Fairmount Park Picks & Predictions — August 8, 2026

Look N Mighty Fine (No. 4) is the public favorite at 4/5 and her TrackWiz rating of 67.01 makes her a legitimate threat to beat Sweet Skylar if anything goes sideways. Julio E. Felix aboard for trainer James M. Watkins keeps her in competent hands, and her average speed figure of 53 is in line with the pace of this race. The 4/5 price doesn't offer a lot of win value, but she's a sensible place component in all your exotics.

Prairie Brat (No. 1) is an intriguing inclusion at 8/1 — the TrackWiz rating of 64.03 makes her the third-best figure in the race, and at that price she represents real value for show bettors and trifecta players. Angel Ortega Stanley picks up the mount for trainer George Blatchford, who also saddles Presleys Volley in this race. The outside price means she's likely underlaid by public money on the top two, making her a smart hedge underneath.

Via Del Corso (No. 1) brings the most impressive career win percentage of any top contender here at 33%, and his TrackWiz rating of 81.67 slots him comfortably into the second tier. Trainer Harold Mosier sends him out with Brody Martinez, who knows how to position a horse in a sprint. The rail post at 5/1 could be a factor early, but Via Del Corso's win record suggests a horse who competes hard and gets his share of the pie.

Bernie Lomax (No. 4) rates at 80.83 — nearly matching the top two contenders — and his 23% career win rate with an average speed figure of 55 makes him a legitimate player in this field. Frank Reyes rides for Maximino Quinonez, and at 5/1 the price is friendlier than you might expect for a horse with these credentials. If the pace gets hot between the top contenders early, Bernie Lomax could be the one finishing strongest at the wire.

Here Comes Braylon (No. 6) rates third in the field at 77.83 but brings a 22% career win rate and an average speed figure of 55 — suggesting a horse who runs consistently close to peak form. Travis Wales gets the mount for trainer Heather Irion, and at 3/1 on the morning line, Here Comes Braylon is a horse who needs to be in your exacta combinations. The slight edge in raw speed figures over much of this field is encouraging.

Kazoom (No. 5) is a genuine value play at 10/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 74.35 — that's third-best in a competitive allowance optional claiming field. The 20% career win rate and an average speed figure of 56, which is actually the best pure number among the top contenders, suggests there's more upside here than the morning line implies. Trainer Eduardo Rodriguez, who also saddles Good to Be Prince in this race, clearly likes this spot. At double-digit odds, Kazoom belongs in your trifectas.

Into Golden Road (No. 7) is separated from the top pick by just 0.24 rating points at 82.71, making this as close a top-two as you'll find on the card. Alexander Bendezu, one of the more reliable riders in this meet, takes the mount for Arthur A. Coontz, and the 6/1 morning line is a shade of value given how close this horse rates to the top pick. At those odds in a two-horse battle at the top, there's real exacta value boxing these two.

No Pay No Hay (No. 2) is an interesting piece at 8/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 70.15 — that's a clear step below the top two, but a meaningful jump above the rest of the field. Trainer Steve Manley puts Johanis Aranguren on board, and a 6% career win rate is low but the rating suggests much better performances are on the way. At 8/1, this horse has enough ability to sneak into the money if either of the top two has any trouble.

Earl's Outlaw (No. 4) is just 2.7 rating points behind the top pick at 82.92, and his average speed figure of 58 is by far the best raw number in this entire field. Jockey Javier Tavares picks up the mount for trainer Gabe Retana, and the 5/2 morning line reflects public confidence — but at a mile, a horse with a 58 speed figure average has legitimate upside to outrun even these odds. He's your key horse in exactas underneath Itdontcomeeasy.

Illini Red (No. 8) slots in at 9/2 on the morning line with a solid TrackWiz rating of 62.6 and a 14% career win rate that quietly gets the job done at this level. Johanis Aranguren rides for trainer Steve Manley — a familiar pairing — and the average speed figure of 53 suggests a consistent, reliable type who shows up every time. In a wide-open 11-horse field going a full mile, having a consistent closer as your show hedge is smart money.

Summer Cyclone (No. 4) brings the most eye-catching raw speed figure in the race at 60 — actually the highest average speed number in the entire field — and a TrackWiz rating of 56.67. Victor Santiago rides for Scott Becker, who is a trainer comfortable running horses in maiden special weight company at Fairmount. At 3/1, Summer Cyclone is the most likely horse to push My Last Escapade and hold second comfortably.

Dandy Ruby (No. 6) rates at 55 for trainer Scott Becker — who has two horses in this race — with Harold Joseph Ortega in the saddle. As a 4/1 shot, she offers solid value in a field where most horses are unproven, and Becker's familiarity with maiden special weight spots at this track is a real angle. In a race this unpredictable, having two Scott Becker runners to key for trifectas is worth the investment.