Hawthorne Picks & Predictions — June 4, 2026
It's a warm, cloudy Thursday at Hawthorne — 85 degrees with the kind of overcast sky that keeps the turf from getting too firm. Seven races are on the board today, and the card leans heavily on the grass, with three turf routes and sprints scattered across the afternoon. That mix of surfaces is going to keep things interesting from first post to nightcap.
Our TrackWiz ratings spread from the mid-80s to just over 89, which tells you we've got some genuine confidence in the top picks today — but also that a few races are close enough to keep you honest. Whether you're building a late Pick 4 or just looking for a solid win bet to kick off the afternoon, there's plenty to work with across all seven.
Best Bets
Race 1
Starter Optional Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt
A tight starter optional claiming sprint where the TrackWiz ratings cluster near the top and the morning line underestimates at least one contender — expect a competitive 6½-furlong battle on the dirt.
Wildwood Sicilian tops the TrackWiz ratings with an 87.81 — the highest in this field by a clear margin — and backs it up with a 25% career win rate and an average speed figure of 56, matching the best in the race. Trainer Scott Becker has this one pointed right, and at 5/2 on the morning line, there's still genuine value for a horse whose numbers say he belongs a notch above this field. The pace scenario in a 6½-furlong dirt sprint should set up nicely for a horse with his profile — expect him to track the early speed and come rolling.
Cortese brings a 27% career win rate — best in the field — and a solid 79.40 TrackWiz rating to go with it. Trained by Jose G. Rodriguez and ridden by Emmanuel Giles, this horse has the profile of a closer who can pick up pieces in a pace-honest sprint. At 3/1 on the morning line, he's a logical place anchor in your exactas.
Twirling Roses is interesting as the show piece here — a 72.82 rating and an average speed of 56 put her right in the mix despite a modest 17% career win rate. Trainer Armando Hernandez has two horses in the race, which sometimes signals stable confidence, and Orlando Mojica is a capable pilot at this level. She's worth slotting into trifecta tickets at 7/2.
Race 2
Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Turf
A 5-furlong turf allowance optional claiming with two standout speed figures at the top and a wide-open mid-tier that could scramble the exacta — the favorite is far from a lock.
Sine Qua Non heads our analysis as the top-rated horse in the field at 88.83 and carries a 33% career win rate, which is elite territory for this level. Trainer James P. DiVito sends her out with Orlando Mojica in the irons — a reliable combination at Hawthorne. Her average speed figure of 57 ties for the best in the race, and over a short 5-furlong turf sprint, a horse with her efficiency numbers should be hard to hold off.
Monsieur Candy is the other 57-speed-figure horse in the field and rates a close 85.37 on our model, making the 2/1 morning line feel a bit short but still workable as a place play. Jareth Loveberry aboard is a real positive — he's one of the sharper turf pilots in this circuit. The low career win rate of 14% is the only hesitation, but our ratings say the talent is there.
Journey at 5/1 is the value inclusion for the show spot, posting a 70.93 TrackWiz rating and a 33% career win rate that matches Sine Qua Non's. Trainer Michele Boyce keeps this one ready, and Olaf Hernandez is a solid pick-up. If the top two get into a duel on this short turf course, Journey could be sweeping up late.
Race 3
Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt
A mile-and-70-yard dirt claiming race where the pace figures suggest a genuine speed duel up front — the question is who has enough left to close it out.
People Force is our top selection at 87.08 on the TrackWiz model, and Julio E. Felix — one of the more active riders on this card — gets the call. A 17% career win rate is respectable in this class, and the 3/1 morning line offers real value for a horse our ratings say is clearly the most capable in the field. At a route of a mile-plus on dirt, pace scenarios can be chaotic, but People Force has the figure edge to handle whatever shape the race takes.
Global Empire is the morning-line favorite at 9/5 and rated second at 80.01, but a career win rate of just 11% is a mild flag. Frank Reyes is a capable handler, and trainer John Haran regularly spots horses well. This looks like a solid place horse — one who may get outgunned by People Force's top-end numbers but should be around at the finish.
Lucky Boss at 4/1 fills out the show slot with a 67.98 rating and a 17% career win rate that holds up fine at this level. Alexander Bendezu aboard gives confidence — he's comfortable going long on dirt. The price is generous enough to make Lucky Boss a worthwhile exotic inclusion, particularly in trifecta rolling plays.
We're giving away the analysis on the first three races today, and there's real value in that trio. Wildwood Sicilian opens the card in a Starter Optional Claiming sprint at 6½ furlongs on dirt — a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 at a morning line of 5/2 makes this one of the stronger price-to-confidence ratios on the card. Race 2 flips to the turf for an Allowance Optional Claiming sprint, where Sine Qua Non earns our top mark at 88.83 — that's near the ceiling for today's card. By Race 3, we're stretching out to a mile and 70 yards on dirt with People Force as our best bet at 3/1, a claiming route that should reward pace-scenario handicapping.
The thread connecting all three free picks? Each figures to benefit from a pace setup that plays to their running style, and none of them are being asked to do anything they haven't done before at this level. The cloudy conditions and mild heat shouldn't be a factor on dirt, and the turf course appears to be in good shape for the grass runners this afternoon.
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Bottom line for Thursday at Hawthorne: Sine Qua Non and Sharp Attack are our two highest-conviction plays on the card, and Wildwood Sicilian offers real value to open the day. The free races give you a strong foundation — but if you want pace projections, exotic ticket breakdowns, and the full premium analysis on all seven races, unlock the complete card with a TrackWiz subscription at /pricing. Good luck out there today.