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Free Horseshoe Indianapolis Picks & Predictions for Today — August 27, 2026

August 27, 20268 racesAll Horseshoe Indianapolis picks

Happy Thursday from Horseshoe Indianapolis. Clear skies, a comfortable 79°F, and a firm, fast surface set up a great afternoon of racing — eight races spread across dirt and turf with something for every type of player on the card.

The card is a nice mix of conditions: a pair of Maiden Special Weights bookend the early going, allowance company shows up twice, and the turf gets action in Races 4, 6, and 8. With no rain in the forecast and temperatures in that sweet spot where horses run comfortably, today's times should be honest and the figures meaningful.

TrackWiz has full analysis on all eight races. The first three are on us — free to every reader. Races 4 through 8 are part of our premium breakdown, where the real value hunting begins.

3 Free Races Today at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Race 1

6:10 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden sprint with zero career wins across the board, but TrackWiz ratings tell a clear story — Tiva and It'stheonlywaytogo separate themselves from the field and should fight this one out.

win1TivaML 3/1

Tiva opens at 3/1 on the morning line but carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 62.95, a meaningful edge in a race where every horse is winless. Rodney A. Prescott gets the call for trainer Jonathan Nance, and with an average speed figure of 53, Tiva projects to be competitive on raw pace. In a maiden special weight sprint where experience is limited and upside is everything, that rating gap over the rest of the field is hard to ignore.

place7It'stheonlywaytogoML 2/1

It'stheonlywaytogo is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 and backs it up with the second-best TrackWiz rating in the race at 58.33. Trainer Anthony J. Granitz sends out this runner with the highest average speed figure in the field at 54, which matters in a six-furlong dirt sprint where early pace can be decisive. Jockey Amir Mendoza gets a live mount here — if this one breaks clean and establishes position, it's a serious threat to hit the board.

show5Sparkle JusticeML 9/2

Sparkle Justice at 9/2 posts a solid 54.17 TrackWiz rating, third-best in the field, and represents a touch of value given the morning-line price. Trainer Randy L. Klopp sends this one out with Alberto Burgos up, and while the rating gap to the top two is real, Sparkle Justice is well-positioned as a show play in what projects to be a competitive sprint. Solid exotic inclusion.

Race 2

6:41 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

Classic Car Wash enters this allowance optional claimer as a class standout with a dominant TrackWiz rating, but the Contreras barn has two bullets in the gun — don't overlook Seize the Night as a secondary threat.

win3Classic Car WashML 2/1

Classic Car Wash is the clear top choice here, posting a 88.54 TrackWiz rating that dwarfs the rest of the field — the next closest is Fountain Lake at 59.63. Trained by Chris A. Hartman and ridden by Mitchell Murrill, this horse carries a 21% career win rate, right in line with the competition. At 2/1 on the morning line, the price is fair for the dominant figure, and Murrill is a capable pilot to close the deal at a mile and a sixteenth on dirt.

place4Fountain LakeML 5/2

Fountain Lake at 5/2 owns a 59.63 TrackWiz rating and posts with trainer John Alexander Ortiz, a well-regarded conditioner. The 13% career win rate is modest, but at this price point and distance, Fountain Lake offers solid place value if Classic Car Wash handles all the attention. Jockey Jaime A. Torres gets the mount and can be expected to stalk the pace and make a run in the stretch.

show2Seize the NightML 7/2

Seize the Night is co-trained by Cipriano Contreras alongside stablemate Bourbon Society, and comes in with the second-best rating in the field at 58.66 and a 23% career win rate — the strongest win percentage among the Contreras pair. Evin A. Roman picks up the ride, and a 7/2 morning line feels about right for a horse that's clearly capable but running behind a dominant form horse. Worth using underneath in exactas and trifectas.

Race 3

7:12 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Mayzforcebewithu enters this maiden claimer with a figure that looks like it belongs in a different race — but Nancy's Kitten at 4/1 gives the exotic player a live second option at a workable price.

win3MayzforcebewithuML 8/5

Mayzforcebewithu is a standout on paper, posting an 89.12 TrackWiz rating that's 13+ points clear of the second-best horse in the field. Trainer Larry Rivelli teams with jockey Walter A. Rodriguez, and the 8/5 morning line reflects what the market already knows — this is the one to beat. An average speed figure of 53 rounds out the profile for a six-furlong dirt sprint, and while maiden races can always produce surprises, the figure gap here is substantial.

place5Nancy's KittenML 4/1

Nancy's Kitten at 4/1 is the most interesting secondary play in the race, with a 75.57 TrackWiz rating that's well ahead of everything else behind the top pick. Trainer Joseph D. Davis sends this one out with Fernando De La Cruz aboard, a reliable rider who can position a horse well in a sprint. If Mayzforcebewithu faces any trouble at all, Nancy's Kitten is the most logical beneficiary and offers real place value at the morning-line price.

show1Clean GetawayML 6/1

Clean Getaway at 6/1 sneaks into the show spot with a 51.67 TrackWiz rating and draws the rail — post position one can be advantageous in a sprint if the horse breaks alertly. Trainer Robert M. Gorham sends this one out without a listed average speed figure, adding a layer of first-start mystery that could cut either way. At 6/1, there's enough price to warrant a spot in the trifecta box for players looking to go deep.

