Daily Picks

Finger Lakes Picks & Predictions — October 28, 2026

October 28, 20268 racesAll Finger Lakes picks

It's a crisp Wednesday afternoon at Finger Lakes — 65°F under partly cloudy skies — and conditions look about as good as you'll get this late in the upstate New York meet. The track is all dirt today across all eight races, ranging from short 5½-furlong sprints to a route going a mile and three-sixteenths. Plenty of variety to keep things interesting.

Eight races are on the board, mixing Allowance company, Claiming races, Starter Allowances, and a pair of Maiden Special Weight sprints. TrackWiz analysis has strong ratings on several contenders today, with three races graded at 87 or higher — a sign there's some real form to dig into if you know where to look.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:55 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

A clear top-rated contender separates himself from the field in this 6-furlong allowance opener, but a pair of interesting pace rivals could make things interesting in the stretch.

win1EnterprisinglyML 2/1

Enterprisingly draws in as our top selection with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 — the highest in the field by a significant margin. Kevin Navarro gets the call for trainer Jonathan B. Buckley, a barn that already has two horses entered today, signaling confidence. The 2/1 morning line reflects the public's respect, and this horse's profile sets up well for a front-running or stalking trip over 6 furlongs on the Finger Lakes dirt.

place3Gramma G GML 3/1

Gramma G G brings an eye-catching 33% career win rate to the table, the best of any horse with multiple starts in this field. Trainer Chris J. Englehart keeps her sharp, and at 3/1 on the morning line, she represents solid place value if Enterprisingly draws clear. Andre Shivnarine Worrie takes the mount and knows this circuit well.

show2MajorsdreamcometruML 5/2

Majorsdreamcometru's 25% career win percentage is nothing to dismiss in an allowance field like this. Jeremias Flores gives trainer Paul W. Barrow an experienced rider, and the 5/2 morning line suggests the market has this one square — use her underneath in exactas and trifectas as a safe landing spot.

Race 2

1:24 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A razor-thin battle at the top of the ratings makes this mile claiming race one of the tightest calls on the card — two horses separated by less than a point set up a compelling stretch duel.

win4TekilaML 2/1

Tekila tops our board with an 87.34 TrackWiz rating and the best average speed figure in the field at 54, tied with Glory Bound Clara but with a much stronger overall profile. Joel Cruz picks up the mount for the Jonathan B. Buckley barn, which is firing on multiple cylinders today. At 2/1 on the morning line, there's not a ton of value, but the combination of class and speed over a route makes Tekila the most reliable win selection.

place6Esther's SaladML 3/1

Esther's Salad is essentially the co-favorite in our ratings at 87.08, just a whisker behind Tekila, making her a must-use underneath. Trainer Rachel Sells puts Luis E. Perez in the irons, and a 14% career win rate in claiming company tells you this mare finds the winner's circle with regularity. The 3/1 morning line offers a touch more place value than the top pick.

show3Chardonnay DerbyML 5/2

Chardonnay Derby's 81.79 rating is third-best in the field, and trainer John A. Grabowski sends out Keiber J. Coa — a sharp jockey booking on a horse sitting at 5/2. The 30% career win percentage is identical to Cabernet's but this one has a speed figure that projects better over the mile. A solid show anchor for trifecta purposes.

Race 3

1:53 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

An odds-on favorite looms large in this allowance optional claiming sprint, but the second and third choices are capable enough to push back — pace could be the deciding factor at 6 furlongs.

win4IntentiousML 8/5

Intentious is the class of the field with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating — the top mark on today's card through three races — and goes postward as the 8/5 morning line choice. Kevin Navarro reunites with trainer Jonathan B. Buckley, a combo that has been active all day. A 28% career win rate backs up the short price, and an average speed figure of 54 matches the best in the field. Respect the chalk here.

place2Play Good Pay GoodML 5/2

Play Good Pay Good makes a compelling place case with an 80.80 rating and a 23% career win percentage that speaks to consistency rather than flash. Trainer Chris J. Englehart puts J.M. Rohena aboard, and at 5/2 this horse should have every opportunity to stalk the pace and be right there when it matters. A logical alternative if Intentious underperforms.

show5Mischievous TrickML 4/1

Mischievous Trick sits third in our ratings at 77.88 and shares the same 23% career win rate and 54 average speed figure as the second choice. Keiber J. Coa takes over for trainer M. Anthony Ferraro, and the 4/1 morning line represents fair value in the show slot. If the top two set a contested pace, this one could be rolling late.

