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Finger Lakes Picks & Predictions — August 4, 2026

August 4, 20268 racesAll Finger Lakes picks

This card ran on August 4, 2026.

Best bets at Finger Lakes, August 4, 2026

Race 16Go YoshidaML 2/112:55 PM EDT

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 6 races are for members.

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Last 30 days at Finger Lakes: our top pick won 11 of 58 races (19%) and finished in the money in 33.

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It's a beautiful Tuesday at Finger Lakes — clear skies, 79°F, and a fast Dirt surface that should reward horses with tactical speed all afternoon. Eight races are on the menu, and the conditions are about as clean as you'll get at the Canandaigua oval this time of year.

The card leans heavily on Claiming company, with six of the eight races run at that level, which means class movement is going to be a recurring storyline. Two Allowance spots — Race 1 and Race 7 — bookend the day and give us the most reliable form to work with. If you're building multi-race tickets, those two anchors deserve your attention first.

TrackWiz analysis has flagged eight top picks across the full card. Let's break down what's free, what's behind the paywall, and why today's card is worth your time from the first post to the nightcap.

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Race 1

12:55 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

A clear top-rating standout at the top of this allowance mile-and-a-sixteenth, but two live contenders lurk underneath and could make the exacta interesting.

win6Go YoshidaML 2/1

Go Yoshida (6) carries the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 88.54 and draws in as the 2/1 morning-line favorite under Keiber J. Coa for trainer M. Anthony Ferraro. The pace scenario over 1 1/16 miles on dirt should suit a horse with this kind of composite profile — the distance asks for class and stamina, and the rating edge here is substantial. A 17% career win rate may look modest, but at allowance level these numbers translate well, and the Coa-Ferraro combo at Finger Lakes is one to respect.

place1MandalorianML 4/1

Mandalorian (1) is the most interesting counter-punch in this race, posting a career win rate of 40% — by far the best in the field — and a solid 80.15 TrackWiz rating under Emanuel De Diego. The 4/1 morning line represents fair value given that strike rate, and the 1 1/16-mile dirt trip looks right in his wheelhouse. If Go Yoshida gets pressured early, Mandalorian has the pedigree of a winner to swoop late.

show3Burn NoticeML 5/1

Burn Notice (3) checks in at a 76.26 rating and a 25% career win mark, giving trainer Michael S. Ferraro a second bite at the apple in this race alongside stablemate Sanzio. Reylu Gutierrez picks up the mount, and that's an upgrade worth noting. At 5/1, Burn Notice is a reasonable exotic inclusion — the rating gap between him and the top two isn't wide enough to leave him off your tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

1:24 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Real Eleve stands out on the numbers in this dirt claiming route, but the morning line has the favorite at 4/1 — meaning there's legitimate value if the rating holds up.

win2Real EleveML 4/1

Real Eleve (2) tops this field with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating and the field's best average speed figure at 53, giving trainer Katlynn Gutterson a well-positioned runner at 4/1 on the morning line. Jacqueline A. Davis has been busy at this meet and knows the Finger Lakes strip. In a claiming route over a mile and 70 yards, the ability to sustain speed matters most — and Real Eleve's profile says she's capable of doing exactly that.

place4RedoubtableripkenML 8/1

Redoubtableripken (4) is the speed horse to watch here, posting the field's top average speed figure at 54 — a tick above the rest of the field. Oscar Gomez gets the call for trainer Matthew Clarke, and at 8/1 on the morning line, there's overlay potential if the pace scenario sets up for him. The 78.47 rating and 11% career win rate make him a logical exacta partner with Real Eleve.

show1StjamesML 5/2

Stjames (1) opens as the 5/2 second choice despite carrying a modest 5% career win rate, which tells you the morning-line maker respects something in the recent form. The 69.94 rating isn't flashy, but Jeremias Flores is sharp on this circuit and trainer Rachel Sells keeps her horses fit. In a claiming race where pace can collapse, a closer type with a live jockey is always worth a show investment.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

The first three races are open to everyone, and they give us a solid cross-section of what to expect today. Go Yoshida opens the card as the morning-line favorite in Race 1's Allowance at 1 1/16 miles — a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 makes that 2/1 look fair, but not generous. In Race 2, Real Eleve draws our eye as a 4/1 shot on the morning line in a Claiming mile-plus route — that's the kind of price that can deliver real value if the pace scenario sets up right. And in Race 3, Esther's Salad matches Go Yoshida's 88.54 rating at the same 2/1 morning line, giving us back-to-back top-rated picks at identical odds to close out the free portion of the card.

