Daily Picks

Finger Lakes Picks & Predictions — May 25, 2026

Monday, May 25, 20268 racesFinger Lakes

Happy Memorial Day weekend, track fans. Finger Lakes is putting on an 8-race card this Monday, and with temperatures sitting at a comfortable 67°F under partly cloudy skies, conditions are about as cooperative as you can ask for heading into late May. The dirt should be running true, and that sets the table for some clean, honest speed figures to emerge today.

The card spans allowance, claiming, maiden, and stakes company — so there's something for every kind of handicapper. Whether you're grinding the exactas in the early races or zeroing in on the feature, TrackWiz has you covered from Race 1 through the finale.

Three races are open to everyone today, giving casual fans a genuine look at our process before the premium analysis kicks in for the back half of the card. Let's break it down.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:55 PM EDT

Allowance · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A TrackWiz top-rated standout faces a legitimate field in this 5½-furlong allowance opener, with the morning-line favorite and a lightly raced contender both lurking as threats.

win1Mia NipotinaML 7/2

Mia Nipotina carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 86.35 — a significant edge over her closest rivals — and trainer Rachel Sells sends her out from the rail with Luis E. Perez in the irons. The 7/2 morning line feels a touch generous for a horse whose composite profile towers above the competition. Her 6% career win rate is modest, but the overall rating suggests she's been competitive at a higher level and may find this spot to her liking.

place5Shaman PrincessML 5/2

Shaman Princess (5/2 ML) checks in with a solid 76.90 TrackWiz rating and one of the better average speed figures in the race at 55, which stands out in a field where most horses cluster around 52-53. Trainer Paul W. Barrow puts Reylu Gutierrez up, a capable rider at this circuit, and the morning line suggests the book agrees this filly belongs near the top of the wagering.

show4Lipan LawML 5/1

Lipan Law draws the 4-hole at 5/1 with a 70.53 rating and is trained by M. Anthony Ferraro, who keeps a busy and competitive barn here at Finger Lakes. Keiber J. Coa — one of the busiest riders on the grounds — gets the call, and a 15% career win rate gives this one legitimate credentials to hit the board at a price worth including in exotics.

Race 2

5:24 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Maiden claiming chaos over 5½ furlongs as the entire field is winless — pace, post, and trainer patterns will matter more than any form line in this wide-open opener for non-winners.

win2Candy Is DandyML 5/1

Candy Is Dandy is the clear top choice here with a TrackWiz rating of 84.17, the highest in this maiden claiming field by a healthy margin — but she's going off at 5/1 on the morning line, which is a genuine value discrepancy worth noting. Trained by David Oyola and handled by Emanuel De Diego, this one figures to be forwardly placed and the average speed figure of 51, while modest, is consistent with the field's overall profile. In a race full of question marks, a meaningful ratings edge like this is exactly the kind of angle TrackWiz analysis is built to find.

place5Crafty LawyerML 5/2

Crafty Lawyer opens at 5/2 as one of the morning-line favorites, and trainer Linda Rice — a sharp conditioner — has her in a spot to deliver. No prior speed figure on record, which in a maiden race can sometimes mean a horse is lightly tried and improving, and the 5/2 price reflects that the stable has some confidence here.

show3CrystalML 7/2

Crystal (7/2 ML) posts a 57.43 rating and an average speed of 52 under trainer Luis Gutierrez with Nazario Alvarado up. She's one of the more experienced-looking entrants in this field based on her figures, and a 7/2 ticket in a maiden race with this much uncertainty makes her a reasonable exotic include for players looking for value underneath.

Race 3

5:53 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Freedsdale enters this one-mile claiming test as a clear class standout on paper, but the pace scenario gets interesting with multiple mid-range horses capable of pressing the issue.

win5FreedsdaleML 3/1

Freedsdale is the most logical win play on the card with a 87.08 TrackWiz rating, a 28% career win rate — best in the field — and an average speed of 53. Trainer M. Anthony Ferraro and jockey Keiber J. Coa are a sharp combination at this meet, and at 3/1 on the morning line, the value is reasonable. The one-mile distance should suit a horse whose figures suggest he stays well.

place4Eric From MiamiML 5/1

Eric From Miami sits at 5/1 on the morning line with a 62.97 rating — third-best in the field — and trainer Timothy P. Murphy has two horses entered in this race, which signals stable confidence in both. Andre Shivnarine Worrie takes the mount, and an 8% career win rate in claiming company suggests this one has been competitive enough to hold a placing spot.

show2KismeholdmethrlmeML 6/1

Kismeholdmethrlme (6/1 ML) rates out at 59.19 with a 9% career win rate and a consistent average speed figure of 52. Trainer Rachel Sells is active at Finger Lakes and jockey Jeremias Flores gives this one a capable rider — at 6/1, there's enough value here to include in trifecta coverage.

