Unlock the other 5 races on today's card, plus AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet ticket construction.

The winner is in our top 4 picks 75% of the time, across 17 tracks.

Daily Picks

Fairmount Park Picks & Predictions — October 13, 2026

October 13, 20268 racesAll Fairmount Park picks

It's a warm Tuesday afternoon at Fairmount Park — clear skies, 88°F, and a fast dirt strip that should reward speed all day long. Eight races are on the board, ranging from maiden claimers to allowance optional claiming bouts, and our TrackWiz models have been churning through every angle to find the best plays.

The heat is worth noting. A baked-out, dry surface like you'd expect on a day like this tends to hold pace setters up front, so keep an eye on horses with early speed — they may get clear and coast today. We've flagged that bias throughout the card.

Three races are free and fully open to every TrackWiz reader. The other five are part of our premium full-card breakdown, where the real edge lives. Let's get into it.

Best Bets

Race 1

6:30 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claimer where two horses separate themselves from the pack on TrackWiz ratings, but the morning line tells a different story — setting up a potential overlay situation worth exploiting.

win6CheaterML EVN

Cheater draws the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 90 despite being listed at even money, suggesting the market and our model are aligned on this one. Trainer Heather Irion sends her out with jockey Brody Martinez, a reliable pairing. With an average speed figure of 53 matching several rivals, the edge here comes from overall profile and consistency metrics — this is a horse that projects to be in the mix from wire to wire in a thin maiden field.

place8Richochet RickML 3/2

Ricochet Rick is the morning-line favorite at 3/2 and carries an 84.9 TrackWiz rating, making him a logical backup to the top pick. His average speed figure of 53 ties the field's best marks, and Alexander Bendezu is one of the more capable riders on this circuit. If Cheater hits any trouble early, Ricochet Rick has the profile to capitalize.

show5Tap the PrizeML 12/1

Tap the Prize at 12/1 is the most intriguing third-place option in a race full of blanks. Trainer Anthony Blea III gets Emmanuel Giles aboard, and a 62.6 rating puts Tap the Prize clearly above the field's mid-tier. At double-digit odds, this horse offers real show-ticket value and sneaks into exacta and trifecta coverage at a price.

Race 2

6:55 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Bethy looms as the dominant force in this short-field claiming sprint, but the secondary spots are genuinely contested — Last Gasp's odds make the exotics worth building around.

win7BethyML 2/1

Bethy is the clear top selection here with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54, well clear of the field, and comes in at a fair 2/1 morning line. Trainer Frank C. Randazzo, Jr. knows how to place horses at this level, and jockey Brody Martinez should have no trouble navigating from the seven-hole. A 12% career win rate in the base stats might seem modest, but the overall profile and speed figure of 54 — among the field's best — point to a horse that should run a winning race here.

place2Last GaspML 10/1

Last Gasp at 10/1 is the value play in the undercard — a 17% career win rate is the second-best in the field and that's easy to overlook with the big odds. Trainer Scott Becker places this one with Victor Santiago, a solid mid-card combo. The rating of 68.44 puts Last Gasp solidly in contention, and at those odds, a place finish pays handsomely.

show5Reba AttackML 3/1

Reba Attack checks in at 3/1 on the morning line with a 54.04 rating and 13% career win rate — numbers that paint the picture of a consistent, competitive horse at this claiming level. Trainer Shane Childers and jockey Harold Joseph Ortega have the experience to position this one well in a short 5.5-furlong dash. Include Reba Attack in your exotics for a reliable show-price return.

Race 3

7:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Three horses bunch at the top of the TrackWiz ratings in this maiden special weight sprint, with Velvetfreeze, Wildwood Road, and Ridin Low forming a tight cluster — pace setup could decide who crosses first.

win8VelvetfreezeML 9/5

Velvetfreeze tops the TrackWiz ratings at 58.67 and draws the morning-line favoritism at 9/5, so the model and the oddsmakers agree. The best average speed figure in the field at 54 is a key edge in a maiden sprint where raw speed matters. Trainer James M. Watkins sends her out with Alvin Ortiz, and if she can get a clean trip from the eight-hole, she's got the numbers to run them all down.

place6Wildwood RoadML 5/2

Wildwood Road sits just a point behind Velvetfreeze on the TrackWiz scale at 57.5 and is on the board at 5/2 — this is a horse the market respects. Trainer Scott Becker has two runners in this race, and using Victor Santiago on Wildwood Road suggests this is the barn's primary hope. The lower average speed of 51 is a mild concern, but form and trainer intent could offset raw figures in a maiden field.

show4Ridin LowML 7/2

Ridin Low rounds out the top three at 55.83 on the TrackWiz scale and comes in at a fair 7/2. Trainer Ben Delong puts Victor Jadhir Bailon in the irons for a horse that posts a 53 average speed — respectable for this level. In a race where the top three are separated by fewer than three rating points, Ridin Low is a legitimate show contender and a key trifecta piece.