One angle worth noting across all three: the dry, fast Dirt surface today tends to favor horses that can press or stalk a pace rather than closers hunting ground from deep. Keep that in mind as you assess each free race — position on the first turn matters on a day like this.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

1:53 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Esther's Salad looks like a class standout in this dirt claiming mile, but Fashionable Kitty and Soho Nights are closely matched and could make the place and show positions competitive.

win1Esther's SaladML 2/1

Esther's Salad (1) leads all comers with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and draws in as the 2/1 morning-line favorite for trainer Rachel Sells under Luis E. Perez. A 11% career win rate is offset by the sheer rating advantage — she's nearly 24 points clear of her nearest rivals. Perez is a capable pilot at this level, and a one-turn mile on Finger Lakes dirt is a surface and distance profile that suits horses who can rate and fire.

place4Fashionable KittyML 4/1

Fashionable Kitty (4) holds a 65.05 rating and comes in at 4/1, giving trainer Ralph D'Alessandro a runner who grades out a step above Soho Nights despite the similar odds. J. M. Rohena picks up the mount, and the 6% career win rate is the one knock — but in claiming company, fresh horses with live speed figures can outperform that number. She's worth keying underneath Esther's Salad in exactas.

show3Soho NightsML 7/2

Soho Nights (3) brings a 22% career win rate — second-best in the field — and a 64.07 rating that puts her just a nose behind Fashionable Kitty. Trainer Thalia Areche also has Tomaki in the race, which means this barn came prepared. At 7/2, Soho Nights is a legitimate show play and a tri component if the top two hold their positions.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 4

2:22 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Doc Advantage looks like a standout in a six-furlong dirt claiming sprint, but The Institute's 19% career win rate makes the underneath positions genuinely competitive.

win2Doc AdvantageML 2/1

Doc Advantage (2) is the class of this field on every measurable metric — an 88.54 TrackWiz rating, the field's best average speed figure at 55, and an 18% career win rate. Jeremias Flores has been reliable at Finger Lakes, and trainer Paul W. Barrow sent him in here for a reason. Six furlongs on dirt at Finger Lakes is a sharp sprint distance, and a horse with Doc Advantage's raw speed numbers should be able to get to the front or stalk and pounce.

place5The InstituteML 4/1

The Institute (5) brings a 19% career win rate — highest in the field — and a 66.06 rating that's well clear of the bottom half. Luis E. Perez gets the call for trainer Michael S. Ferraro, a barn that already has multiple runners on today's card, suggesting confident form. At 4/1, The Institute is a live place horse who could challenge Doc Advantage if the favorite gets into any kind of trouble in the early going.

show1Solo's FuryML 5/1

Solo's Fury (1) checks in at a 56.12 rating and a 12% career win rate, which is modest but functional at this claiming level. Trainer Katlynn Gutterson and jockey J. M. Rohena give this horse a competent team, and a rail draw in a six-furlong sprint can be an asset at Finger Lakes. At 5/1, Solo's Fury is a reasonable show play and a trifecta fill if the top two run as expected.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 5

2:51 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

This wide-open 5½-furlong claiming sprint features four horses clustered tightly in the high-80s to low-60s rating range — pace will be chaotic and the outcome could go several ways.

win8Practical RachelML 6/1

Practical Rachel (8) leads TrackWiz's rankings with an 82.71 rating and an average speed figure of 54, and she's priced at 6/1 on the morning line — making her a genuine value play. Trainer Ilmar Loaiza puts Nazario Alvarado up, and in a field this competitive, having the top-rated horse going off at a generous price is exactly the kind of edge TrackWiz analysis is built to find. A 5½-furlong sprint on dirt rewards raw speed, and Practical Rachel has it.

place10KaymusML 3/1

Kaymus (10) sits just a tick below the top rating at 81.71 and boasts the field's best career win rate at 22%, giving trainer Ralph D'Alessandro a live runner under Keiber J. Coa. The 3/1 morning line makes him the chalk, and that win percentage is genuinely impressive in a field this size. If Practical Rachel gets caught up in a pace duel, Kaymus has the tactical versatility to navigate traffic and hit the board.

show2Ace Up Her SleeveML 5/1

Ace Up Her Sleeve (2) rates at 81.48 — essentially deadlocked with the top two — and draws trainer Chris J. Englehart, who is sharp at this level. Reylu Gutierrez takes the mount at 5/1, and in a race where pace could collapse in the stretch, a horse with this kind of rating in the middle of the field is a natural show and trifecta play. The 10% career win rate is the one concern, but the speed figures say she belongs.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 6

3:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Two horses separate themselves from the pack in this six-furlong dirt claiming sprint — Khali's Dream and Breaking Stones are nearly inseparable on the ratings, and whoever gets the better trip likely wins.

