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Fairmount Park Picks & Predictions — August 4, 2026

August 4, 20268 racesAll Fairmount Park picks

This card ran on August 4, 2026.

Best bets at Fairmount Park, August 4, 2026

Race 111Free ChoiceML 4/12:30 PM EDT

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It's a clear, hot Tuesday at Fairmount Park — 85 degrees with the sun beating straight down on the strip. Eight races on a genuine all-dirt card, and the kind of mid-summer afternoon where speed figures earned on fast tracks mean exactly what they look like. No excuses today: the conditions are clean, the footing should be firm, and the horses that want to run will get every chance to show it.

The card opens with a Maiden Claiming sprint before working through a pair of route Claiming races, then graduates into a stretch of Allowance-level company — including three Allowance Optional Claiming spots and the day's marquee event, Race 6, a 1¼-mile Starter Allowance that puts stamina front and center. Eight races, eight opinions. Let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

2:30 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claimer with zero career wins across the board, but TrackWiz ratings reveal a clear two-horse class advantage at the top — though the pace from a 12-horse field could scramble things in a hurry.

win11Free ChoiceML 4/1

Free Choice (No. 11) carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 85.62 and posts an average speed figure of 53 — solid for this level. Trainer Ralph Martinez saddles the horse for jockey Brody Martinez, keeping it in the family barn, and that familiarity with the horse can matter in maidens. At 4/1 on the morning line, this is genuine value for the top-rated runner, not a short-priced chalk you have to swallow hard to back.

place8Major LeagueML 2/1

Major League (No. 8) is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 for a reason — an 83.25 TrackWiz rating and an average speed of 54 make this one of the faster horses in the field on paper. Trainer Mike Durham puts up Ademar Santos, a jockey who knows how to get horses to run their race. If Free Choice struggles to break cleanly from the outside, Major League has every tool to steal the win, let alone the place.

show3IncorporatedML 10/1

Incorporated (No. 3) at 10/1 is the value play in exotics here, packing a 71.59 rating and matching the top tier on average speed at 53. Trainer Omar Razvi sends Harold Joseph Ortega out from a manageable post, and in a chaotic 12-horse maiden field, a horse with this rating sitting at double-digit odds deserves exotic coverage — especially underneath in the trifecta.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

2:55 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Verrazano First looks like a price play waiting to happen against a field of claiming horses where the morning-line favorite is nowhere near the top of the TrackWiz ratings — this one has upset written all over it.

win4Verrazano FirstML 8/1

Verrazano First (No. 4) owns the best TrackWiz rating in the field at 79.79 and has won 27% of career starts — the highest win rate among the primary contenders. Trainer Pat Clay sends Johanis Aranguren out at 8/1 on the morning line, which is simply too generous for a horse with this profile. The 1-mile-70-yard distance tests stamina and class, and this one's figures suggest it has both.

place2Mystic PowerML 7/2

Mystic Power (No. 2) is the morning-line co-favorite at 7/2 with a 71.61 TrackWiz rating and a 12% career win clip. Trainer Jose G. Rodriguez puts Javier Tavares up, and the 7/2 price feels about right for a horse that profiles as a solid second or third in this field. At a route distance, Mystic Power's figures set up well for a place finish even if it can't quite keep up with Verrazano First's class edge.

show5Euclid AvenueML 9/2

Euclid Avenue (No. 5) matches Mystic Power on the morning line at 9/2 and sports an 18% career win rate — respectable for a claimer at this level. Trainer Hugo Rodriguez pairs with Ademar Santos, and at a mile-plus distance, horses with steady speed figures (52 average here) often find their groove late. Plug Euclid Avenue into your trifecta as the third piece — it's a fair price for a horse with a legitimate shot.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Our three free races set up nicely for a summer dirt card. Free Choice (4/1 morning line, Race 1) draws our eye in the maiden opener — an 85.62 TrackWiz rating suggests a horse that should be competitive at the price. In Race 2, Verrazano First catches our attention as a straight-up value play at 8/1 — that kind of morning line in a route Claiming race is exactly where overlays are born, and a 79.79 rating in a field that may not be deep makes this one worth a serious look. Moonrise Drive completes the free trio in Race 3, rated 84.90 and posted at 9/2 — solid class-adjusted figures around two turns on a surface playing fast today.