Our three free previews today hit a nice cross-section of the card. Enterprisingly opens the day in a 6-furlong Allowance and carries an 88.54 TrackWiz rating at 2/1 morning line — a horse we like in spot. In Race 2, Tekila stretches to a mile in Claiming company and earns an 87.34 rating, also tabbed at 2/1 on the morning line. The headliner of the free card is Race 3, where Intentious draws our highest free-race rating at 89.12 and goes as the 8/5 favorite in the Allowance Optional Claiming sprint — that's the race we'd point casual bettors to first today.

One thing to watch across the sprint races: with a mild, dry afternoon and a consistently used dirt surface, early speed has been a factor at Finger Lakes. Horses that can get out cleanly and set a comfortable pace have an edge. Keep that pace scenario in mind as you handicap.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

2:22 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 1 3/16 mi · Dirt

The morning line favorite doesn't match up with our top-rated horse in this starter allowance route, setting up a potential value opportunity going 1 3/16 miles on the dirt.

win4MayheminthepalaceML 4/1

Mayheminthepalace is our best bet in Race 4, sporting an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — easily the highest in the field — while going off at a generous 4/1 on the morning line. Oscar Gomez gets the mount for trainer Ilmar Loaiza, a barn that already has Cabernet in Race 2 showing they're bringing live horses today. The 21% career win rate is the best among the top contenders, and a 54 average speed figure gives this one a legitimate pace edge going long.

place6Raw CourageML 2/1

Raw Courage draws the morning line favorite's attention at 2/1, but our 80.60 rating has this one as the second-best horse — not the best. Still, that's a strong number and trainer Aadil S. Khan puts J.M. Rohena up, a capable booking. Use Raw Courage underneath as a reliable place finisher who should hit the board even if our top pick fires.

show1StjamesML 6/1

Stjames at 6/1 is worth a look in the exotics as a deep closer or pace presser who could sneak into the money in a longer route. The 60.65 rating is third-best in the field, and trainer Rachel Sells runs Andre Shivnarine Worrie aboard — a jockey comfortable at Finger Lakes. Don't lean on this one to win, but 6/1 show money is worth the flyer.

Race 5

2:51 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Maiden special weight sprints are notoriously tricky — nobody's broken their maiden yet — but one horse separates from the pack on our ratings and projects as a clear favorite despite winless records across the board.

win7Autumn FireML 7/2

Autumn Fire is the standout in this maiden sprint with an 85.03 TrackWiz rating that towers over the field. Chris Russell gets the mount for Ralph D'Alessandro, and at 7/2 on the morning line, there's still fair value for a horse that profiles as a potential first-time winner. An average speed figure of 53 in maiden company is respectable, and the overall rating gap over the rest of this field is simply too large to ignore.

place1Cream PuffML 4/1

Cream Puff checks in at 60.04 on our ratings — second-best in the field — and trainer Bruce R. Brown sends her out with Andre Shivnarine Worrie at 4/1. That's not a bad place play at morning line odds, and a 53 average speed figure gives her the chops to be competitive over 5½ furlongs. Good exotic play underneath Autumn Fire.

show5Lisa LovesML 5/2

Lisa Loves has the best average speed figure in the field at 55, and trainer M. Anthony Ferraro puts Keiber J. Coa in the irons — a strong jockey who can put a horse in the right spot early. At 5/2 on the morning line, she'll likely be well-backed, but the show slot is where we're comfortable given the rating of 57.50 slightly below Cream Puff. Factor her into trifectas.

