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Fairmount Park Picks & Predictions — June 2, 2026

June 2, 20268 racesAll Fairmount Park picks

This card ran on June 2, 2026.

Best bets at Fairmount Park, June 2, 2026

Race 17Earl's OutlawML 6/52:30 PM EDT

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Clear skies and 78°F at Fairmount Park — about as clean a Tuesday as you're going to get in southwestern Illinois. With no weather excuses in play, today's 8-race all-dirt card comes down to pure handicapping, and there's plenty to dig into from gate one all the way through the nightcap.

The card mixes Maiden Special Weights and Maiden Claimers early before stepping up to a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming events in Races 5 and 8 that should draw the best horses on the grounds. Add a couple of straight Claiming battles in between and you've got a full afternoon of angles to work.

Three races are unlocked for every reader today, with our top picks in Races 1, 2, and 3 available right now. The deeper dive — Races 4 through 8, including pace projections, exotic plays, and multi-race sequences — is waiting for TrackWiz subscribers.

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Race 1

2:30 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden special weight opener where experience is thin across the board, but the TrackWiz ratings point to a clear top three that separates itself from the rest of the field.

win7Earl's OutlawML 6/5

Earl's Outlaw (#7) carries the field's top TrackWiz rating at 59.67 and an average speed figure of 54 — the best in the race — making him the clear class of this maiden sprint. Trainer Gabe Retana has this horse priced at a tight 6/5 morning line, signaling strong stable confidence. Javier Tavares gets the call and should be able to dictate or sit just off any early pace in this 6-furlong test. With no horse in this field posting a wins yet, that superior speed figure gives Earl's Outlaw a meaningful edge.

place5Wildwood BellML 2/1

Wildwood Bell (#5) sits second in the TrackWiz ratings at 58.33 — just a hair behind the favorite — and trainer Scott Becker has her at 2/1 on the morning line, suggesting she's meant to compete. The absence of a recorded average speed figure leaves some uncertainty, but her strong rating implies solid underlying form that makes her a natural place contender. Alexander Bendezu handles the mount and rates as one of the more capable riders in this field.

show8Summer CycloneML 9/2

Summer Cyclone (#8) checks in with a 54.17 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field — and represents the other Scott Becker entry alongside Wildwood Bell, giving the trainer a powerful one-two punch. Without a posted average speed figure, there's some unknown element, but her 9/2 morning line price makes her an attractive show inclusion in exotics. Victor Santiago picks up the mount and rounds out a competitive Becker barn showing.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

2:55 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

This claiming sprint features a pair of standouts at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — Bethy and Onacounta — that are head and shoulders above the rest of the field in our model.

win8BethyML 5/2

Bethy (#8) leads all horses with a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 and owns a 5/2 morning line that suggests the market already respects her chances. While her career win percentage sits at 11%, her overall profile in our model points to a horse who consistently runs in the right company and delivers competitive speed. Trainer Frank C. Randazzo Jr. sends her out with Javier Tavares aboard, a confident jockey-trainer pairing in a field where the top of the talent ladder is short. At 5 1/2 furlongs on the dirt, she should be right in the thick of it from the jump.

place7OnacountaML 4/1

Onacounta (#7) rates second in the field at 82.48 and comes in at 4/1 on the morning line — a price that underestimates her talent level given how closely she tracks the top-rated horse. Victor Santiago picks up the mount for trainer Dennis Hornbostel, and her average speed figure of 54 ties for the field's best. She's a logical place play who could easily steal the win if Bethy hits any trouble.

show4Play TwentyML 5/1

Play Twenty (#4) sits third among the claiming runners at 60.32 and posts a 19% career win percentage — solid for this level. Javier Diego keeps things simple in the stalker spot, and with a 5/1 morning line, there's real value here for show tickets and horizontal exotic plays. Trainer James M. Watkins has him spotted in a race where the top two contenders could set up a fast pace, leaving a closer like Play Twenty in a great position late.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

The early part of the card sets up nicely for handicappers who like horses with clear profiles. Free Choice opens at 4/5 morning line in the Race 3 Maiden Claimer and carries our highest free-race rating at 90 — on a fast, dry Fairmount strip, horses with dominant speed figures in a short field tend to wire these. In Race 1, Earl's Outlaw draws plenty of attention as the 6/5 chalk in the Maiden Special Weight, though with a rating of 59.67 this is the most wide-open race of the trio and worth treating carefully in your wagers. Bethy sits in the middle at 5/2 in Race 2 with an 87.81 rating — that kind of number at that price in a straight Claimer is exactly where value hides.