win1Khali's DreamML 3/1

Khali's Dream (1) tops the field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and a 17% career win rate, heading postward at 3/1 for trainer Chris J. Englehart. Andre Shivnarine Worrie takes the call, and a rail draw in a six-furlong dirt sprint at Finger Lakes is nothing to complain about. The average speed figure of 54 ties several horses in the field, but the rating edge and Englehart's overall form give Khali's Dream the nod.

place7Breaking StonesML 5/2

Breaking Stones (7) is right on Khali's Dream's heels at 86.67 and carries the field's highest average speed figure at 55 — a meaningful edge in a short sprint where early fractions matter. Jeremias Flores gets the mount for trainer Paul W. Barrow, a combination that has already landed a win pick today with Doc Advantage in Race 4. At 5/2, Breaking Stones is the key exacta partner and a legitimate alternative win candidate if pace sets up outside.

show4Double ShotML 4/1

Double Shot (4) rates at 58.68 with a 17% career win rate that matches Khali's Dream, and trainer David Oyola also sends Max Foster — suggesting the barn arrived confident. Michael A. Davila, Jr. has the call at 4/1, and while Double Shot can't match the top two on raw figures, a horse with that win percentage in claiming company rarely gets completely buried. A solid show play and a trifecta fill against the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 7

3:49 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

A tightly bunched allowance field going 1 1/16 miles on dirt, with four horses within five points of each other in the ratings — pace and trip will likely determine the order of finish.

win6Reign It InML 4/1

Reign It In (6) tops our TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 and goes postward at 4/1, making this horse both the top-rated runner and a value play relative to the 8/5 morning-line chalk. Trainer Charlton Baker sends Andre Shivnarine Worrie up, and in a field where four horses are clustered from 80.23 to 85.62, the rating edge — slim as it is — still matters. At 4/1 odds for the field's best-rated horse, this is exactly the kind of overlay spot TrackWiz analysis targets.

place3Hey PalML 5/2

Hey Pal (3) checks in at 82.96 — second in the field — under Keiber J. Coa for trainer M. Anthony Ferraro, who has runners scattered across today's card in strong form. The 5/2 morning line makes Hey Pal the second choice, and a 12% career win rate in allowance company is respectable. As a closer type with Coa in the saddle, he's dangerous if the pace scenario opens up in the stretch run.

show5Asset ManagementML 7/2

Asset Management (5) rates at 81.10 with a 14% career win rate — the second-best strike rate among the top four in this race. Trainer Michael S. Ferraro puts Sofia Vives in the irons at 7/2, and this horse's profile screams consistent performer in a grind-it-out allowance mile. At that price, Asset Management is a must-include in any trifecta tickets using Reign It In or Hey Pal on top.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 8

4:18 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Nurse Bunny stands out sharply in this ten-horse 5½-furlong dirt claiming sprint, but Thin Legs and Diva Banker offer competitive underneath options in what could be a fast-paced affair.

win8Nurse BunnyML 3/1

Nurse Bunny (8) carries an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — tops in a large, competitive field — and heads to post at 3/1 under Kevin Navarro for trainer Paul W. Barrow, who has been busy and effective throughout this card. With a 10% career win rate, the raw strike rate isn't eye-popping, but the rating advantage over the next group is meaningful. In a 5½-furlong sprint with ten horses, getting away cleanly from post 8 is the main challenge, and Navarro is experienced enough to handle it.

place5Thin LegsML 7/2

Thin Legs (5) brings a 21% career win rate — highest in this field — and an average speed figure of 54 that matches the top contenders. Trainer James S. Acquilano gives Michael A. Davila, Jr. a live chance at 7/2, and in a sprint this contentious, a horse with that kind of historical strike rate is never far off the pace. The 71.90 rating trails Nurse Bunny by 15 points, but the career win percentage says Thin Legs finds a way to the winner's circle more often than not.

show3Diva BankerML 4/1

Diva Banker (3) rates at 71.59 with a 13% career win rate and draws trainer David Oyola, who also saddles runners in Race 6 — a trainer putting multiple horses on the card usually means confident form. Joel Cruz picks up the mount at 4/1, and the inside post at 5½ furlongs on dirt is a natural advantage in terms of saving ground. A pace scenario where speed horses duel to the top of the lane is exactly when a horse like Diva Banker picks up the pieces.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

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Bottom line: Go Yoshida is the top-rated horse on the card and the natural starting point for any single-race wager today. Real Eleve at 4/1 in Race 2 is the best free value play on the board. And if you're playing the full card, Practical Rachel at 6/1 in Race 5 is the longshot angle our premium subscribers won't want to miss. Head to /pricing to unlock the complete breakdown — posts go up fast on a clear-sky Tuesday at the Finger Lakes.

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