Our three free picks today span the opening half of the card and cover a nice cross-section of race types. Cheater opens the day at even money in the maiden claimer — that morning line is tight, but our rating of 90 backs up the market respect. In Race 2, Bethy goes postward at 2/1 in a 5½-furlong claiming sprint, and on a speed-friendly surface in this heat, her profile sets up well. Race 3 brings a Maiden Special Weight at 5½ furlongs, where Velvetfreeze at 9/5 is our top selection — though the lower confidence rating here signals a more competitive field worth watching closely.

The through-line across these three free races: the fast, dry Fairmount surface likely benefits horses that can get to the front or stalk a hot pace without burning up. All three of our free picks have the tactical speed to do exactly that.

Send me tomorrow's free Fairmount Park card before post time.

Free picks in your inbox each morning. No card required, unsubscribe anytime.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

7:45 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Turtle Pace enters this allowance optional claimer as a short-priced favorite backed by the field's highest TrackWiz rating, but Miss Duquoin looms as a dangerous second choice that exotics players won't want to leave out.

win5Turtle PaceML 6/5

Turtle Pace owns the field's top rating at 89.71 and carries a 20% career win rate — that's a winning combination in a seven-horse spot. Trainer Scott Becker ships in Victor Santiago, and the horse's average speed of 54 is the best in the field. At 6/5 on the morning line, there's limited win-bet value, but the profile here is about as clean as it gets for a race of this type.

place6Miss DuquoinML 5/2

Miss Duquoin at 5/2 is the most logical backup with an 80.77 rating and a matching 20% career win rate — she's essentially a co-contender on paper. Trainer John Rednour, Jr. loads Harold Joseph Ortega into the saddle, and at 5.5 furlongs, pace scenarios should set up for a presser. If Turtle Pace stumbles or gets into trouble, Miss Duquoin is right there.

show3TryML 5/1

Try is the sleeper in this field at 5/1 despite posting a 70.39 TrackWiz rating — third-best overall. The 4% career win rate is low, but trainer John C. Wainwright has a live horse in Alexander Bendezu, one of the sharper riders on the card today. Try projects as a solid exotic inclusion and a reasonable show-ticket play at a price that beats the top two.

Race 5

8:10 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Scott Becker sends out two top contenders in this allowance sprint, with Summer Cyclone and Wildwood Bell forming a barn-controlled one-two scenario — this race could come down to how much ground the closers can make up.

win2Summer CycloneML 9/5

Summer Cyclone tops the TrackWiz ratings at 88.83 and owns the field's best average speed figure at 57 — that's a significant edge at six furlongs. A 25% career win rate matches stablemate Wildwood Bell, but the speed figure advantage is the separating factor. Trainer Scott Becker sends Victor Santiago aboard, and this pairing looks dialed in for a big performance.

place1Wildwood BellML 2/1

Wildwood Bell sits at 75.18 on the TrackWiz scale with that same 25% career win rate, making her a legitimate danger if Summer Cyclone faces any pace pressure. Alexander Bendezu gets the mount for trainer Becker, and the inside post at 2/1 means she could control or sit just off the pace. Stablemates don't always cooperate in the same race, but both horses are live — framing Wildwood Bell as the place horse makes sense structurally.

show5I'm Thisty KidML 8/1

I'm Thisty Kid at 8/1 is the most compelling third choice in the field with a 71.33 rating and 9% career win rate. Trainer Harry E. Lynch sends Johanis Aranguren out on a horse that figures to be grinding late in a six-furlong dirt sprint. If the Becker pair go head-to-head up front and flatten out, I'm Thisty Kid is poised to swoop in for the show spot — and those odds make the show ticket worth it.