A clear, fast Fairmount surface historically plays honest — no significant rail bias reported today — so pace shape and pure speed figures should do most of the talking in these short sprints. All three free races go 5½ or 6 furlongs on dirt, which rewards early speed that can sustain. Keep that in mind as you structure your tickets.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

3:20 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Free Choice is an overwhelming favorite in this maiden claimer and looks every bit the part — the real betting interest is figuring out who joins her on the ticket.

win4Free ChoiceML 4/5

Free Choice (#4) carries a dominant 90.0 TrackWiz rating — a full 30 points clear of the next-best horse — and is the obvious morning-line chalk at 4/5. Trainer Ralph Martinez saddles Alexander Bendezu, one of the more active and effective jockeys on the Fairmount circuit, and her average speed figure of 53 is among the best in the field. In a maiden claiming field this deep in unknowns, a horse this clearly superior in our model rarely gets beat at this distance.

place1Young MischiefML 6/1

Young Mischief (#1) is the most logical place alternative with a 59.79 TrackWiz rating and an average speed figure of 53 to back it up. Trainer Eddie M. Essenpreis gives the call to Reynier Arrieta, and the 6/1 morning line means there's value here if you're constructing an exacta beneath the heavy favorite. Her rating puts meaningful daylight between herself and the rest of the field outside the top two.

show2I Got the MovesML 5/1

I Got the Moves (#2) comes in at 51.25 on the TrackWiz scale and draws the rail-adjacent post with Emmanuel Giles up for trainer Anthony Blea III. At 5/1 on the morning line, she offers show-ticket value in a spot where the bottom half of this field is a significant step below the top three. Her average speed figure of 52 is consistent with a horse who can grind out a piece of this race and make exotics pay.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 4

3:45 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

South of Birminham draws even-money on the morning line and looks like a class standout in this claiming route — but Gibran and Tigersaurus Rex could make things interesting if the pace scenario sets up right.

win6South of BirminhamML EVN

South of Birminham (#6) is the only horse in the field with a perfect 90.0 TrackWiz rating and draws even-money on the morning line — a rare convergence of model confidence and market respect. Trainer Ben Delong saddles Javier Tavares, and her average speed figure of 53 edges out most of this field at 6 furlongs on the dirt. When our model and the oddsmakers align this closely, it's usually for a reason — she's the clear top choice here.

place1GibranML 5/2

Gibran (#1) rates second in the field at 62.45 with an average speed figure of 53 and a 10% career win percentage that's respectable in claiming company. Alexander Bendezu gets the mount for trainer Ralph Martinez, who consistently puts horses in position to fire. At 5/2 on the morning line, Gibran looks like the natural choice to fill the exacta behind the heavy favorite.

show4Tigersaurus RexML 9/2

Tigersaurus Rex (#4) posts a 54.92 TrackWiz rating — third in the field — and while his 3% career win percentage is modest, his average speed figure of 52 keeps him competitive in this group. Trainer Mike Durham sends him out at 9/2, and Angel Ortega Stanley gets the call. If the pace collapses up front, Tigersaurus Rex has the profile of a horse who can finish into a show spot and make the exotic tickets come alive.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

4:10 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Hand Over My Heart is a short-priced favorite in this allowance optional claiming sprint, but Grayhop at double-digit odds makes this race more interesting than the morning line suggests.

win4Hand Over My HeartML 7/5

Hand Over My Heart (#4) tops the field with a 89.42 TrackWiz rating and draws 7/5 on the morning line — a deserved favorite in a quality allowance optional claiming field. Her average speed figure of 54 ties for the best in the race, and trainer Eddie M. Essenpreis puts Ademar Santos in the irons. A 13% career win percentage doesn't scream dominant, but in a tightly bunched field like this, the superior rating and consistent speed figures are what matter most.

place1GrayhopML 10/1

Grayhop (#1) is the TrackWiz value play of the race at 10/1 on the morning line with a 72.05 rating — well above what that price implies. Trainer Lori Plasters keeps Cory Orm aboard, and a 14% career win percentage shows this horse knows how to find the winner's circle. The gap between Grayhop's rating and her odds is the kind of overlay that keeps sharp bettors profitable over time.

show2WeslanML 7/2

Weslan (#2) rates third in the field at 69.48 with a consistent average speed figure of 54 — matching the class horses in this spot. Trainer John C. Wainwright gives the call to Travis Wales, and the 7/2 morning line is fair but perhaps slightly underestimates how competitive he'll be throughout. In a field where several horses are bunched between 68 and 72 on our scale, Weslan is a solid show play and worth using in trifecta keys.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 6

4:35 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Excellent Empire looks like the class of this claiming sprint with a commanding TrackWiz advantage, while Spanish Doubloon offers a compelling value angle that the morning line underprices.