One angle worth noting across all three free races: with the heat and the hard dirt, early pace is going to be at a premium. Horses that can secure a comfortable position in the first quarter-mile without burning up too much energy tend to have a measurable edge at Fairmount on days like this. Keep an eye on post position and early speed in your handicapping.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

3:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Moonrise Drive and License to Steal are separated by less than a point in TrackWiz ratings at the top, setting up a potential stretch duel in this 1-mile claimer — but the morning lines suggest the market hasn't fully caught up to the pace scenario.

win4Moonrise DriveML 9/2

Moonrise Drive (No. 4) holds the field's top TrackWiz rating at 84.90 and is priced at 9/2 — a fair price for a horse this well-rated. Trainer Cheryl Winebaugh sends Luis H. Colon, an experienced hand around the Fairmount oval, and the one-mile trip suits a horse whose figures suggest it builds into the stretch. With only an 8% career win rate, this one might need things to click — but the ratings say the talent is there.

place9License to StealML 4/1

License to Steal (No. 9) sits just a tick below Moonrise Drive at a 84.10 rating and is actually priced a full point shorter at 4/1 on the morning line. Frank Reyes picks up the mount for trainer Eduardo Rodriguez, and at 10% career wins, this horse has shown it can close out races. If Moonrise Drive gets all the attention up front, License to Steal has the pace profile to swoop in for at least the place.

show7GrandsonsamML 5/2

Grandsonsam (No. 7) at 5/2 morning-line is the public's pick to win, but TrackWiz rates it third in the field at 74.08 — suggesting it's a touch short for the win but solid underneath. Trainer Mike Durham puts Ademar Santos up, and with only a 5% career win rate, this horse may be more finisher than winner. Use it confidently in the show spot and underneath in trifectas.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 4

3:45 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

This Allowance Optional Claiming sprint looks like a two-horse battle between Bikini Martini and Volodymyr Z, both clearing 81+ on the TrackWiz scale — but the morning-line favorite Irish Spark is going to be tough to completely dismiss.

win5Bikini MartiniML 7/2

Bikini Martini (No. 5) tops the field with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating and clips a 17% career win rate — sturdy numbers for this level. Trainer Eddie Essenpreis keeps Johanis Aranguren in the irons, and the same barn also handles Irish Spark, giving Essenpreis a two-horse shot in a race where his operation clearly excels. At 7/2 in an Allowance Optional Claiming sprint, this is a comfortable top choice with legitimate upside.

place7Volodymyr ZML 5/1

Volodymyr Z (No. 7) is the sneaky play here — a 81.45 TrackWiz rating and a 36% career win rate that blows most of this field out of the water. Trainer Scott Becker teams up with Travis Wales, and a horse that wins more than a third of the time demands respect regardless of how the market prices it. At 5/1, Volodymyr Z has place written all over it, and honestly wouldn't shock if it outran Bikini Martini.

show4TakeitawayML 5/2

Takeitaway (No. 4) brings an 81.01 rating and the field's highest average speed figure at 55, which is notable in a six-furlong sprint where early foot matters. Trainer Michele Boyce and jockey Luis Colon are a reliable combination at this level, and a 21% career win rate shows the horse knows how to compete. In a sprint, that top-end speed figure makes Takeitaway a legitimate show contender worth including in multi-race exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

4:10 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Jet Pack looks like the class of this Allowance Optional Claiming field at 5½ furlongs, but a tight cluster of high-rated horses — Peytons Honor, Keen Gal, and Bee Bluff all over 79 — means the pace could get honest and create some chaos.

win7Jet PackML 5/2

Jet Pack (No. 7) is our top selection and it's not hard to see why — an 86.15 TrackWiz rating, a 33% career win rate, and a 54 average speed figure all point to a horse who handles this level routinely. Trainer Steve Manley puts Ademar Santos up, and Santos has been active and effective in this company. At 5/2 morning line, Jet Pack is the clear class horse in the field and the one everyone else will have to beat.

place4Peytons HonorML 4/1

Peytons Honor (No. 4) is one of the most intriguing runners on today's card — a 41% career win rate is elite for a claiming-level horse at any track, and the 85.62 TrackWiz rating backs it up. Trainer Scott Becker sends Victor Santiago out from Post 4, a clean spot in a sprint. The 4/1 morning line is fair, but don't be surprised if this one wins outright; at minimum, it's a near-lock for the place.

show6Keen GalML 4/1

Keen Gal (No. 6) is a live underneath option at 4/1 — an 80.62 TrackWiz rating and a matching 54 average speed put it squarely in the mix. Trainer Eduardo Rodriguez has a two-horse entry in this race with Sally's Suprise, giving the barn multiple pace angles to work with. Alexander Bendezu has been a capable rider in this circuit, and Keen Gal's raw figures make it a strong show selection and a trifecta must-use.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 6

4:35 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 1 1/4 mi · Dirt

McMoney enters this Starter Allowance route as the clear TrackWiz top choice, but Runningforcash sits just 1.5 points behind — and at 1¼ miles on the dirt, stamina and pace setup will decide which of these two front-runners has more horse in the late stages.