Our free coverage today runs through the first three races, and there's a real thread connecting these picks. In Race 1 (Allowance, 5½ furlongs), Mia Nipotina draws our top rating at 86.35 against an open morning line of 7/2 — a price worth respecting in this company. Then in Race 2 (Maiden Claiming, 5½ furlongs), Candy Is Dandy tops the field at 84.17 and offers potential value at 5/1 on the morning line. Maiden claimers can be chaotic, but when pace and class line up cleanly, they're also where sharp bettors can find early-card edges.

Race 3 stretches things out to a mile on the dirt, and that's where Freedsdale catches our eye — an 87.08 rating is the highest mark among the free-race picks, and the 3/1 morning line suggests the market already respects this horse. Route races at a mile reward horses who rate off the pace, so keep an eye on the pace scenario when the gates open. These three races alone give you a legitimate head start on the afternoon.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:22 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Fiery Heart looks like a class standout in this 6-furlong claimer, but the 2/1 favorite G Munning and a pair of sneaky mid-price horses make this race more competitive than the top of the wagering might suggest.

win5Fiery HeartML 5/2

Fiery Heart is the top-rated horse in Race 4 with an 87.81 TrackWiz score — and a 35% career win rate that is simply elite for this level of claiming company. Kevin Navarro gets the mount for trainer Jonathan B. Buckley, and the 5/2 morning line actually offers mild value given the win percentage and rating edge. This filly has been knocking on the door far more often than she's been beaten.

place4G MunningML 2/1

G Munning opens as the morning-line favorite at 2/1 with a 66.21 rating and the best average speed figure in the race at 54. Timothy P. Murphy trains this one, and Michael A. Davila Jr. rides — Murphy has multiple runners in today's card and that kind of stable confidence is worth noting. The 10% career win rate is modest, but speed figure horses at shorter distances can earn checks even on off days.

show2Tommy the TorchML 7/2

Tommy the Torch (7/2 ML) rates at 60.64 with an average speed of 54 and a 16% career win rate that compares favorably to most of this field. Trainer Stacy Torelli puts Emanuel De Diego up, and the morning-line placement in the middle of the wagering board suggests this one is a genuine contender to hit the board rather than just fill out the field.

Race 5

6:51 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Nine go in this 6-furlong claimer and the top three TrackWiz-rated horses are priced between 7/2 and 6/1 — value hunters will love this race, and it sets up as a potential exacta bonanza.

win7Real EleveML 5/1

Real Eleve tops TrackWiz's ratings for this race at 84.17 and posts the highest average speed figure in the field at 54, yet she's sitting at a generous 5/1 morning line. Trainer Katlynn Gutterson saddles this one with Nazario Alvarado up, and a 7% career win rate in what appears to be a competitive background makes the current field look like a prime opportunity. When the top-rated horse with the best speed figure is also the third choice on the board, that's a value signal worth acting on.

place9PercyML 7/2

Percy comes in at 7/2 with an 83.57 rating that's just a tick below Real Eleve's, making this pair a formidable 1-2 combo at the top of the TrackWiz leaderboard. Trainer M. Anthony Ferraro and jockey Luis E. Perez are a well-connected team on this circuit, and while his 6% win rate looks low, the depth of his rating suggests he consistently runs big numbers without always closing the deal.

show6RedoubtableripkenML 6/1

Redoubtableripken (6/1 ML) rates at 79.00 — third-best in the field — and that's a meaningful gap from the rest of the contenders. Oscar Gomez takes the mount for trainer Matthew Clarke, and a 6% career win rate mirrors the top two picks, suggesting a horse that runs into traffic or has bad luck more than he deserves. At 6/1, the trifecta case is compelling.

