Daily Picks

Finger Lakes Picks & Predictions — June 24, 2026

Wednesday, June 24, 20268 racesFinger Lakes

It's a pleasant Wednesday afternoon at Finger Lakes — partly cloudy skies and 72°F mean a comfortable day at the rail and, more importantly, a stable surface to handicap against. All eight races go on the dirt today, so surface consistency is your friend. No excuses for unexpected bias swings.

The card is a mix of Claiming and Allowance company, with a sprinkle of Allowance Optional Claiming action in Race 7 to keep things interesting. Eight races, a lot of moving parts, and TrackWiz analysis has lined up top picks across the full card — three of them available free to every reader, five more locked in for subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:55 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

A clear top-rated standout faces a competitive allowance field going a flat mile on dirt, but a trio of legitimate contenders makes the bottom of the ticket interesting.

win6LifeisbutadreamML 5/2

Lifeisbutadream is the class of this field by a wide margin, posting a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 — more than 17 points clear of the next rival. The 5/2 morning line is a fair price for a horse carrying a 20% career win rate and an average speed figure of 54, which matches the top end of this field. Trainer M. Anthony Ferraro and jockey Keiber J. Coa form a sharp combination, and at a mile on dirt this horse looks poised to get a ground-saving trip from post 6. Lay the foundation of your tickets around this one.

place4Sugartown SweetieML 3/1

Sugartown Sweetie brings the same 20% career win rate and 54 average speed as our top pick, but the 70.44 TrackWiz rating suggests there's a ceiling here at this level. Trainer Paul W. Barrow has her in good hands and the 3/1 morning line makes her a logical place anchor — she should be competitive for a slice of the pie even if she can't match Lifeisbutadream's raw rating.

show2Queen SallyML 5/1

Queen Sally is a quiet threat at 5/1 on the morning line, posting a 65.65 rating with a respectable 12% career win rate. She's worth including in exotics as a show hedge — the pace scenario at a mile could set up perfectly for a horse that saves ground early and finishes running. Don't overlook her in trifectas.

Race 2

5:24 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claimer over 5½ furlongs with an all-first-out field makes this a pure form projection exercise — speed figures and TrackWiz ratings are your best compass here.

win5FairweatherloverML 3/1

Fairweatherlover owns the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.08, a meaningful edge in a race where nobody has crossed the wire a winner yet. Trainer Beth Miller-Saul sends her out at 3/1 on the morning line, suggesting connections believe the time is now. Her 53 average speed figure is right in the pack, but the overall profile under jockey Joel Cruz makes her the safest foundation for win tickets in a wide-open maiden event.

place1Funny ForecastML 7/2

Funny Forecast gets a prime inside post with a 74.99 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and trainer Charlton Baker is a familiar name at Finger Lakes. The 7/2 morning line is honest, and Luis E. Perez gets a clean look from the rail in a sprint that should see early pace pressure. She's the natural backup to our top choice.

show2She's a GoddessML 5/2

She's a Goddess is 5/2 on the morning line despite a 57.50 TrackWiz rating, which suggests the morning-line maker sees something in her works or connections. Trainer M. Anthony Ferraro and Keiber J. Coa is a combo that fires regularly at this meet, and in a maiden race where chaos is always a factor, that rider-trainer relationship is worth a show spot in your exotics.

Race 3

5:53 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Fashionable Kitty stands out on ratings in a seven-horse claiming mile, but Esther's Salad and I Am Ev give the ticket real depth with above-average figures of their own.

win7Fashionable KittyML 4/1

Fashionable Kitty tops the TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 in this claiming mile, posting a 53 average speed figure that matches the top end of the field. The 4/1 morning line under J.M. Rohena for trainer Ralph D'Alessandro is a square price for the form standout. Her 7% career win rate is modest, but the overall rating edge over this field is significant enough to make her the clear top selection.

place2Esther's SaladML 6/1

Esther's Salad is a genuine value angle here at 6/1 on the morning line, carrying a 72.29 rating and a 12% career win rate — one of the better win percentages in this field. Trainer Rachel Sells keeps her sharp and Emanuel De Diego is a capable rider who can position from post 2. She's the most likely horse to chase down Fashionable Kitty if anything goes sideways.

show4I Am EvML 5/1

I Am Ev brings a 15% career win rate — tops in this field — with a 67.11 TrackWiz rating under trainer James S. Acquilano. The 5/1 price gives you a little room to breathe, and her profile as a horse that wins when she's right makes her a legitimate show hedge. Slot her into trifectas and exacta boxes to cover the race properly.

