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Hawthorne Picks & Predictions — June 18, 2026

June 18, 20267 racesAll Hawthorne picks

This card ran on June 18, 2026.

Best bets at Hawthorne, June 18, 2026

Race 14Liams FancyML 9/53:38 PM EDT

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We're headed to Hawthorne on a comfortable Thursday afternoon — 73°F, partly cloudy, and conditions that should keep the dirt track playing fair and honest. Seven races are on the board today, and the card has a little something for everyone, from short sprints to routes stretching past a mile.

Today's lineup leans heavily on maiden company early before opening up to claiming and starter optional claiming action later in the card. That kind of progression usually tells a story on its own — horses moving through conditions, connections fishing for spots, and angles that reward the patient handicapper. We've got three free race breakdowns to get you started and four premium races waiting for subscribers who want the full picture.

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Race 1

3:38 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A first-out maiden sprint at 4 1/2 furlongs with zero career starts across the board — this one comes down entirely to training reports, morning-line clues, and TrackWiz ratings separating the contenders.

win4Liams FancyML 9/5

Liams Fancy opens as the 9/5 morning-line favorite and carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 58.67, which is a meaningful edge in a race where no horse has ever seen a starting gate. Trainer Larry Rivelli sending out the morning-line chalk is a strong signal — connections don't top the board by accident in maiden specials. Jockey Jareth Loveberry gets the call, and pairing a polished rider with the barn's top-rated entrant tells you where Rivelli's confidence sits. At 9/5 the price isn't exciting, but the profile is hard to argue with.

place3PhinarosaML 3/1

Phinarosa is the other Rivelli runner in this race and rates second in the field at 56.67, which is a nice cushion over the rest of the pack. When a trainer doubles up in a maiden race, the barn usually has a clear first and second string — Phinarosa looks like that reliable backup option. E.T. Baird's experience in the irons at 3/1 makes her an appealing piece in exactas underneath Liams Fancy.

show2Second OpinionML 4/1

Second Opinion checks in third on the TrackWiz leaderboard at 55.0 and is trained by Chris M. Block, a barn worth watching at Hawthorne. The 4/1 morning line offers a touch of value in a race where the top two are clustered, making Second Opinion a reasonable trifecta closer and a hedge if the Rivelli horses get into a speed duel early.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

4:12 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

The morning-line favorite looks vulnerable in this maiden route — TrackWiz analysis identifies a significant rating gap favoring two overlooked entrants, setting up potential value in the exotics.

win3My Last EscapadeML 3/1

My Last Escapade holds the top TrackWiz rating in the field by a substantial margin at 81.37, nearly eight points clear of the next best — that kind of separation in a maiden route is hard to ignore. Trainer Michael L. Slager sends this one out at 3/1 with Julio E. Felix aboard, and the average speed figure of 54 is right in line with the competitive horses in this field. The pace scenario at a mile and 70 yards should set up well for a horse with this rating profile — distance tests often expose raw ability that shorter dashes can mask. Our top play in this race.

place6Jakes ChannelML 9/2

Jakes Channel is the second-highest-rated horse in the field at 73.82, a big jump over the morning-line favorite Urgent Action (59.0), and yet he's posted at 9/2 on the morning line — that's a potential overlay. Orlando Mojica is a savvy pilot for a route, and John Rednour Jr. knows this circuit well. If My Last Escapade hits the board, Jakes Channel looks like the most likely companion.

show4Chief GrossML 8/1

Chief Gross is worth including at 8/1 as a trifecta piece — a TrackWiz rating of 60.51 puts him clearly third in class among horses with any experience, and trainer Shane Childers' barn has shown up at Hawthorne before. The average speed figure of 52 is modest, but in a maiden field this raw, consistency matters more than ceiling.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Our three free races cover the first half of the card and give you a solid foundation to build on. Street Style in Race 3 is the horse we're most excited about — that 2/1 morning line in a maiden claiming sprint at 5½ furlongs is a legit price for a horse who grades out at the top of our ratings at 87.96. Liams Fancy opens the day in Race 1's 4½-furlong dash and draws the top spot on our board despite a field full of unknowns. My Last Escapade in Race 2 stretches out to a route at a mile and 70 yards — a distance that often shakes out the horses who were merely fast versus the ones who actually want to run.

