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Fairmount Park Picks & Predictions — August 1, 2026

August 1, 20268 racesAll Fairmount Park picks

This card ran on August 1, 2026.

Best bets at Fairmount Park, August 1, 2026

Race 17Lolita JML 4/52:30 PM EDT

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It's a Saturday at Fairmount Park and the conditions couldn't be more cooperative — cloudy skies and a comfortable 71°F mean no heat stress on the horses and a dirt surface that should play honest all afternoon. Eight races are on the card, all going on the dirt, and the distances are tightly clustered around six furlongs, which means pace scenario is going to be the story of the day.

The card mixes maiden claimers and straight claimers in the early going before stepping up into a trio of Allowance Optional Claiming races mid-card — that's where the most competitive and interesting betting opportunities live. We've got strong TrackWiz ratings across the board, and a couple of horses sitting at morning-line prices that look beatable to our models. In other words: there's real money to be made today if you pick your spots.

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Race 1

2:30 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claiming sprint with all first-time or winless runners, but TrackWiz ratings carve out a clear top tier — one horse separates herself dramatically from the rest of the field.

win7Lolita JML 4/5

Lolita J (No. 7) is the dominant figure in this maiden claiming opener, carrying a TrackWiz rating of 90 — a full 31.67 points clear of the second-ranked horse. Trainer Elias Lopez sends her out with jockey Frank Reyes, and the morning line of 4/5 reflects what the market already knows: she's the class of this field. In a maiden race where every horse is still looking for their first win, that kind of ratings separation is hard to dismiss.

place9Wish Upon a FlameML 2/1

Wish Upon a Flame (No. 9) checks in with a TrackWiz rating of 58.33 and shares the field's top average speed figure of 53, giving trainer Marvel U. Straub a legitimate runner for the exacta. Jockey Ademar Santos gets the call, and at a morning line of 2/1, she's the logical bridesmaid if the favorite handles the pressure. She's the clear second choice in the ratings hierarchy and projects as the most likely finisher behind Lolita J.

show3AtraxaML 10/1

Atraxa (No. 3) also clocks an average speed of 53 — tied for the field's best — and posts a TrackWiz rating of 57.88, making her essentially a coin-flip with Wish Upon a Flame for the second spot in the exotics. Trainer Dennis Higgins hands the mount to Alexander Bendezu, one of the more active jockeys on the Fairmount circuit. At 10/1 on the morning line, she offers real show-parlay value if she runs to her numbers.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

2:55 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Three horses are bunched within 19 points at the top of the TrackWiz ratings, setting up a genuine speed duel scenario over 5½ furlongs of Fairmount dirt — pace will be a factor.

win3Sharp AttackML 7/2

Sharp Attack (No. 3) leads all comers with a TrackWiz rating of 86.35 and the field's top average speed figure of 55, a meaningful edge in a sprint where raw pace tends to matter. Trainer Hugo Rodriguez puts Luis H. Colon aboard, and his 22% career win rate suggests this horse knows how to finish. The morning line of 7/2 represents a touch of value given he's the top-rated runner — expect the market to tighten this up by post time.

place2Ghaaleb's CityML 5/2

Ghaaleb's City (No. 2) is right on Sharp Attack's heels with a rating of 82.41 and a 20% career win rate that speaks to consistent form. Trainer Scott Becker calls on Alexander Bendezu, a jockey who generates results on this circuit, and the 5/2 morning line makes this one of the more straightforward exacta plays on the card. If there's pace pressure up front, Ghaaleb's City has the profile to gobble up the winner late.

show1Lily's WoofyML 5/1

Lily's Woofy (No. 1) brings a 24% career win rate — the best in the field — and a TrackWiz rating of 68.33 that keeps her in the exotic mix. Trainer Ralph Martinez sends out Brody Martinez for the mount, and the rail draw could be an asset in a short sprint. At 5/1 on the morning line, she's a reasonable show-ticket anchor in what shapes up as a three-horse race at the top.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Our three free races — Races 1, 2, and 3 — cover maiden claiming and straight claiming company over five and a half to six furlongs of dirt. Lolita J opens the card as a heavy morning-line favorite in the maiden claimer, drawing a TrackWiz rating of 90, the highest mark on the entire card. Sharp Attack (Race 2) and Hunts Promise (Race 3) both rated in the mid-to-upper 80s, and all three figure to benefit if the track develops any early speed bias, which is worth watching through the first couple of races.