The free half of this card is genuinely worth your attention. Race 1 sets the tone: Lifeisbutadream draws our top rating at 87.81 in an Allowance mile — a strong number for this level at Finger Lakes, and the morning line of 5/2 suggests the market already respects this runner. If the pace setup plays to her strengths, she could wire the field before they know what hit them.

Race 2 shifts to maiden claiming sprinters at 5½ furlongs, where Fairweatherlover (87.08, 3/1 ML) leads our analysis — a competitive figure for a maiden field where raw ability often separates horses quickly out of the gate. Then Race 3 takes us back to the mile in Claiming company, where Fashionable Kitty (85.62, 4/1 ML) offers a touch of value over the morning line favorite. Three solid free plays, each on the dirt, each with a clear analytical edge backing the pick.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:22 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Charge Nurse and Lincolnville Beach set up a compelling trainer duel within the Englehart barn, making Race 4 one of the more intriguing claiming sprints on the card.

win3Charge NurseML 5/2

Charge Nurse is a standout on multiple levels — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating that ties for the highest mark of the entire day, paired with a jaw-dropping 38% career win rate that dwarfs everyone else in this six-furlong field. Trainer Jeremiah C. Englehart and jockey Andre Shivnarine Worrie form a sharp combo, and at 5/2 on the morning line, the favorite tag is well-earned. Her 53 average speed figure is competitive, and the class profile here screams win.

place5Lincolnville BeachML 7/2

Lincolnville Beach is the stable-mate you can't ignore — trainer Chris J. Englehart enters her alongside Charge Nurse, and she carries an 82.42 rating with a 17% career win rate. J.M. Rohena gets the call and the 7/2 morning line is fair. If the Englehart horses run 1-2, this is your exacta key — she's fast enough (54 average speed) to track down anything that fades.

show2Lady SerenityML 4/1

Lady Serenity rounds out the ticket at 4/1 with a 64.81 TrackWiz rating and a 16% career win rate under trainer Chris J. Englehart. Reylu Gutierrez picks up the mount from post 2, giving her an ideal trip in a six-furlong sprint. She's a legitimate show play in what shapes up as a pace-honest race.

Race 5

6:51 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

An eleven-horse claiming sprint is the deepest race of the day at Finger Lakes, with a cluster of high-rated horses making this a pace-scenario puzzle worth solving.

win2Doc AdvantageML 4/1

Doc Advantage earns our top spot with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating and a strong 20% career win rate for trainer Paul W. Barrow. Jeremias Flores takes the call from post 2 — a clean inside draw in a sprint with a big field — and his 54 average speed figure is right at the top of this competitive group. The 4/1 morning line is a fair number for a horse with this profile, and Barrow has been active at this meet with multiple entries today.

place11Az U Chase MeML 6/1

Az U Chase Me checks in at a 78.69 rating for trainer Chris J. Englehart, who also saddles In Sky We Trust in this race. J.M. Rohena takes the mount from post 11 — a wide draw that could cost her early ground but she's a horse capable of overcoming traffic in a sprint. Her 13% career win rate is solid, and the 6/1 morning line makes her an excellent exacta backup.

show10Solo's FuryML 6/1

Solo's Fury brings the highest average speed figure in the race at 55 — a small but meaningful edge in a claiming sprint — paired with a 75.34 TrackWiz rating. Keiber J. Coa picks up the ride for trainer Katlynn Gutterson, and the 6/1 morning line gives you some real overlay potential. She's the type who can sneak into third while the top two horses battle it out in front.