One thing to keep an eye on across the early races: the partly cloudy, moderate-temperature conditions at Hawthorne today are about as neutral as it gets. No rain-softened kickback, no brutal heat sapping late energy. That plays into pace scenarios nicely — horses with back-end ability shouldn't be fighting the elements down the lane.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

4:42 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Maiden claiming company at 5 1/2 furlongs brings out two standout ratings that tower over the rest — expect a focused battle at the top while the rest of the field plays for minor money.

win4Street StyleML 2/1

Street Style owns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 87.96 and draws the 2/1 morning line, which is a short price but reflects real dominance on paper. Trainer Manny Perez also runs Black Russian in this race, but Street Style is clearly the stable's primary weapon here based on both the rating and the morning line. Jockey Johanis Aranguren gets the mount, and at 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt the pace is likely to be honest enough to test everyone. A rating nearly 3 points clear of Incorporated and more than 9 points over any other rival is a significant edge.

place6IncorporatedML 9/2

Incorporated comes in with a 84.9 TrackWiz rating and is priced at 9/2 — that's a potential overlay given how close he grades to the win pick. Harold Joseph Ortega takes the mount for trainer Omar Razvi, and the average speed figure of 52 is competitive for this class level. If Street Style has any trouble breaking or gets shuffled early, Incorporated has the raw numbers to capitalize.

show1Gray MikeML 5/1

Gray Mike is the sneaky play in here at 5/1 with a solid 78.4 rating — third best in the field — and Carlos Ramirez has him pointed at the right level. The average speed figure of 54 actually leads all horses in this race, which is an interesting detail that suggests Gray Mike may have run faster in the past than his overall rating implies. Worth adding to trifectas as the logical closer to the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 4

5:08 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

This maiden special weight for fillies is genuinely competitive at the top — no horse separates cleanly on ratings, and three contenders are bunched within two points of each other, making pace and trip crucial.

win3Princess HuxleyML 4/1

Princess Huxley tops our picks at 4/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 57.4, the highest in the field, and she brings an average speed figure of 55 — tied for second among horses who have raced. Trainer Anthony J. Granitz sends her out with Julio E. Felix in the irons, a respectable combination at this level. At 5 1/2 furlongs in a maiden special weight, the ability to rate off pace and finish is key, and the form profile here suggests she can do exactly that. The 4/1 morning line offers fair value for the field's top-rated contender.

place4Sunny RayML 3/1

Sunny Ray might actually be the most intriguing horse in the race from a pure speed-figure standpoint — her average of 57 leads the entire field, which is a notable edge even if her TrackWiz rating of 56.67 sits just behind Princess Huxley. Trainer Coty W. Rosin puts Luis H. Colon on board at 3/1, and this one could easily flip the exacta if she gets a clean trip. She's the horse to beat if the pace question resolves in her favor.

show7CataenjoML 7/2

Cataenjo closes out our trifecta at 7/2 with a 55.83 rating and an average speed figure of 56 — that's legitimate. Larry Rivelli pointing Jareth Loveberry at this race is the kind of trainer-jockey combo that consistently fires at Hawthorne, and Rivelli's barn has already shown quality on this card. At 7/2 she's not a bargain, but the consistent form profile makes her a reliable trifecta anchor.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

5:37 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A claiming sprint with real depth — Twirling Roses has the highest rating but a field full of horses with winning form, including a value play and a longshot with a 22% career win rate lurking in the seven hole.

win1Twirling RosesML 5/2

Twirling Roses is our best bet of the race — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating tops the field convincingly, and a 17% career win rate confirms this horse knows how to finish in front. Trainer Armando Hernandez and jockey Frank Reyes team up from the rail at 5/2, and the average speed figure of 56 leads all horses in this sprint. In a six-furlong dirt claiming race, early speed from post one with the top rating is a powerful combination. This is as confident as we get in a claiming field.