Race 6

8:35 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

This one-mile-plus claiming route has genuine depth, with South of Birminham sitting atop the TrackWiz ratings despite not being the morning-line favorite — creating a potential overlay in what shapes up as a genuinely contested pace scenario.

win2South of BirminhamML 4/1

South of Birminham carries the field's top TrackWiz rating at 82.48 and goes at 4/1 on the morning line — that's the kind of gap between model and market that TrackWiz analysis looks for. Trainer Gene J. Sandrowski has Javier Tavares up on a horse with a 10% career win rate, modest but workable at this claiming level. The average speed figure of 53 fits the pace profile, and at a route distance, class and stamina matter as much as raw speed.

place5RecauseML 8/1

Recause is a fascinating second choice at 8/1 — a 22% career win rate is the field's best and it's arriving at those odds because the recent form may have cooled market interest. Trainer John C. Wainwright drops Javier Diego on a horse that clearly knows how to win at this level. A rating of 79.79 puts Recause right in striking range of the top pick, and the price makes this a value play across the board.

show1SpoonieML 5/2

Spoonie opens at 5/2 as one of the lower-priced horses but checks in at 72.06 on the TrackWiz scale — third-best in the field. Trainer Ben Delong and jockey Brody Martinez are a familiar combo at Fairmount, and a 9% career win rate is consistent without being flashy. At a route trip, Spoonie's profile suggests a horse that can sit behind the pace and hit the board when the pace collapses.

Race 7

9:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A loaded nine-horse claiming sprint with legitimate contenders spread from the 2-hole to the 9-hole — Galantini tops the ratings but faces Splendor Glow and Big N Slow in what could be a pace battle that sets up for a closer.

win9GalantiniML 5/2

Galantini leads the field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and posts the top average speed figure at 54, tied with Splendor Glow. Trainer James M. Watkins doubles up in this race and clearly pegs Galantini as the primary weapon with Julio E. Felix getting the call. The 5% career win rate will raise eyebrows at 5/2, but the overall profile and speed model back this as the legitimate top choice.

place7Splendor GlowML 3/1

Splendor Glow is arguably the most complete horse on paper with a 22% career win rate — the best among the top three picks — and an 82.35 TrackWiz rating to match. Miguel Fernandez gets the mount for trainer Watkins, and at 3/1, this one has real value if Galantini gets caught wide or faces early pressure. A horse that wins 22% of the time at this level is rarely worth fading in the exotics.

show8Big N SlowML 2/1

Big N Slow sits at 2/1 on the morning line and carries a 76.23 rating — solid, but third among the top three by a meaningful gap. Trainer Pat Clay and jockey Brody Martinez are a seasoned combination, and a 12% career win rate at this claiming level is honest form. Big N Slow likely enters as an off-pace type who could sweep up late if the pace collapses, making it a natural show anchor.

Race 8

9:25 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

Lookin for Bala enters this starter allowance as a near-prohibitive favorite and the model agrees completely — but the real handicapping work here is identifying the best backup horses for exacta and trifecta coverage.

win5Lookin for BalaML 1/2

Lookin for Bala is the top-rated horse in today's entire card with a 90 TrackWiz rating, and the 1/2 morning line reflects just how dominant this horse's profile is. A 34% career win rate — tied for field-best — combined with the top average speed figure of 55 makes this a near-automatic selection. Trainer Ralph Martinez keeps the mount in-house with Brody Martinez, and in a starter allowance, this horse simply outclasses the field on every metric we track.

place3Strange ArrangeML 9/2

Strange Arrange at 9/2 is the logical backup with a 70.56 rating and a 34% career win rate that matches the heavy favorite — arguably the best second choice in any race on today's card. Trainer Eduardo Rodriguez sends Johanis Aranguren on a horse that has proven it knows how to win. If Lookin for Bala runs into any issue — bad start, traffic, pace meltdown — Strange Arrange is right there to collect.

show2Via Del CorsoML 10/1

Via Del Corso checks in at 10/1 with a 69.31 rating and an impressive 29% career win rate, which is the third-best in the field by a thin margin. Trainer Harold Mosier has Alexander Bendezu in the irons, and a 54 average speed matches the class of this starter allowance group. At double-digit odds, Via Del Corso is excellent trifecta value — a horse with a 29% win rate rarely hangs around the show spot without notice.

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Bottom line for today at Fairmount: the hot, dry conditions point toward a speed-favoring track, and our top plays — Cheater, Bethy, and Velvetfreeze — are free and ready to go. For the deeper card, including Lookin for Bala in the finale and our full exotic ticket breakdowns, that's all in the premium analysis. Good luck out there, and as always — bet smart, bet informed.

← All Fairmount Park picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 8 races free