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Finger Lakes Picks & Predictions — September 16, 2026

September 16, 20268 racesAll Finger Lakes picks

This card ran on September 16, 2026.

Best bets at Finger Lakes, September 16, 2026

Race 13SchlomoML 3/112:55 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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Finger Lakes rolls out an 8-race Wednesday card and the conditions are about as cooperative as you'll get this deep into the meet — cloudy skies, 75°F, and a dirt surface that should play fair all afternoon. No rain in the picture means the strip stays consistent, and that's good news for speed figures you can actually trust.

The card leans heavily on dirt routes, with four races going at least a mile. That sets up some interesting pace dynamics — especially in the allowance spots where class and stamina tend to separate contenders from pretenders. There's also a Starter Optional Claiming race in Race 7 that often produces sharp betting action from horsemen who know exactly what they have.

TrackWiz has three races open to all readers today and five more locked in for subscribers. Whether you're playing the whole card or just looking for a spot play or two, there's plenty to work with here.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:55 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A clear class standout emerges in this mile claiming opener, but the Kantarmaci barn sends out two runners that could complicate matters and muddy the exacta.

win3SchlomoML 3/1

Schlomo (#3) is the most dominant figure in the field by a wide margin — an 87.08 TrackWiz rating that towers over the second-best horse here. Reylu Gutierrez picks up the mount, a solid tactical rider who can manage a one-mile trip. A 16% career win rate on a horse with this rating separation points to a confident win play at 3/1 morning line. This is as close to a clearcut top pick as you'll see in a field like this.

place6Spirit of EstherML 5/1

Spirit of Esther (#6) is an interesting piece of the puzzle — a 72.36 rating good for second-best in the field, despite a modest 3% career win rate that screams 'she's been unlucky or lightly raced.' Trainer Ilkay Kantarmaci also sends out Schlomo, meaning the barn has a strong presence. At 5/1, she offers real value underneath if the favorite handles things up front.

show2NantzML 5/2

Nantz (#2) rates third in the field at 71.26 and carries a 10% career win rate, which is respectable for this level. Trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci — related barn to Ilkay — keeps this horse competitive, and an average speed figure of 55 ties Schlomo for best in the field. A logical show ticket and a key exotic inclusion.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

1:24 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

An all-maiden claiming mile where nobody has broken their maiden yet, but one horse rates significantly above the rest on our models — making this closer to a near-single than a wide-open affair.

win1Saint SolomonML 2/1

Saint Solomon (#1) sits atop the TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 — nearly 17 points clear of the second-best runner in the field. Jockey Keiber J. Coa is a trusted hand in this circuit, and trainer Tamara Housel puts a horse in a spot she can win. The 2/1 morning line reflects public respect, but the rating gap is wide enough that this is a legitimate win single in your exotics.

place2SavvyliciousML 5/2

Savvylicious (#2) is the clear second choice on paper at 71.23 and actually has the best average speed figure in the field at 54, edging Saint Solomon. Olaf Hernandez gets the call for trainer Michelle Tasso in what shapes up as a pace-pressing role. If anything goes wrong with the favorite, this one is best positioned to grab the runner-up spot.

show4Darby DreamsML 7/2

Darby Dreams (#4) slots in as the third-best rated horse at 55.83 — a meaningful step down from the top two but ahead of the rest of the field. Trainer Jose Merced and jockey Jose Ventura form a familiar Finger Lakes combination. At 7/2 on the morning line, there's some value here as a show play or as a third leg in trifecta coverage.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

The first three races are on the house, and they give you a solid cross-section of the card. Schlomo opens the day in a Claiming route at a mile and 70 yards — our top-rated pick at 87.08 going off at 3/1 morning line, which looks like fair value rather than a bargain, so watch the pools. In Race 2, Saint Solomon is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 in a Maiden Claiming mile, posting our highest free-race rating at 88.54 — that kind of number in a maiden field usually means a clear standout. Round out the free looks with Tahila in Race 3, an Allowance mile where she's rated 85.62 at a juicy 4/1 morning line.