place4Mon Ami FuzzieML 4/1

Mon Ami Fuzzie rates second in our TrackWiz model at 77.19 and posts a 12% career win rate — steady, not flashy, but reliable at this level. The average speed figure of 55 is right in the mix, and trainer Jose G. Rodriguez has this one positioned at a fair price of 4/1. If Twirling Roses gets pressed early from the inside, Mon Ami Fuzzie's consistency sets up well as the place horse.

show3All About ToniteML 7/2

All About Tonite has a 13% career win rate and a 72.29 rating — third best in the field — making her a natural trifecta piece at 7/2. The pace scenario in a six-furlong sprint could get heated, and a horse with that kind of career winning consistency knows how to find the board. Trainer Eduardo Rodriguez has her dialed in at this level.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 6

6:06 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open starter optional claiming sprint where the morning-line favorite doesn't match up to the TrackWiz top choice — Dixie Penny at 6/1 might be the best value play on the entire card.

win5Dixie PennyML 6/1

Dixie Penny is a genuine overlay at 6/1 — our top TrackWiz rating in this field at 82.71 is nearly 11 points clear of second-best Little Sass, a gap that jumps out in a field this competitive. Trainer Armando Hernandez also runs Icy River in this race, but Mojica taking the Dixie Penny mount is a strong signal about where the barn's primary confidence lies. The average speed figure of 55 matches the best in the field, and a 19% career win rate shows this isn't a horse that just participates — she competes. At 6/1, this is a legitimate value play.

place2Little SassML 5/1

Little Sass is the standout career win percentage holder in this race at an eye-opening 38% — that's not a misprint, and it's the kind of stat that demands attention even when the TrackWiz rating (72.02) trails the win pick. Trainer Maximino Quinonez has her priced at 5/1, and a horse who wins more than one in three lifetime starts is almost always in the mix. She's the most dangerous threat to Dixie Penny and a logical exacta partner.

show1Mamba OutML 6/1

Mamba Out rounds out our trifecta at 6/1 with a 68.31 rating and an impressive 26% career win rate — this is a horse who shows up. Trainer Blanca Candelas puts Jareth Loveberry up, a polished jockey who can manage pace in a sprint field that could get quick early. The price makes Mamba Out an appealing trifecta piece if the two top picks are correct.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 7

6:35 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A deep ten-horse starter optional claiming route — Silver Quarters has the top rating, but Moogie Son looms as the morning-line value, and several horses with serious career winning percentages could complicate the exotics.

win9Silver QuartersML 5/1

Silver Quarters owns the top TrackWiz rating in this race at 84.17 and carries a 25% career win rate — one of the most impressive combined profiles on the card tonight. Trainer Larry Rivelli puts Jareth Loveberry on board at 5/1, which is a sneaky good price for a horse this highly rated. At a mile and 70 yards, experience and stamina matter, and a 25% lifetime win rate going long suggests Silver Quarters is built for this distance. Rivelli is already showing quality tonight and this looks like his best chance for a win.

place7Moogie SonML 3/1

Moogie Son is the 3/1 morning-line favorite with a 79.67 TrackWiz rating and an average speed figure of 54 that matches the top group. E.T. Baird gets the mount for Larry Rivelli — yes, Rivelli saddles both the win and place picks here, which is worth noting. A 9% career win rate is modest, but at 3/1 in a route with this much depth, a trainer doubling up with quality riders suggests both horses are live. Moogie Son's higher speed over ground makes him the logical exacta partner.

show3Hilarious AffairML 6/1

Hilarious Affair comes in at 6/1 with a solid 74.8 TrackWiz rating — third best in this field — and a 11% career win rate that's competitive at this level. Trainer Elias Lopez deploys Frank Reyes for what looks like a sneaky trifecta play: a horse with quality ratings, a capable jockey, and a morning line that may underestimate his form. In a ten-horse route where pace can get complicated, a horse rated this highly at 6/1 is a trifecta must-use.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

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Street Style is our marquee free play of the day, My Last Escapade is worth a close look in the route, and the premium half of the card has a genuine longshot angle with Dixie Penny at 6/1 that our analysis supports. It's a workable seven-race card on a pleasant afternoon at Hawthorne — the kind of day where solid preparation pays off. Subscribers can access the full Race 4–7 breakdown, exotic ticket structures, and pace projections right now through TrackWiz. Good luck out there — let's make it count.

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