win5McMoneyML 3/1

McMoney (No. 5) leads all comers with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and a 21% career win rate — both strong marks in a Starter Allowance field. Victor Lara gets the leg up for trainer Harry Lynch, and at 3/1 morning line, this is a well-priced top choice rather than a chalk you're grinding against. At 1¼ miles, the horse that conserves energy early has a huge advantage, and McMoney's figures suggest it has the class to do exactly that.

place6RunningforcashML 4/1

Runningforcash (No. 6) at 85.62 is nearly inseparable from McMoney on the TrackWiz scale, and trainer Ralph Martinez is sending Johanis Aranguren out at 4/1 — honest odds for a horse this well-rated. A 21% career win rate mirrors the top pick's, and over a long 1¼-mile route, the difference between first and second can come down to one bad step. Use Runningforcash in both win-place exactas and as a key underneath in trifectas.

show7Code RunnerML 10/1

Code Runner (No. 7) at 10/1 is a legitimate show value — a 70.0 TrackWiz rating puts it firmly in the second tier, and trainer Hugo Rodriguez teams with Alexander Bendezu, who has the rail savvy to find a trip around the far turn. A 15% career win rate shows this horse competes, and in a nine-horse route where pace could get complicated, a closer with Code Runner's numbers is worth a show bet at double-digit odds.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 7

5:00 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide, 12-horse Allowance Optional Claiming field makes this the most tactically complex race of the day — Try tops the TrackWiz ratings but goes off at 9/2, while Richiesgoldengirl offers top-end speed and a powerful career win percentage at a workable price.

win1TryML 9/2

Try (No. 1) is our top selection with a field-best 84.90 TrackWiz rating, and while the 5% career win rate looks thin on the surface, remember that Allowance company with a small sample can skew that number. Emmanuel Giles gets the call for trainer John Wainwright, and the rail post in a sprint can be an asset if the horse breaks clean. At 9/2, a horse with this rating profile is worth the wager even with the modest win percentage.

place5RichiesgoldengirlML 4/1

Richiesgoldengirl (No. 5) is the power play underneath — a 33% career win rate among active runners in this field is exceptional, and the 80.79 TrackWiz rating confirms the talent isn't just a fluke. Trainer Larry Rivelli puts Julio Felix in the irons, and with a 54 average speed figure — tops among the main contenders — this one has the early foot to be in the race from the jump. At 4/1, Richiesgoldengirl is a legitimate threat to win and almost certainly a place horse.

show10HanabiML 8/1

Hanabi (No. 10) is the show value at 8/1 — a 58.02 TrackWiz rating places it in the middle of the pack, but in a 12-horse field, middle-of-the-pack often cashes show tickets. Trainer Arthur Coontz sends Alexander Bendezu out, and a 7% career win rate in Allowance company suggests this horse can hang around competent fields. In wide-open sprints, a horse with clean figures sitting at 8/1 is exactly the type of runner to anchor the show position in your trifectas.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Race 8

5:25 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Granddaddylonglegs is the 3/2 morning-line favorite in this 12-horse claiming sprint, but TrackWiz rates it only fifth in the field — making Swaggy George one of the more compelling upset plays on the entire card tonight.

win12Swaggy GeorgeML 5/1

Swaggy George (No. 12) carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the race at 84.17 and matches the leaders on average speed at 54 — all while sitting at 5/1 on the morning line as a horse the public is undervaluing. Trainer Mark Anderson sends Angel Ortega Stanley out, and this combination knows how to fire from the outside post. The favorite, Granddaddylonglegs, is rated a full 22 points below our top pick — that's a significant gap that the market hasn't priced in.

place1Junior BugML 9/2

Junior Bug (No. 1) profiles as a solid place contender with a 70.03 TrackWiz rating and a 54 average speed figure that keeps it firmly in the conversation. Trainer Amy Nesbitt sends Johanis Aranguren from the rail — Post 1 in a six-furlong sprint at Fairmount can be a plus or a minus depending on the break, but Aranguren is experienced enough to navigate it. At 9/2 and with the gate advantage if things break right, Junior Bug belongs in all your exotics.

show2Full MagazineML 12/1

Full Magazine (No. 2) is a sneaky show play at 12/1 morning line — a 69.94 TrackWiz rating is nearly identical to Junior Bug's, and a 54 average speed figure gives trainer Eddie Essenpreis's runner legitimate contention credentials. Ademar Santos picks up the mount, bringing some added confidence. At 12/1, this is exactly the kind of horse that pays a nice show price when it sneaks into the money, and the ratings suggest it's not as long as the morning line implies.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

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Bottom line: it's a clean, fast-track Tuesday at Fairmount with horses to like at every level of the card. Free Choice, Verrazano First, and Moonside Drive headline the free selections — all three offer genuine value at their respective morning lines. For the full picture, including McMoney's pace scenario and our exotic ticket breakdowns for the back half, subscribers have everything they need. Good luck out there — bet smart, manage your tickets, and enjoy the card.

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