Hawthorne Picks & Predictions — May 28, 2026
Happy Thursday from Hawthorne. Seven races are on the board today under clear skies and a comfortable 72°F — about as clean a spring afternoon as you'll find at the Chicago oval. The track is playing fast, the turf course is in great shape, and the card mixes dirt and grass action in a way that keeps every race interesting.
We're looking at a split of three claiming races, two maiden special weight sprints on the turf, a starter optional claiming event, and a one-turn mile on the grass to close things out. Variety is the word today — there's something here for every kind of bettor, from the two-dollar window to the multi-race exotic player.
TrackWiz has ratings and analysis locked in for all seven races. Three of them are free for every reader; the remaining four are part of our premium full-card breakdown. Let's get into it.
Best Bets
Race 1
Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt
The morning line tells the story here — a short-priced favorite against a field with modest credentials — but two closers with double-digit ratings gaps could make this more interesting than the odds suggest.
Visionista heads into this one with the field's top TrackWiz rating at 89.42, a significant edge over the competition in a claiming field at a mile and 70 yards. The 7/5 morning line reflects public respect, and a career win rate of 11% — while modest — leads this field. Trainer Elias Lopez puts Frank Reyes in the irons, a pairing worth noting, and the extra ground of this route trip should suit a horse with this kind of overall profile over cheaper rivals.
She Be Sheehan (No. 4) is the logical alternative at 7/2, carrying an 84.69 TrackWiz rating that rates second in the field — not far behind the top pick at all. A 10% career win rate is respectable in this claiming company, and Alexander Bendezu is a capable handler over a route. If Visionista hits any traffic or spots a slow early pace, She Be Sheehan has the profile to be right there at the wire.
Shakrevenge at 2/1 morning line is an interesting show hedge — the second-shortest price in the field despite a 72.71 TrackWiz rating that ranks third. Luis H. Colon gets the call for Joel Campbell, and a career win rate of 8% fits right in with this field's ceiling. At projected odds, including this horse in exacta and trifecta tickets makes sense as a bridge between the top two and the rest of the field.
Race 2
Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Turf
A maiden special weight on the turf at 5½ furlongs with an all-first-time-winner field — these horses are a blank slate, which means our model's edge over raw morning lines could be the difference-maker tonight.
Ciao Tommaso (No. 2) owns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at an impressive 88.83 — a substantial gap over the second-rated runner — and the 9/5 morning line confirms the public sees this one too. Tied for the highest average speed figure in the field at 55, the Brian Cook trainee draws Alexander Bendezu, who has been a reliable pilot at Hawthorne. In maiden special weight turf sprints, talent separation matters, and this horse appears to have it.
Stormy Attack (No. 4) is the play underneath at 6/1, and that price is intriguing given a 62.86 TrackWiz rating that ranks second in this race. Trainer Shane Childers, who also saddles Chief Gross, clearly likes his chances here, and the stable runner who drew the better morning line deserves respect in exotics. Frank Reyes takes the mount, adding a strong jockey angle to a horse that could steal second at a generous price.
Good Yegg (No. 1) ties Ciao Tommaso for the top average speed figure in the field at 55 and carries a 61.01 TrackWiz rating that slots neatly into the third position. Trainer Carlos Ramirez sends this one out from the rail with Javier Tavares up, and the inside post in a turf sprint is not always a disadvantage if the horse can break clean. Worth including in trifecta coverage at a projected 5/2.
Race 3
Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt
Miss Saipan's elite career win percentage clashes with Foxy Zorra's commanding model rating — this 5½-furlong dirt claiming sprint has a legitimate form clash at the top that should produce a competitive pace.
Foxy Zorra (No. 3) holds the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 88.83 and draws in at a favorable 9/5 morning line for trainer Coty W. Rosin. A 20% career win rate is genuinely solid in claiming company, and her average speed figure of 54 is tied for second-best in the field. Olaf Hernandez has the call, and in a short sprint where pace setup is everything, this horse's overall profile suggests she should be firing on all cylinders.
Miss Saipan (No. 4) is the one horse in this field who demands respect on her career win percentage alone — 30% is the top mark by a wide margin, meaning she closes the deal when she gets herself into position. Her 70.72 TrackWiz rating ranks second in the field, and a 55 average speed figure leads everyone here. Trainer Fernando Bahena sends her out with Luis H. Colon at 3/1, and she's the most dangerous closer in the exotics.
Time Break (No. 1) is the honest show selection at 4/1 — a 57.50 TrackWiz rating puts her solidly in the middle of the field, and trainer Maximino Quinonez posts the rail draw with Frank Reyes. The 7% career win rate isn't flashy, but the 54 average speed figure matches Foxy Zorra and gives this horse a fighting chance to hit the board if the top two set a contested pace and leave the door open late.
The first three races on today's card are open to all TrackWiz readers, and they give us a strong early-card foundation to work with. Visionista tops our free picks in Race 1 — a one-mile-and-change dirt route where our rating of 89.42 gives her a meaningful edge at a morning line of 7/5. On a fast track in good weather, front-runners and pace-pressers tend to hold their position through the far turn at Hawthorne, and we like her chances to get the job done here.
Race 2 moves to the turf for a maiden special weight sprint, where Ciao Tommaso (9/5 ML, 88.83 rating) is our top selection on what shapes up as a fair, unbiased turf course today. Round out the free card with Foxy Zorra in Race 3 — another 9/5 morning-line play on the dirt at 5½ furlongs where a short, honest pace scenario could set things up perfectly for her style. All three are solid plays in their own right, but they also give you a natural base for building early Pick 3 tickets.
Full Card Analysis
Premium Content
Get the Full Card Analysis
Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.
Bottom line: Hawthorne is giving us a clean, fast racing surface on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. The free card is highlighted by Visionista (R1), Ciao Tommaso (R2), and Foxy Zorra (R3) — three plays that stand on their own and work together in early multis. Premium subscribers get the full picture, including our top-rated pick of the day in Race 4 and full exotic breakdowns for the back half. Good luck out there — race smart.