Race 6

7:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Well Suited sits atop the ratings in a nine-horse claiming sprint but faces a wide-open pace picture that could shuffle the order of finish in the stretch.

win9Well SuitedML 4/1

Well Suited posts the field's top TrackWiz rating at 85.62 for trainer John A. Grabowski, and Luis Pena gets the call from the outside post. The 4/1 morning line is fair — even generous given the rating edge — though a 6% career win rate is worth noting as a small caution flag. That said, ratings don't lie in claiming sprints, and the 53 average speed figure is right there with the best in the field.

place6MitwajidML 7/2

Mitwajid is a logical place play at 7/2 on the morning line — a 72.95 TrackWiz rating with a 14% career win rate gives him legitimate credentials. Trainer M. Anthony Ferraro keeps him competitive and Keiber J. Coa is one of the sharper riders at this meet. His 52 average speed is a tick below the leaders, which profiles him as a closer who could sneak into the exacta.

show5Mr. Sugar DaddyML 3/1

Mr. Sugar Daddy opens at 3/1 for trainer Paul W. Barrow — who has been active across the card today — with a 68.89 TrackWiz rating and a 53 average speed figure. Oscar Gomez gets a clean look from post 5, right in the middle of the field. He's the type of horse that hangs around and grabs third when the top pair duels it out, making him a natural trifecta inclusion.

Race 7

7:49 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Zi End carries a remarkable 62% career win rate into this Allowance Optional Claiming sprint, but Sutton Breeze at 12-1 is the kind of overlay that makes the exacta worth playing.

win4Zi EndML 3/1

Zi End is the most statistically dominant horse on this entire race card — a 62% career win rate is extraordinary at any level, and his 80.59 TrackWiz rating leads the field comfortably. Steven Fret takes the mount for trainer Debra A. Breed, and the 3/1 morning line is the right number for a horse that wins nearly two out of three starts. His 55 average speed ties for the best in the race and makes him the clear top choice in an allowance optional claiming sprint.

place2Sutton BreezeML 12/1

Sutton Breeze is the value play of the race — a 12/1 morning line looks too generous for a horse posting a 73.96 TrackWiz rating and a 33% career win rate. Trainer Dana Saul sends him out with Jose Baez up from post 2, and his 55 average speed figure matches the best in the field. In an optional claimer where horses can move up or down in class, Sutton Breeze has the raw numbers to outrun his odds. Play him underneath Zi End in exactas and you could cash a nice ticket.

show6Pompous PrinceML 5/2

Pompous Prince opens at 5/2 for trainer M. Anthony Ferraro with Keiber J. Coa aboard — a rider-trainer duo that has been sharp throughout today's card. His 69.21 TrackWiz rating and 25% career win rate make him a legitimate contender, and the 55 average speed figure keeps him in the mix. He's the chalk insurance play in your exotics if you're worried about Sutton Breeze's price.

Race 8

8:18 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Thrillswithnobills leads on ratings in the closing six-furlong claiming sprint, but Jessica's Ride and Celtic Ledger make this a legitimate three-horse battle worth structuring exotics around.

win5ThrillswithnobillsML 3/1

Thrillswithnobills tops the field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — tied for the highest of the entire card — under trainer Ronald Breed, Jr. with Oscar Gomez aboard from post 5. The 3/1 morning line is fair, and his 53 average speed figure leads the field. His 11% career win rate is modest but this rating edge in a claiming sprint is hard to fade as the card winds down.

place8Jessica's RideML 4/1

Jessica's Ride is a strong place contender with a 79.66 TrackWiz rating and a 16% career win rate — one of the better percentages in this field. Kevin Navarro gets the call for trainer Jonathan B. Buckley from post 8, which sets up a stalking trip in a six-furlong sprint. At 4/1 on the morning line she's fairly priced and is the natural exacta partner with Thrillswithnobills.

show4Celtic LedgerML 5/2

Celtic Ledger rounds out the ticket with a 78.05 TrackWiz rating and a 20% career win rate, giving trainer Jeremiah C. Englehart another live runner to close the card. Andre Shivnarine Worrie picks up the mount — the same jockey tapped for Charge Nurse in Race 4 — and the 5/2 morning line makes Celtic Ledger one of the more logical show plays of the day. In a three-horse race within a race, she's worth including in all your trifecta combinations.

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Bottom line: Lifeisbutadream is the marquee free play to watch in Race 1, with Fairweatherlover and Fashionable Kitty rounding out a compelling trio of free best bets. Five more races — including some prime exotics opportunities — are waiting for subscribers. It's a clean, fast-drying afternoon at Finger Lakes and the full card is ripe for the right approach. Let's get after it.

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