Finger Lakes Picks & Predictions — June 22, 2026

Thetribehasspoken is only a whisker behind Sliceaway with an 86.04 vs. 85.62 rating split — this is essentially a photo at the top. Trainer Troy Smith puts Reylu Gutierrez up, an experienced hand who will use the mile distance to his advantage with a patient trip. At 4/1 on the morning line, Thetribehasspoken offers better value than the favorite for place wagers and is a strong candidate to be involved at the wire.

Saratoga Sunset rounds out a remarkably tight top three with an 85.10 rating — only 0.94 behind our win pick. Trainer Paul W. Barrow sends her out at 7/2, and Jeremias Flores takes the mount in what looks like a legitimate contention spot. In a race this close at the top, using all three of these horses in trifecta combinations is smart handicapping — the margins here are razor thin.

Trinity River comes in at 5/2 — actually the tightest morning line in the field — and represents Michael S. Ferraro's primary bullet, as the trainer also runs Almez. An average speed figure of 52 is respectable, and the 63.81 TrackWiz rating puts her squarely in the board-hitting conversation. The public clearly respects this one, and pairing her underneath Mo Mahomie in exactas at that price makes sense.

Almez is the second Ferraro entry at 6/1 and carries a 61.41 rating — marginally ahead of Wisecracker and Salty Ryan in the tier just below the top pair. Sofia Vives picks up the mount, and having two horses in a seven-horse field for the same trainer creates interesting pace management possibilities. At 6/1 for a show position, Almez offers nice overlay potential in trifecta plays if you're using the top two confidently.

High End carries an 82.88 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and trainer Michael S. Ferraro places him at 9/2, a fair price for a horse with legitimate talent indications. Luis E. Perez, one of the more active jockeys in the Finger Lakes colony, takes the call. High End's average speed figure of 53 is right in the competitive zone, and if Banking Silver gets away clean on the front end, High End has the profile to chase and grab second.

Rock Steady Babe opens at 3/1, making him the morning line favorite despite ranking third in our ratings at 77.00 — the public likes this one, and trainer Charlton Baker has him at a competitive 54 average speed figure. Andre Shivnarine Worrie, who has been active and productive throughout this card, takes the mount. The 3/1 price reflects legitimate public confidence, and including him in trifecta fills is a sound approach given the wide-open nature of the underneath.

Almendro opens at 3/1 and carries a 71.24 TrackWiz rating — second in the field — along with a 19% career win rate that ranks among the highest in this claiming bunch. Trainer Stephen P. Ubbink conditions a horse that clearly knows where the finish line is, and Jacqueline A. Davis makes a confident selection here. Almendro's average speed figure of 54 matches the top runners, and at 3/1 he's a legitimate contender who may only be a win away from reversing his last run.

Mayheminthepalace deserves attention as the third wheel in your multi-race sequences — a 62.21 rating, a 17% career win rate, and the highest average speed figure in the field at 55 make him a legitimate show threat at 5/1. Trainer Ilmar Loaiza sends him out with Oscar Gomez aboard, a combination that tends to show up ready. That 55 speed figure is a small but real differentiator, and in a closely matched claiming field, a tick of extra raw speed can mean a photo at the wire.

Sweet Tone opens at 4/1 and carries an 82.21 rating — only two points behind our win pick — making the value case almost as strong for the place spot. Trainer Rafael Jose Rohena puts Luis E. Perez up, and that combination has shown an ability to find the board in routes. The 3% career win rate is unusually low, but in a route of this length it suggests a horse that may be developing — and a place bet doesn't require a front-running trip.

Cryster rates third in this field at 76.67 and carries an impressive 20% career win rate — the highest among any of our top three selections in this race. Trainer Paul W. Barrow gets Jeremias Flores in the saddle, and with a morning line of 6/1, Cryster represents the kind of reliable veteran type that hits the board in allowance routes at regional tracks. Use him underneath in trifectas and don't be surprised if he shows up at a price.

Im Gunna sits second on our ratings at 78.63 with an average speed figure of 53, and trainer Troy Smith has him at a 7/2 morning line that represents solid value for a place wager. Laird O. Bailey picks up the mount, and while Im Gunna's rating trails the favorite by a notable margin, the gap to the rest of the field is comfortably wider. If Runaway Roscoe is your banker, Im Gunna is the logical second horse to fill out your exactas.

Pauper King opens at 5/1 and carries a 57.98 TrackWiz rating — third in the field, though there's a real step down from Im Gunna to this tier. Trainer Michael S. Ferraro, who has been active throughout the card, sends him out with Luis E. Perez up. The 52 average speed figure is competitive enough to sneak into the bottom of the exotics, and at 5/1 for the show slot, Pauper King offers a reasonable risk-reward profile to close out your trifecta ticket.