The early-race pace projections suggest these fields could set up favorably for closers, but on a six-furlong dirt oval like Fairmount, front-runners who can get comfortable fractions are tough to catch. Watch the first few splits closely — they'll tell you a lot about how to play the back half of the card.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

3:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Hunts Promise looms as the class standout in this 6-furlong claiming affair, but Man of Quality and Tower Grove Park are close enough in the ratings to keep things honest.

win6Hunts PromiseML 3/1

Hunts Promise (No. 6) is the top-rated horse in Race 3, posting an 87.08 TrackWiz figure while carrying a 16% career win rate that holds up well in claiming company. Jockey Victor Lara teams with trainer Harry E. Lynch, a familiar and productive combination at Fairmount. The 3/1 morning line actually looks fair — this horse is not being overlooked, and rightfully so.

place5Man of QualityML 3/1

Man of Quality (No. 5) sits just behind the top with a rating of 73.29 and draws the key 3/1 morning line as well, giving bettors a pair of co-second-choices in terms of market price. Trainer Dawn Martin hands the mount to Reynier Arrieta, and a 7% career win rate in competitive claiming fields suggests he's capable of hitting the board consistently without always closing the deal. He's the natural exacta complement to the top pick.

show2Tower Grove ParkML 5/2

Tower Grove Park (No. 2) sports a 12% career win rate and a solid 71.84 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field — and trainer Scott Becker again calls on the productive Alexander Bendezu. Priced at 5/2, he could easily end up favored by post time, making him worth including in trifecta combinations. The modest speed figure of 53 ties him with several others, so he'll need a clean trip from the inside post.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 4

3:45 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Allowance optional claiming company brings a more defined favorite in Fiveo'clockcharlie, but the gap between him and a pair of live contenders makes this race worth playing deeper.

win3Fiveo'clockcharlieML 3/2

Fiveo'clockcharlie (No. 3) heads into this allowance optional claiming sprint as the clear top choice by our ratings — an 89.27 TrackWiz score stands well above the field. Trainer James M. Watkins deploys Ademar Santos, and a 15% career win rate is respectable at this level. The 3/2 morning line makes him the chalk, and the average speed figure of 54 tied with the second tier confirms he's running at the right level.

place5CoolthingML 6/1

Coolthing (No. 5) is an intriguing place option at 6/1 — second in the ratings at 77.37 but carrying a 7% career win rate that suggests he hits the board more than he wins. Trainer Harry E. Lynch and jockey Victor Lara are a combo worth tracking at Fairmount, and the average speed of 54 keeps him competitive. If the favorite draws any pace pressure, Coolthing has the figures to swoop in for second.

show2StanceML 8/1

Stance (No. 2) has a TrackWiz rating of 72.16 and represents genuine upside for the show slot at a morning line of 8/1. Trainer John C. Wainwright sends out Julio E. Felix, and despite a modest 6% career win rate, the rating suggests he's been running in tougher spots than his win count implies. At those odds, he's a strong show-parlay target and a trifecta box piece worth considering.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 5

4:10 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Smoked brings elite career win percentage into this allowance optional claiming sprint, but Global Tour and Chance Taker are close enough in the ratings to make this a legitimate three-horse battle.

win1SmokedML 2/1

Smoked (No. 1) is the standout here with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 and a remarkable 40% career win rate — that's a horse that knows how to finish first. Trainer Larry Rivelli hands the mount to Julio E. Felix, and the 2/1 morning line reflects this horse's genuine favoritism. The rail post in a 6-furlong dirt sprint can be tricky, but with those credentials, Smoked projects as a hard horse to beat.

place6Global TourML 3/1

Global Tour (No. 6) matches Smoked's 40% career win rate — the highest mark in the field alongside the top pick — and checks in with an 80.48 TrackWiz rating that keeps him firmly in the conversation. Trainer James M. Watkins doubles up from Race 4, and jockey Johanis Aranguren gets the call. At 3/1 on the morning line, this is a legitimate win threat in his own right, not just an exacta filler.

show8Chance TakerML 6/1

Chance Taker (No. 8) posts the most eye-popping career win percentage in the entire field at 71% — an extraordinary number that demands attention even with a TrackWiz rating of 78.51. Trainer Scott Becker sends out Alexander Bendezu, who has been busy and effective throughout this card. At 6/1 morning line, the combination of that win rate and a strong rating makes Chance Taker a must-use in trifectas.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 6

4:35 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide and contentious allowance optional claiming field with ten runners — El Peligro and Excellent Empire sit atop a competitive ratings cluster, while the 2/1 morning line favorite Handsome Herb presents a vulnerable chalk scenario.