Our three free races today cover the opening Maiden Special Weight sprint at six furlongs where Tiva (morning line 3/1, TrackWiz rating 62.95) gets the nod, the mile-and-a-sixteenth Allowance Optional Claiming in Race 2 where Classic Car Wash comes in as a strong 2/1 chalk with a rating of 88.54, and the Maiden Claiming sprint in Race 3 — the one we're most excited about — where Mayzforcebewithu (8/5 ML, rating 89.12) tops the entire free portion of the card.

The common thread across the free races is pace clarity. With fast, dry dirt and early-race fractions likely to be honest rather than suicidal, closers and stalkers should both get their shot. Classic Car Wash and Mayzforcebewithu both project favorably under those conditions, and their ratings are the two highest of any free-race picks on the card today.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

7:43 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

With 15 horses going a mile on the turf, this starter optional claimer is a pace puzzle — Crickenberger is the TrackWiz top-rated runner, but deep fields on grass can produce all kinds of chaos.

win9CrickenbergerML 6/1

Crickenberger sits atop the TrackWiz ratings at 82.71 and goes postward at a very appealing 6/1 on the morning line, making this a genuine value play at the top of the ticket. Trainer Cipriano Contreras, who already has horses going in Race 2, saddles this one with Evin A. Roman up — Roman is active on this card and a competent turf pilot. A 14% career win rate is modest, but the rating edge in a 15-horse field is noteworthy, and the morning-line price gives you real overlay potential.

place10Kam's Rockin GoldML 5/1

Kam's Rockin Gold at 5/1 posts the second-best TrackWiz rating in the field at 74.87 and brings a 16% career win rate to the table. Trainer Brian L. Schling sends this one out with Hannah Leahey up, and an average speed figure of 54 is competitive for a mile on the turf. In a big, sprawling field like this, a horse with a strong figure that's been here before — in terms of surface and distance — is a natural place contender.

show4Go TownML 2/1

Go Town opens at 2/1 as the morning-line favorite, and while the TrackWiz model prefers Crickenberger, this is a horse that commands respect with a 71.64 rating, a 26% career win rate, and the top average speed figure in the field at 55. Jockey Joseph M. Romero gets the mount for trainer Rene Cazares Jr., and the pace scenario in a 15-horse turf race often benefits horses who can settle and accelerate — Go Town's profile fits that mold. Including this one underneath gives your trifectas real structural soundness.

Race 5

8:14 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Ease My Mind is the class of this starter optional claimer on dirt, but the real intrigue here is Trust the Word sitting at 30/1 as a TrackWiz place pick — that's a number that demands a closer look.

win3Ease My MindML 2/1

Ease My Mind comes in rated 74.58 by TrackWiz, the clear top number in the field, and opens at 2/1 — a fair price for the form standout. Trainer John Haran gives the mount to Jose Ramos Gutierrez, and a 21% career win rate suggests this horse knows how to finish. Going a mile on dirt in a starter optional claimer, Ease My Mind projects as the most complete entry in the field and the logical race choice.

place4Trust the WordML 30/1

Trust the Word at 30/1 is the eye-catching value play on this card. The TrackWiz rating of 55.00 actually ranks fourth in the field, respectable company, and the 22% career win rate is one of the better conversion numbers in the race. What makes this intriguing is that average speed figure of 55 — the highest among all nine horses — suggesting raw speed that may not be reflected in the morning-line price. Trainer Gennadi Dorochenko is a name worth noting here, and at 30/1, even a minor move in the stretch could cash a generous ticket.

show2MowinsML 6/5

Mowins opens as the 6/5 morning-line chalk, but the TrackWiz rating of 50.92 is actually third in the field — a bit of a disconnect. Trainer Michael E. Lauer sends this one out with Danny Sheehy up, and a 14% career win rate is on the lower end for a favorite. That said, the public's money has to go somewhere, and Mowins is likely to be prominent in the race. A show ticket gives you coverage on the likely pace setter at a number that could still offer a fair return if the favorites fight it out.