One thread connecting all three free picks: they're all routing on a surface that should be playing honestly today. No track bias concerns with the weather holding steady, so speed figures carry their full weight. If you're building a Pick 3 ticket for the first leg, these three races are your starting point — and TrackWiz analysis has you covered on all of them.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

1:53 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

This allowance mile has a confusing rating vs. morning line story — the top-rated horse is going off at 4/1 in a field where the favorite sits at 5/2, setting up a potential overlay situation worth exploring.

win1TahilaML 4/1

Tahila (#1) leads all runners with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating and goes at 4/1 — longer than the morning-line favorite despite the superior number. Jose Baez gets the mount for trainer Dana Saul, and at a one-mile distance on dirt, this horse's 53 average speed should be right in the mix. A career win rate of just 5% might spook casual bettors, but the rating edge here is real and this looks like a TrackWiz value play.

place2Warrior Bunny ZeeML 3/1

Warrior Bunny Zee (#2) rates second in the field at 71.61 and brings an 8% career win rate into this allowance test. Keiber J. Coa is one of the sharper riders on this circuit, and trainer Michael A. LeCesse puts horses in spots to run. An average speed figure of 53 keeps this horse honest at a one-mile trip, making her a logical place contender at 3/1.

show4AnnagendaML 7/2

Annagenda (#4) might have the most interesting profile in the race — a 20% career win rate is the second-highest mark in this field, and trainer Paul W. Barrow runs a steady operation at Finger Lakes. The 65.51 rating slots her fourth overall, but horses with her win percentage often find ways to hit the board even when outrated. At 7/2, she's a solid trifecta inclusion.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 4

2:22 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Five and a half furlongs for maiden claimers with a tight cluster of speed and three horses packed closely in the 76-to-84 rating range — pace could be the deciding factor here.

win2Concrete KidML 5/2

Concrete Kid (#2) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 84.60, holding a meaningful edge over the field despite a 5/2 morning line that suggests the public is on board. Oscar Gomez rides for the Paul W. Barrow barn, a trainer who knows how to place horses at this level. An average speed figure of 53 should be more than enough in this sprint, and in a maiden field, the highest-rated runner is often the easiest fade to skip.

place4King SolomonML 6/1

King Solomon (#4) rates an impressive 82.71 — just two points below the top pick — yet sits at 6/1 on the morning line, which feels like a notable overlay. Jose Baez gets the mount for Ralph D'Alessandro, and with an average speed of 53 matching Concrete Kid, this horse could easily be first or second at the wire. At that price, he's a strong play in exactas.

show7Keep 'Em HonestML 3/1

Keep 'Em Honest (#7) rates third overall at 76.52 and draws the outside post, which in a short 5.5-furlong sprint is worth monitoring. Keiber J. Coa is an upgrade in the tack, and trainer Tamara Housel is the same barn that saddles Saint Solomon in Race 2. An average speed of 53 is competitive, and at 3/1 morning line, this one closes out the trifecta box naturally.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

2:51 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide-open six-furlong claiming sprint with ten runners, two of which rate closely at the top — and both are going off at prices that offer real value against a short-priced morning-line favorite.

win4AllofasuddenleeML 5/1

Allofasuddenlee (#4) leads all horses with an 80.53 TrackWiz rating and offers genuine overlay value at 5/1 on the morning line. Jose Baez takes the mount for trainer David M. Rivera, and an average speed figure of 54 — one of the best in the field — is a meaningful advantage in a six-furlong dirt sprint. A 4% career win rate may look modest, but it's the raw rating and speed that drive this selection.

place1PropitiousML 8/1

Propitious (#1) is a standout value angle — an 79.79 rating, a 20% career win rate, and a morning line of 8/1 is a combination that makes any experienced bettor look twice. Oscar Gomez is in the irons for trainer Ronald Breed Jr., and an average speed of 53 is right there with the top contenders. This is the kind of horse you build win-place exactas around when the price is this generous.

show6Ride ShareML 8/1

Ride Share (#6) comes in rated 69.79 — third-best in the field — and posts an 11% career win rate that's competitive for this class level. Kevin Navarro handles the mount for trainer Jonathan B. Buckley, who has solid form at Finger Lakes. At 8/1, the show price could be generous enough to make a straight show bet mathematically interesting alongside exotic coverage.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 6

3:20 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

A one-mile allowance where the top-rated horse is not the morning-line favorite — Beach Invasion rates highest but Probability opens as the chalk, creating a clear TrackWiz overlay worth attacking.

