to ignore — the top two look clear, but the show slot is a real dice roll.

win4Mo GreyML 3/1

Mo Grey is our top selection with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 — the best in this field by a wide margin — paired with the field's joint-best average speed figure of 56. Trainer Anne Wisdom has him pointed at this six-furlong dirt sprint, and Silvio Ruiz Amador takes the mount, giving this horse a jockey who knows how to rate horses through the turn. The morning line of 3/1 is fair given his profile, and his numbers justify making him the anchor of any win and exotic plays today.

place7Regarding HarryML 5/2

Regarding Harry comes in as the second-best rated horse in the field at 83.46, and at 5/2 on the morning line, he's actually priced tighter than Mo Grey — which makes Mo Grey the slightly better win value. That said, Regarding Harry's consistent speed figure of 54 and the experience of Allyssa Morales in the irons give him a legitimate path to a top-two finish. Trainer James L. Gilmour keeps him competitive at this claiming level, and he should be right there at the wire.

show6TigersunML 6/1

Tigersun is our show play at 6/1, and the case is built on pace. His average speed figure of 56 ties for the field's best, and his TrackWiz rating of 59.12 — while well below the top two — still ranks him third in this field. Trainer Hilario Perez places him well at this level, and Lenny A. Seecharan may be able to stalk the early leaders and pounce if they fade. For a competitive show price, he's a reasonable exotics add.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 6

12:10 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Ginger in Charge is a clear top pick on TrackWiz ratings, but eight runners at similar speed figures means chaos is always possible — the place and show slots are where the real puzzling begins.

win1Ginger in ChargeML 5/2

Ginger in Charge carries the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 87.81 and has a career win percentage of 23% — genuine credentials for a claiming sprint at this level. Trainer Jorge Rosales sends her out with Adrian Castellanos, who is no stranger to competitive spots at Emerald Downs. Her average speed figure of 55 is right in the hunt, and at 5/2 morning line, she's fairly priced given how clearly she separates from the rest of the field in our ratings. This is a confident top selection.

place6RabbleML 3/1

Rabble is one of the more interesting plays in the race at 3/1 on the morning line, backed by a TrackWiz rating of 79.77 — second-best in the field. His career win percentage of 12% is moderate, but Blake Nunnally is one of the sharper riders in this jockey colony and knows how to manage traffic in a crowded eight-horse field. If Ginger in Charge takes them on early and sets a pressured pace, Rabble could be the one coming home strongest for the place.

show3Union CoachML 7/2

Union Coach at 7/2 is worth slotting into the show position of exotics. His TrackWiz rating of 64.40 puts him third in the field, and a career win percentage of 20% shows he knows how to fire. Alex M. Cruz, an active and capable rider, steers him from post three — a clean break could put him in a comfortable stalking position through the first turn. He's not a lock, but at 7/2 he's got enough going for him to justify inclusion in trifecta tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 7

12:36 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A one-mile maiden claimer on the dirt stretches the field's stamina — Flight Ryder leads the TrackWiz ratings but Come Home lurks as a price play with serious numbers.

win6Flight RyderML 7/2

Flight Ryder tops our TrackWiz analysis with a rating of 81.95 — best in this maiden field — and goes postward at a workable 7/2 morning line. Trainer Jorge Rosales is double-entered in this race, which underscores the barn's confidence, and Adrian Castellanos gets the call on the stable's top-rated runner. His average speed figure of 54 is competitive for a one-mile maiden test, and at a mile the extra distance should favor horses who can rate — a profile Castellanos excels at placing horses in.

place5Come HomeML 8/1

Come Home is the value horse in this race at 8/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 79.79 — just two points off the top. Trainer Shelly Crowe sends him out with Kevin Krigger in the irons, and Krigger's experience at the route distance is a meaningful advantage in a maiden field where stamina questions are real. His average speed figure of 54 matches the field leaders, and at 8/1 morning line he's being underestimated relative to his actual numbers.

show3Higher PerformanceML 8/5

Higher Performance is the morning-line favorite at 8/5, yet our TrackWiz rating of 77.37 places her third behind Flight Ryder and Come Home — which suggests the market may be a touch steep on her. That said, trainer Debbie Peery is consistent at this level, and Karlo Lopez is a dependable rider for the distance. Her average speed figure of 55 — best in the field — is worth respecting at a mile, and she should be around at the wire even if she can't reel in the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

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Bottom line for today at Emerald Downs: Eyelight is our top-rated free pick and a name to anchor your early tickets, while Colonel Brock at 8/1 in the opener is the kind of overlay we love to highlight. The premium side of the card is stacked with competitive claiming races where our pace models and ratings give subscribers a real edge. Get the full story at /pricing and make every race count today.

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