Unlock the other 6 races on today's card, plus AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet ticket construction.

The winner is in our top 4 picks 75% of the time, across 17 tracks.

Daily Picks

Free Lone Star Picks & Predictions for Today — September 25, 2026

September 25, 20269 racesAll Lone Star picks

It's a warm Friday afternoon at Lone Star Park — partly cloudy skies and 89°F on the thermometer — and the track is serving up a nine-race all-dirt card that's heavy on short-format quarter horse sprints. If you like your races decided in the blink of an eye, today's your day.

The distances today are compact, ranging from a lightning-quick 220 yards all the way out to 870 yards in the opener. That variation matters more than casual fans might expect — horses that excel at 220 yards aren't necessarily built for the longer haul, and our TrackWiz ratings reflect those surface-specific tendencies.

Three races are free and open to everyone, giving you a solid starting point for the afternoon. The back half of the card — six races deep — is where the most intriguing matchups live, and that's where a TrackWiz subscription really pays off.

3 Free Races Today at Lone Star

Race 1

11:05 PM EDT

Claiming · 870 yd · Dirt

Two horses share the top TrackWiz rating in this 870-yard claiming opener, setting up a potential duel at the top while the morning-line favorite sits a tier below — pace and position could decide it.

win5Run Like Da DevilML 7/2

Run Like Da Devil (#5) posts a 86.35 TrackWiz rating, tied for the field's best, and backs it up with a 22% career win rate — that's genuine production, not a fluke. Trainer Brian Stroud sends him out at 7/2 on the morning line, which looks like real value given how the numbers stack up against this field. At 870 yards, a horse that knows how to win is essential, and that 22% strike rate is one of the strongest in the race.

place8One Mighty EagleML 5/2

One Mighty Eagle (#8) matches Run Like Da Devil's 86.35 rating and carries an 18% career win percentage, making him a legitimate threat at 5/2. Trainer Adan Guzman has him positioned as one of the shorter prices in the field, which suggests stable confidence. If the top pick gets into any trouble at the break, One Mighty Eagle has the rating to capitalize.

show1Eye Am DML 6/1

Eye Am D (#1) checks in with an 82.71 rating — a tick below the top two but well clear of the rest — and at 6/1 represents a sneaky exotic play. Francisco Giles gets the call, and with an 11% career win rate, this horse has shown the ability to finish. In a race where the top is closely matched, Eye Am D is the logical safety net for trifecta coverage.

Race 2

11:31 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

A wide-open maiden claiming sprint at 300 yards with a full field of first-time winners — the morning-line favorite doesn't carry the field's top rating, creating a genuine overlay opportunity.

win4Goldmine CreekML 2/1

Goldmine Creek (#4) owns the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 73.31 and is listed at 2/1 on the morning line — a relatively fair price for the top-rated horse in a maiden field. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh puts Gilberto Linares in the irons, a combination worth noting. In a 300-yard dash where there's no time to make up ground, having the top rating in the field is about as strong a case as you can make.

place2Apollitical RaceyML 12/1

Apollitical Racey (#2) is our value angle here — a 68.42 rating that ranks second in this field, yet the morning line has her out at 12/1. That's a significant discrepancy between her TrackWiz score and her odds, and Noe Villatoro is a capable hand in the irons. If she breaks cleanly in a short dash, she has the raw rating to land on the board at a price.

show5Fire Eating CowgirlML 6/5

Fire Eating Cowgirl (#5) is the morning-line favorite at 6/5 but ranks third in our ratings at 64.79 — a modest gap from the top. The public will hammer her down even further, so she's not the value play, but her presence on the board makes sense as a show hedge in trifecta tickets. Trainer S. Trey Wood puts Ricky Ramirez up, and a horse attracting this much public action usually has connections feeling good about her chances.

Race 3

11:57 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 220 yd · Dirt

A 12-horse maiden claiming sprint at 220 yards where the top three rated horses are tightly clustered — but the morning line has the top pick at 6/1, suggesting the market hasn't fully caught up to our numbers.

win1A Sun of ThunderML 6/1

A Sun of Thunder (#1) leads this field with a TrackWiz rating of 82.71 and draws post one — in a 220-yard sprint, a clean break from the rail is a genuine asset. Alejandro Medina climbs aboard for trainer Aracely Mejia, and at 6/1 on the morning line, this is a horse our ratings think is being underestimated. The rating margin over much of this field is significant, and in a dash race, class tends to show up fast.

place8Handdelivered FamousML 7/2

Handdelivered Famous (#8) sits just behind the top pick with an 81.13 rating and draws the 7/2 morning-line slot, making her one of the more respected horses in the field by the oddsmakers. Trainer Marla Dayana Vargas puts Jonathan Dominguez up, and the combination of a near-top rating with a middle-of-the-field program number gives her a clean trip setup. She's essentially a coin flip with the top pick on ratings alone.

show7ChenchaML 2/1

Chencha (#7) rounds out the top three with a 79.66 rating and is listed at 2/1 — the morning-line favorite despite ranking third in our model. Trainer Jorge E. Rubio pairs her with Luis L. Vivanco, a solid rider. She's worth including in exacta and trifecta tickets, and if the two higher-rated horses stumble out of the gate, Chencha has the talent to make them pay.