win2Beach InvasionML 7/2

Beach Invasion (#2) owns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 86.35 and brings a 27% career win rate — a serious win percentage at any level of the game. Trainer M. Anthony Ferraro also saddles Go Yoshida in this race, but Beach Invasion is clearly the A-horse, and Keiber J. Coa is a significant jockey booking. At 7/2 morning line, you're getting better value than the public's 8/5 favorite with a higher-rated horse.

place3ProbabilityML 8/5

Probability (#3) opens as the 8/5 morning-line favorite on the strength of a 30% career win rate — the best strike rate in the field — and a 79.79 rating that makes her a legitimate contender. Christopher Elliott is a competent pilot for trainer Amelia J. Green. She's clearly the speed of the speed here and will be tough to beat on the board, making her a must-use in exactas even if we prefer the price of Beach Invasion to win.

show7Not for HireML 5/1

Not for Hire (#7) is a sneaky third piece at 5/1 — a 71.86 TrackWiz rating, a 21% career win rate, and an average speed of 53 that matches the top finishers. Joel Cruz rides for Jonathan B. Buckley, and this horse's profile screams consistent board-hitter. If Beach Invasion and Probability spar up front, Not for Hire could be rolling late to grab a share.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 7

3:49 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Ten runners in this six-furlong starter optional claiming event, and the pace figures to be contested — but one horse stands clearly above the rest on ratings while an intriguing second-best adds value in the exotics.

win9Timely RewardML 3/1

Timely Reward (#9) rates at 87.08 — the top mark in the field and identical to Schlomo's figure in Race 1 today. Luis E. Perez handles the mount for trainer Ilmar Loaiza, and a 20% career win rate shows this horse knows how to get to the winner's circle. An average speed of 55 is the best in the field, and at 3/1 morning line, there's still some value against a competitive but beatable group.

place8InouaintalkintomeML 5/1

Inouaintalkintome (#8) is the second-best rated horse in the race at 76.78 and checks in at 5/1 on the morning line, which looks like a mild overlay given the rating. Carlos D. Camilo takes the ride for trainer Jose Merced, and a 15% career win rate is respectable in starter optional claiming company. She's the logical second horse in your exotics and profiles as a closer who could pick up the pieces if the speed battle plays out.

show2Miss StonesML 7/2

Miss Stones (#2) brings an eye-popping 52% career win rate into this race — by far the highest in the field — and rates third overall at 69.23. Oscar Gomez rides for the Paul W. Barrow barn, which has multiple runners on the card today. At 7/2 morning line, the price isn't exactly generous given her win percentage, but she's a must-use in trifectas and a strong candidate to find the board.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 8

4:18 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A sprawling 12-horse claiming sprint at five and a half furlongs that's wide open on the surface, but our model isolates a clear top two separated from the pack — including a significant overlay hiding in plain sight.

win12AnmoloML 6/1

Anmolo (#12) tops the TrackWiz ratings in this large field at 80.69 and goes at a generous 6/1 morning line — a horse this highly rated at that price is exactly the kind of overlay TrackWiz analysis is built to find. Emanuel De Diego picks up the mount for trainer Nirka Huertas, and an average speed of 53 is right at the top of the pack. A 10% career win rate in claiming sprints is workable, and the rating gap between Anmolo and the rest of the field is significant enough to make this a confident selection.

place5Stormy's DreamingML 10/1

Stormy's Dreaming (#5) rates second in the field at 76.88 and is somehow going off at 10/1 — that's the kind of morning-line price that makes your eyebrows go up when you're looking at the second-best horse in a wide-open field. Luis E. Perez has the mount for trainer Lisa A. Reed, and an average speed of 54 is the best mark in the entire race. A place bet at that price offers real bang for your buck.

show2Army ProudML 8/1

Army Proud (#2) slots in third on our ratings at 60.31, a meaningful step down from the top two but well clear of the rest of this 12-horse field. Michael A. Davila Jr. rides for trainer Timothy P. Murphy, a Finger Lakes trainer who keeps horses competitive. At 8/1, he's a legitimate trifecta wheel option who can hold third while the top two sort things out up front.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

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A clean, manageable 8-race card at Finger Lakes with solid conditions and some genuine value spots sprinkled throughout. Schlomo, Saint Solomon, and Tahila lead the free plays — all three in dirt routes where our ratings carry conviction. For the full picture, including pace scenarios, exotic tickets, and that Allofasuddenlee longshot angle in Race 5, subscribers have everything they need. Let's have a big Wednesday at the Lakes.

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