Race 6

8:45 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Turf

A wide-open maiden turf sprint with first-timers and lightly-raced horses galore — Maddog enters with the top TrackWiz number and a razor-sharp trainer angle, but this surface can be a great equalizer.

win8MaddogML 4/1

Maddog is the TrackWiz top choice at 85.62 and goes postward at a solid 4/1 — this is where it gets interesting. Trainer Joe Sharp is a consistent winner with turf maidens, and jockey Axel Concepcion gets the call on what looks like a fit, sharp entrant. An average speed figure of 56 is among the best in this field, and in a five-furlong turf sprint where early position matters, Maddog's profile suggests a horse that can break alert and set the terms of this race.

place10No Self ControlML 7/2

No Self Control at 7/2 is the second-highest-rated horse in the field at 78.71 and also posts a 56 average speed figure, matching Maddog on raw pace metrics. Trainer Miguel Angel Silva sends this one out with Micah Meeks aboard, and in a maiden turf sprint, you want speed — this horse clearly has it. The slight value at 7/2 makes No Self Control an excellent play underneath the top pick in exactas.

show6Cinq a SeptML 8/1

Cinq a Sept at 8/1 is quietly interesting — a 73.67 TrackWiz rating ranks third in the field, and the 56 average speed figure ties Maddog and No Self Control for the top pace number. Trainer Kelsey Danner sends this one out with Mario Gutierrez up, and Gutierrez is an experienced turf pilot who knows how to find a lane. At 8/1, this is a genuine value play in the exacta and trifecta, and if the two top picks get into a speed duel, Cinq a Sept could be the one to close into the winner's circle.

Race 7

9:16 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Ryan's Wish and El Payasito are separated by just a hair in the ratings and figure to draw first and second call in this six-furlong dirt claimer — Tap Tap Tap It In lurks at short odds and muddies the pace scenario.

win6Ryan's WishML 5/2

Ryan's Wish tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 and opens at 5/2, a price that reflects genuine respect from the morning line. Trainer Randy L. Klopp — who also has Gone to Far in Race 3 — hands the mount to Alexander Crispin, and while the 7% career win rate is low, context matters in claiming races where horses often run in cycles. The rating dominance here is real, and in a six-furlong dirt sprint, a horse with the top number and a capable rider is the logical foundation for any exotic play.

place2El PayasitoML 6/1

El Payasito is a fascinating secondary play at 6/1 — a 82.33 TrackWiz rating that's second in the field, combined with a 20% career win rate that's the best among the top-rated horses. Trainer Genaro Garcia and jockey Amir Mendoza team up here, and Mendoza has been busy on this card, suggesting hot-hand potential. In a sprint, El Payasito's pace and ability to sustain speed could make for a powerful one-two punch with Ryan's Wish at the top of the ticket.

show7Tap Tap Tap It InML 8/5

Tap Tap Tap It In opens as the 8/5 morning-line favorite, which creates an interesting tension with the TrackWiz model that prefers Ryan's Wish and El Payasito. The 72.62 rating is third in the field, and an average speed figure of 55 — highest in the race — suggests this is a horse that can set or press the pace. Trainer Tim Eggleston and jockey Fernando De La Cruz are a capable combination, and at 8/5, the show ticket is almost a laydown for conservative players who want exposure to the likely pace setter.

Race 8

9:47 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Turf

Koger Lane brings a commanding TrackWiz figure into this allowance mile on turf, and the 25% career win rate suggests this horse converts when it matters — the intrigue is whether Si O Si can pop at 10/1.

win4Koger LaneML 4/1

Koger Lane is the standout in Race 8, posting an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — the same top figure carried by Maddog in Race 6 — and carrying a 25% career win rate that's the best conversion number in this allowance field. Trainer Aaron M. West gives the mount to Mitchell Murrill, who's been one of the most active jockeys on this card. Going a mile on the turf at 4/1, Koger Lane is a horse that clearly knows how to win, and the allowance class suits a horse with this profile.

place3Si O SiML 10/1

Si O Si at 10/1 is the value play that makes this race worth getting creative with in exotics. A 60.30 TrackWiz rating slots in as the second-best in the field, and a 12% career win rate is respectable for an allowance turf runner. Trainer Randy Matthews sends this one out with Joseph C. Bealmear up, and at double-digit odds against a field where several horses are short on ability, Si O Si represents exactly the kind of overlay that can turn a small investment into a meaningful score.

show8Just Like MaemiML 7/2

Just Like Maemi opens at 7/2 and posts a 55.96 TrackWiz rating alongside the best average speed figure among the non-top-rated horses at 54. Trainer Kenneth G. Miller gives the call to Alberto Burgos, a reliable rider at this level. A 12% career win rate matches Si O Si, and while this isn't a horse to win outright on rating merit, the combination of price, pace ability, and a solid jockey makes Just Like Maemi a sound show play and a natural trifecta component.

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It's a clean, manageable eight-race card under ideal conditions at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Our top free plays — Tiva, Classic Car Wash, and Mayzforcebewithu — give every reader a solid starting point. For the full picture, including pace maps, exotic ticket breakdowns, and our best bets in Races 4 through 8, subscribe to TrackWiz premium. Good luck out there, and may your tickets cash.

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