Race 6

3:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden sprint where the ratings are tightly bunched — less than 17 points separate the entire field — making this one of the hardest races to call all card.

win6Tornado ControlML 2/1

Tornado Control draws in as our top selection at 58.33 on the TrackWiz ratings despite going as the 2/1 morning line favorite with no recorded average speed figure on file. Trainer M. Anthony Ferraro puts Luis E. Perez aboard, a respected pairing at this circuit. In a maiden field this condensed, the market often gets it right on debut horses with hidden upside, and Ferraro's runners are worth trusting when the public loads up.

place3Financial StarML 3/1

Financial Star rates second at 56.67 with a 54 average speed figure — one of the better speed numbers among horses with recorded works or races in this field. Trainer Ralph D'Alessandro sends Keiber J. Coa out from the three hole, and at 3/1 morning line, this looks like a natural exacta partner with the top selection. Use both ways in your exacta box.

show2Nashville KnockoutML 4/1

Nashville Knockout at 4/1 gives trainer Paul W. Barrow a live runner with a 55.00 rating, slotted comfortably in our third position for the race. Jeremias Flores gets the mount, and while there's no speed figure on record, Barrow has been active at Finger Lakes and typically spots horses well. A reasonable show play and trifecta inclusion in a tough maiden.

Race 7

3:49 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A dominant top-rated contender faces a field it should handle comfortably in this 5½-furlong claiming sprint, though the pace shape gives a pair of stalkers a fighting chance for minor money.

win7Probably FlatteryML 2/1

Probably Flattery is the horse to beat in Race 7, and it's not particularly close — an 88.54 TrackWiz rating leads the field by nearly 18 points. Keiber J. Coa takes the mount for trainer M. Anthony Ferraro, and the 2/1 morning line is a fair reflection of this horse's class advantage. A 54 average speed figure matches the top end of the field, and in a claiming sprint the combination of raw ability and a top rider makes this a confident selection.

place5Trinity RiverML 5/2

Trinity River profiles as the logical pace presser or stalker who can grab second in a race where the favorite may clear. Trainer Michael S. Ferraro puts Luis E. Perez aboard at 5/2 on the morning line — a strong rider who can control position in a short sprint. The 70.53 rating is a clear second-best in the field, and this one has the speed figure (53) to be competitive.

show4Henry's HopeML 4/1

Henry's Hope offers a touch of value at 4/1 with a 66.90 rating slotted third on our board and the best average speed figure in the field at 55. Reylu Gutierrez gets the assignment for trainer Luis Gutierrez, and while an 8% career win rate suggests this one finds the board more than the winner's circle, the show slot is a comfortable landing spot. Use in exotics.

Race 8

4:18 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The morning line underdog is our top-rated horse in this closing 5½-furlong claimer, setting up an interesting value situation as bettors sort out a field with several legitimate pace angles.

win1Allo EnryML 5/1

Allo Enry jumps off the page as our top selection with an 84.17 TrackWiz rating despite being listed at 5/1 on the morning line — a genuine value opportunity in the nightcap. Trainer Jon G. Arnett sends out Andre Shivnarine Worrie, a dependable rider on this circuit, and the combination of a top speed figure (55 avg, best in field) and a high rating makes this a horse you want to be on. A 15% career win rate in claiming company is solid, and 5/1 is a price worth attacking.

place4Mister J TML 3/1

Mister J T rates second on our board at 71.89 and comes in at 3/1 on the morning line with Olaf Hernandez up for trainer Karl M. Grusmark. A 12% career win percentage and a 54 average speed figure suggest this is a horse that competes without always closing the deal — which makes the place slot a natural fit. A reliable exacta partner with our top pick.

show2Invaluable WillML 5/1

Invaluable Will at 5/1 gives trainer Debra A. Breed a second string in the race, with Ben S. Joseph aboard and a 59.62 rating that ranks third in the field. The 54 average speed figure is competitive, and at 5/1 you're getting some price on a show ticket worth including in your trifecta coverage. An 8% career win rate is modest, but minor-money finishes in claiming sprints are very much in range.

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Bottom line: Intentious is today's marquee free play, Tekila and Enterprisingly round out a solid free card, and the premium races offer genuine multi-race ticket potential — especially if Allo Enry fires late at value odds. It's a quality Wednesday card at Finger Lakes, and TrackWiz has you covered from Race 1 to the finale. Unlock the full analysis at /pricing and make every race count.

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