Race 6

7:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

An eight-horse maiden special weight at 6 furlongs where two horses — Saratoga Sunset and Banking Silver — dominate the TrackWiz ratings and are setting up a potential top-two finish at the top of the card.

win5Saratoga SunsetML 3/1

Saratoga Sunset draws the 5-hole at 3/1 with an 83.33 TrackWiz rating, second only to Banking Silver in this maiden field, and Jeremias Flores picks up the mount for trainer Paul W. Barrow. In a maiden special weight race — where horses are of higher quality than maiden claiming — rating edges at 3/1 or better are where TrackWiz analysis consistently finds value. Her average speed figure of 52 is consistent with a horse who knows how to run.

place8Banking SilverML 2/1

Banking Silver (2/1 ML) is the morning-line favorite with an 81.04 rating and a 52 average speed, and trainer Rachel Sells has been active and competitive all card. Reylu Gutierrez is one of the sharper riders on the grounds and gets the assignment here — the 2/1 price makes a win bet less appealing, but Banking Silver is as solid a place ticket as you'll find today.

show7Kozy BeeML 4/1

Kozy Bee (4/1 ML) comes in with a 55.00 rating and the best average speed in the race at 54, which is an interesting disconnect — her speed stands out but the overall profile keeps her back in the pack. Trainer Katlynn Gutterson and jockey Steven Fret team up, and at 4/1 in an eight-horse maiden field, the show price should be generous enough to include in trifecta tickets.

Race 7

7:49 PM EDT

Stakes · 6 fur · Dirt

This 12-horse stakes race over 6 furlongs is the marquee event of the afternoon — Antonio of Venice is a clear TrackWiz top pick, but What's Up Bro and Hit the Post make this a legitimately three-way race at the top.

win1Antonio of VeniceML 3/1

Antonio of Venice checks in with the highest TrackWiz rating in this stakes field at 87.08, a 27% career win rate, and an average speed of 55 that ties for best in the race. Trainer Rudy R. Rodriguez puts Sofia Vives in the irons, and at 3/1 on the morning line, this is one of the cleaner overlays on today's card. In a 12-horse stakes field with plenty of longshots cluttering the bottom of the ratings, the top-rated horse at a fair price is exactly where you want to be.

place6What's Up BroML 6/1

What's Up Bro is the most compelling value angle in this stakes race — a 6/1 morning line with an 80.50 rating and a 31% career win rate that is the best in the entire field. Trainer Norman C. Follett has this horse flying under the radar, and Andre Shivnarine Worrie takes the mount. A horse winning nearly a third of career starts at 6/1 in a stakes race is the kind of overlay that makes exotic betting profitable.

show7Hit the PostML 4/1

Hit the Post (4/1 ML) rates at 79.72 — third in the race — and a 22% career win rate demonstrates consistent competitiveness. Trainer Melanie Giddings sends this one out with Christopher Elliott up, and in a deep 12-horse stakes field, trifecta-hitting probability is largely a function of rating depth. Hit the Post's figure and record both support a board finish.

Race 8

8:18 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The evening finale is an eight-horse, 6-furlong claimer where Khali's Dream holds a clear ratings edge over the field, though Lookin' Super and Nutsie give this race a legitimate three-way battle at the top.

win3Khali's DreamML 7/2

Khali's Dream posts an 86.35 TrackWiz rating — the highest in the field by more than 11 points — and a 19% career win rate that is right in line with the field's average, meaning this horse wins at a competitive clip. Trainer Chris J. Englehart sends out Andre Shivnarine Worrie, and at 7/2 on the morning line, the ratings advantage isn't being fully priced in. An average speed of 54 puts this one right in the mix on the front end, and the overall profile screams best bet of the race.

place5Lookin' SuperML 3/1

Lookin' Super (3/1 ML) rates at 74.81 with a 17% career win rate and a 54 average speed — solid across the board for a claiming horse at this level. Trainer Timothy P. Murphy has been one of the most active barns on the card all day, and Michael A. Davila Jr. picks up the mount. The morning-line favorite tag at 3/1 reflects legitimate form, and a place ticket here makes sense as an underneath part of exacta and trifecta plays.

show1NutsieML 6/1

Nutsie opens at 6/1 with a 69.07 rating and a 19% career win rate under trainer Ilmar Loaiza, with Nazario Alvarado doing the riding. The 6/1 price feels a little long for a horse rated this well relative to the mid-pack of the field, and in a three-horse exotics key structure, Nutsie is the logical show anchor to go along with the top two picks.

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Bottom line: it's a well-rounded 8-race card at Finger Lakes with manageable weather and a Stakes race that's worth circling on your program. Our top free plays — Mia Nipotina, Candy Is Dandy, and Freedsdale — give everyone a strong foundation to build a ticket around. For the full card, including Antonio of Venice in the feature and our complete exotic wagering strategy, subscribers get everything they need. Good luck out there today — race smart.

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