win4Excellent EmpireML 7/2

Excellent Empire (#4) carries the field's top TrackWiz rating at 86.35 and owns a 30% career win percentage — the highest of any horse with significant starts in this race and a number that commands attention at this level. Trainer Marvel U. Straub puts Ademar Santos in the saddle at 7/2 on the morning line, and her average speed figure of 54 ties for the field's best. A high win percentage combined with strong speed numbers is exactly the combination you want to see in claiming company.

place7Spanish DoubloonML 9/2

Spanish Doubloon (#7) rates second in our model at 74.31 — a strong number that stands well clear of the third-best horse — and comes in at 9/2 on the morning line, which looks like fair value given how high she grades. Javier Tavares rides for trainer James M. Watkins, and her average speed figure of 54 matches the top horses in this field. She's the natural place contender and makes plenty of sense in exactas.

show3Purple OctopusML 3/1

Purple Octopus (#3) is the morning-line second choice at 3/1 despite ranking only third in the TrackWiz ratings at 47.38 — a mild mismatch worth noting. Julio E. Felix handles the mount for trainer Harry E. Lynch, and a 14% career win percentage shows she's been competitive at this level. Her 54 average speed figure is right there with the best in the field, making her a solid show play and a key piece of the trifecta.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 7

5:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

With 11 horses in the gate, this 6-furlong claimer is the deepest race on the card — Warrior of Gold tops the TrackWiz ratings, but Two Step Jake is the kind of double-digit price that can blow open the exotics.

win6Warrior of GoldML 6/1

Warrior of Gold (#6) leads all starters with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating and pairs a 15% career win percentage with an average speed figure of 54 — the best in this large field. Trainer James M. Watkins sends out Johanis Aranguren, and the 6/1 morning line is a refreshing price for a horse who grades out this clearly on top. In a wide-open 11-horse field, Warrior of Gold's combination of high rating and consistent speed figures makes him the most reliable win contender in the race.

place5T LawML 2/1

T Law (#5) is the public's morning-line second choice at 2/1, and the 77.52 TrackWiz rating justifies that price on paper. Alexander Bendezu picks up the mount for trainer Ralph Martinez, one of the more active barns on the Fairmount circuit. His average speed figure of 52 is a tick below the top horses, but the overall profile says he'll be competitive enough to fill the place slot while offering a tighter payout than some of the longer shots in the field.

show9Two Step JakeML 15/1

Two Step Jake (#9) is the show-value play here — a 15/1 morning line combined with a 65.45 TrackWiz rating that ranks third in the field is a significant overlay. Trainer Duane Wells sends him out with Brooke Bays up, and a 20% career win percentage is the best of any horse in this field — a number that tells you this horse finds the board consistently. In an 11-horse field with a fast pace likely developing up front, a closer with that kind of win percentage is exactly the show play you want to target for big exotic payoffs.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 11 runners

Race 8

5:25 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Mo Town Renee is a near-prohibitive 2/5 favorite in this allowance optional claiming sprint, but the real story is the live longshot angles lurking at big prices beneath her.

win10Mo Town ReneeML 2/5

Mo Town Renee (#10) leads the field with a 74.42 TrackWiz rating and is the clear public choice at 2/5 on the morning line. Trainer Wayne M. Catalano — a national-caliber conditioner — puts Alexander Bendezu in the irons, and a 25% career win percentage backs up the strong rating. Her average speed figure of 54 is among the field's best in a 12-horse field that thins out quickly after the top two, making her the overwhelming logical choice despite the short price.

place4TryML 12/1

Try (#4) is the TrackWiz value angle in this race — a 73.96 rating that nearly mirrors the favorite's, yet the morning line offers 12/1 against her. Emmanuel Giles handles the mount for trainer John C. Wainwright, and while a 6% career win percentage is modest, the speed figures and overall model score say she's been running in the right circles. If Mo Town Renee hits any kind of trouble in a 12-horse field, Try is the horse most likely to capitalize and provide a massive exacta payout.

show9NellaML 15/1

Nella (#9) rates third in the field at 63.53 with a 14% career win percentage and an average speed figure of 53 — consistent numbers for a horse going postward at 15/1. Trainer Eddie M. Essenpreis keeps Ademar Santos in the saddle, a reliable pairing on this circuit. She's the kind of horse who can settle into a comfortable trip in a large field and hit the board late, making her a smart show play and a trifecta piece at a price that could balloon the payoff.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

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Bottom line: a clean, fast Fairmount surface and a well-rounded 8-race card make today worth your full attention. Free Choice is the standout among the free picks, Bethy offers the best free-race value, and there are legitimate longshot angles in the premium races — especially Warrior of Gold — that could pay off nicely. Full card breakdowns, pace projections, and exotic ticket builds are live now for subscribers. Check out TrackWiz premium and make the most of the afternoon.

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