Emerald Downs Picks & Predictions — August 23, 2026

Simply Gracious (1) draws post one and gets the call from Kevin Krigger, with an 18% career win rate and a 72.04 TrackWiz rating that slots it cleanly as the second-best horse on paper. Trainer Blaine D. Wright is one of the more active conditioners in this meet, and at 2/1 morning line, Simply Gracious makes plenty of sense underneath Kristin Lee in exactas.

Gypsy Lynn (2) is the lone horse in the field with an average speed figure of 57 — the highest in this race — which suggests raw late-pace potential that the rating alone might undersell. Trainer Joe Toye sends this one out at 7/2 morning line, and a 20% career win rate gives confidence that Gypsy Lynn can find the board. Use this one in your trifecta and third-position bets.

Chuckanut Bay (5) is only a hair behind Tax Code with an 82.56 TrackWiz rating and a 36% career win rate — actually the highest in the field. Jockey Allyssa Morales gets the ride for trainer Howard F. Gibson, and the average speed figure of 57 matches Tax Code's. If Tax Code stumbles or the pace sets up differently, Chuckanut Bay has every tool needed to flip the script.

Knightline (1) is the value show option at 6/1 morning line, carrying a 78.02 TrackWiz rating that is meaningfully ahead of the other non-top-two runners. A 15% career win rate is solid for allowance company, and Blake Nunnally takes the rail post — which can be an advantage in a short six-furlong race if he gets away clean. Use Knightline as your show anchor and in trifecta bottoms.

All About Babes (6) is the logical place horse here, with a 74.8 TrackWiz rating that creates meaningful separation from the rest of the pack. Kevin Krigger rides for trainer Blaine D. Wright — a combination that has been well-represented in the results this meet. At 7/2 on the morning line, the price is fair, and an 11% career win rate in claiming races shows this horse has hit the board before.

Dad's Jubilee (7) is an intriguing show selection at a generous 15/1 morning line, with a 42.22 TrackWiz rating that slots it as a legitimate third option in a wide-open bottom half of the field. Jockey Addison Pifer takes the call for trainer Gary Greiner. No average speed figure is available for this runner, which adds uncertainty — but the rating and morning-line price make it worth a small show bet or trifecta inclusion.

Jess in Time (9) is the clear place alternative, rating 76.11 on TrackWiz with an average speed figure of 55 — among the best in this nine-horse field. Kevin Krigger takes over in the irons for trainer Tim McCanna, and the 14% career win rate gives real confidence this horse will be competitive at a mile. At 5/2 on the morning line, Jess in Time is nearly co-favored and should be included in all exacta combinations.

Speed It Up (7) earns the show slot with a 47.61 TrackWiz rating — a clear step ahead of the bottom half of this field. Adrian Castellanos rides for trainer Melissa Ledford, and a 12% career win rate is respectable in claiming company. The 6/1 morning line offers reasonable show-ticket value, and at a mile where pace can shuffle the deck, Speed It Up has enough on its number to find the board.

Calmcoolncollected (6) makes a strong case as the horse most likely to run Elder Mack down, posting an average speed figure of 57 — the highest in the field — alongside a 23% career win rate and a 75.72 TrackWiz rating. Alex Cruz rides for trainer Steve Bullock, and at 4/1 on the morning line, this is a legitimate value spot in the exacta with Elder Mack on top. The speed figure advantage at a mile suggests a horse that could be running fastest late.

Elegant Boy (3) rounds out our selections with a 69.72 TrackWiz rating and a 19% career win rate, both solid numbers at this claiming level. Adrian Castellanos gets the mount for trainer Sergio Perez, and a 5/1 morning line means there's value in keying Elegant Boy for show in your trifectas. A mile on dirt rewards horses that rate off the pace, and Elegant Boy's profile fits that mold.

Tiger Passion (3) earns the place nod with a 54.17 TrackWiz rating and the benefit of trainer Frank Lucarelli, who is active on this card and knows this circuit well. Isaias Enriquez picks up the mount, and the 9/2 morning line represents fair value for a horse without a published average speed figure — that unknown factor adds a bit of intrigue. In a maiden field, an unexposed runner under a sharp conditioner can always surprise.

Three P's (6) rates nearly identical to Tiger Passion at 51.68 on TrackWiz, making the show position a genuine coin-flip between these two. Silvio Ruiz Amador is the pilot for trainer Scott Tubbs, and an average speed figure of 53 gives us at least some baseline to work with. At 7/2 morning line, Three P's is priced like a contender, and including both Three P's and Tiger Passion in your trifecta bottom should cover the show spot in most scenarios.