win7El PeligroML 4/1

El Peligro (No. 7) tops the TrackWiz ratings in this race at 85.62 while sitting at a fair 4/1 on the morning line — meaning there's legitimate value here relative to his standing in our model. Trainer Dennis Higgins reunites with Ademar Santos, who has been active throughout this Fairmount card. A 16% career win rate in what figures to be a competitive allowance field is workable, and the average speed figure of 54 is right in line with the best horses in this race.

place10Excellent EmpireML 9/2

Excellent Empire (No. 10) is hard to leave out of the exotics with an 84.25 TrackWiz rating — just 1.37 points behind the top pick — and a 31% career win rate that ranks among the best in this field. The Brody Martinez/Ralph Martinez combo has shown up multiple times today, and at 9/2 on the morning line, this horse is a natural exacta counterpart. Don't let the double-digit program number fool you — this runner has the figures to compete deep into the stretch.

show3Handsome HerbML 2/1

Handsome Herb (No. 3) carries the 2/1 morning line favorite tag but ranks only third in our ratings at 74.40, suggesting the public may be overestimating him. That said, his average speed figure of 56 is the best in the entire field by two ticks, and trainer Armando Hernandez puts Frank Reyes up for the trip. He's a show-ticket safe play given his raw speed, but at those odds, he's more useful as a hedge than a top investment.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 7

5:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Fasttimesatmidnite dominates the TrackWiz ratings in this 11-horse claiming sprint, but the field is deep enough — and the morning line favorite sits at just 9/5 — that the pace scenario could shake things up.

win6FasttimesatmidniteML 5/2

Fasttimesatmidnite (No. 6) is the class of this field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating, a full 29 points clear of the next best horse. Trainer Scott Becker hands the mount to Alexander Bendezu, who is having an active night across the Fairmount card. A 7% career win rate feels low for such a highly-rated horse, which could indicate she's been tackling tougher competition — dropping into this claiming spot is a positive angle worth noting.

place2Girls Knicks NowML 9/5

Girls Knicks Now (No. 2) draws the morning line favorite role at 9/5 with a TrackWiz rating of 58.64, but the gap between her and Fasttimesatmidnite is large enough to question the market here. Trainer Charles Davis Jr. puts Brody Martinez in the irons, and a 5% career win rate suggests she's a place-and-show type rather than a winner. She's the logical second choice and a solid exacta partner at likely short odds.

show11Wildwood OvertimeML 3/1

Wildwood Overtime (No. 11) brings a stunning 50% career win rate into this race — by far the highest figure in the field — paired with a 56.67 TrackWiz rating. Trainer Scott Becker doubles up from the top pick here, which is worth noting as a barn that clearly likes its chances in this race. At 3/1 on the morning line, this horse projects as a live show play and a key trifecta piece if the top two hold their positions.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 11 runners

Race 8

5:25 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A large 12-horse maiden special weight field to close out the Fairmount card — Eerie's Song has a clear ratings edge, but several horses lurk with intriguing speed figures that keep the exotics wide open.

win5Eerie's SongML 5/2

Eerie's Song (No. 5) tops the field with a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 — matching the top score we saw in Race 7 — and gets the call from trainer Ralph Martinez with Reynier Arrieta in the irons. In a maiden special weight race, where the class bar is higher than a maiden claimer, that ratings advantage is meaningful. The 5/2 morning line is reasonable value, and Arrieta has been sharp throughout the Fairmount meet.

place2Lies N DeceptionML 8/1

Lies N Deception (No. 2) is a fascinating place contender — an 8/1 morning line runner with a TrackWiz rating of 66.83 and an average speed figure of 57, which trails only the unusual 61 posted by Warshin Machine. Trainer Gabe Retana sends out Cory Orm, and that speed figure suggests she can run with the pace rather than chasing from behind. She's the kind of overlay that turns a solid exacta into a nice score.

show7I'm Thisty KidML 5/1

I'm Thisty Kid (No. 7) posts a 61.85 TrackWiz rating and works with trainer Harry E. Lynch — who has saddled live horses throughout this entire card. Victor Lara takes the mount at a 5/1 morning line, which is approachable enough to include in trifecta combinations. In a 12-horse maiden field, getting a trainer angle with consistent Fairmount barn form into the show slot is exactly the kind of edge that pays dividends in deeper exotic wagers.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

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Bottom line: Fairmount is serving up a clean, well-structured card today with legitimate top-end talent in the middle races and solid free-play opportunities up front with Lolita J, Sharp Attack, and Hunts Promise leading the way. The full picture — pace matchups, exotic tickets, and our deepest-value longshot angles for Races 4–8 — is waiting for subscribers. Good luck out there, and as always, bet smart.

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