The free portion of today's card gives you a nice cross-section of what Lone Star has to offer. Race 1 kicks things off at the marathon distance of 870 yards — unusual for this track — and our top-rated horse Run Like Da Devil (7/2 morning line, TrackWiz rating 86.35) looks well-suited for the extra ground. Over in Race 2, Goldmine Creek draws attention at 2/1 in a 300-yard maiden claimer, though the rating of 73.31 suggests a competitive field where value could be hiding elsewhere. Then Race 3 flips the script with a 220-yard sprint — the shortest race of the day — where A Sun of Thunder jumps off the page at 6/1 on the morning line despite posting a solid TrackWiz rating of 82.71. That's the kind of undervalued number we love to flag.

One angle worth watching across all three free races: in warm, dry conditions like today's, Lone Star's dirt tends to play fast and true. Early speed is typically rewarded, so horses that can break sharp from the gate hold a natural edge — keep that bias in mind as you build your tickets.

Send me tomorrow's free Lone Star card before post time.

Free picks in your inbox each morning. No card required, unsubscribe anytime.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:23 AM EDT

Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

The top-rated horse in this 330-yard claiming sprint goes off at a massive 12/1 morning line — a classic TrackWiz overlay situation where the ratings and the odds are telling very different stories.

win6Sheza Patriot 47ML 12/1

Sheza Patriot 47 (#6) owns the field's best TrackWiz rating at 73.96 and carries a 25% career win rate — legitimate production for a claiming runner. At 12/1 on the morning line, this is precisely the kind of overlay that separates sharp bettors from casual ones. Trainer Adan Guzman puts Noe Villatoro in the saddle, a strong jockey who knows how to get horses out of the gate in sprint distances. If you're looking for a win bet with real upside, this is the play.

place1Muy Piscosita EgML 9/5

Muy Piscosita Eg (#1) is the morning-line favorite at 9/5 and rates second in the field at 58.67. Trainer Oscar Nunez sends out Gilberto Linares, and while the rating gap between her and the top pick is notable, the public's confidence here is understandable — she'll be heavily bet. For place tickets, she's a sound anchor, especially if Sheza Patriot 47 is your win pick.

show5Pink JettML 2/1

Pink Jett (#5) slots in at 55.76 on the TrackWiz scale and draws a 2/1 morning line, suggesting some public respect even if she's not our top selection. Trainer Braulio Hernandez pairs her with Raul Ramirez, Jr., and a 16% career win rate shows she's competitive at this level. She's a solid show inclusion in trifecta plays and keeps the ticket manageable.

Race 5

12:49 AM EDT

Maiden · 350 yd · Dirt

Bicycle Johnny sets up as a dominant top-rated horse in a 12-horse maiden field at 350 yards, but two mid-priced horses lurk underneath with enough rating to threaten if the favorite stumbles.

win1Bicycle JohnnyML 2/1

Bicycle Johnny (#1) leads all horses with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — a clear tier above most of this maiden field — and the morning line reflects it at 2/1. Trainer Carlos Turrubiartes sends Gilberto Linares to the gate, a rider who excels in short sprint formats. In a maiden race at 350 yards, a horse with this kind of rating separation is hard to fade, and the 2/1 price is fair enough to play straight.

place8Cowboy Leaving YouML 6/1

Cowboy Leaving You (#8) rates at 73.51 — second-best in the field — and is priced at 6/1, which makes her an appealing place play with some overlay value. Trainer Katie Carlos puts Raul Ramirez, Jr. in the irons, and the 6/1 odds feel generous for a horse whose rating legitimately suggests top-three potential. She's the clear second-best option on our model and worth backing accordingly.

show7ButterfliML 9/2

Butterfli (#7) checks in at 68.65 and is priced at 9/2, which is reasonable for a horse that rates third in this field. Trainer Rene Talamantes pairs her with Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr., and while the gap to the top two is real, her rating is well clear of the rest of the field. In a 12-horse maiden race with plenty of uncertainty, having the third-best rating at 9/2 is a solid exotic anchor.

Race 6

1:15 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

Feisti Cowboy dominates the ratings in this maiden claiming sprint and draws heavy morning-line favoritism — the question is whether a heavily-bet chalk can still pay enough to matter, or if the real money is underneath.

win10Feisti CowboyML 6/5

Feisti Cowboy (#10) posts the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 89.71 — a commanding number — and is installed as the 6/5 morning-line favorite. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh sends out Gilberto Linares, and this jockey-trainer combination clearly has the connections' best horse today. At 6/5, the value is thin, but when the ratings gap is this wide in a maiden sprint, the right play is often to accept the short price and move on.

place11One Classy DynastyML 3/1

One Classy Dynasty (#11) checks in at 81.12 — meaningfully behind the top pick but well clear of the rest of the field — and is priced at 3/1 on the morning line. Trainer Randall R. Read also uses Gilberto Linares here, which is worth noting — same rider, two horses in the same race, suggests the connections split their best options across the card. At 3/1, she's a prime place and exacta play underneath the chalk.

show2Seven PesosML 9/2

Seven Pesos (#2) rates at 55.62 — a clear step below the top two — but the 9/2 morning line gives her some value as a show and trifecta piece. Trainer Victor G. Fierro puts Claudio Ponce Aguilar up, and in a 300-yard dash where things can get chaotic off the gate, having a live third horse at 9/2 is worth including in vertical exotic plays. She's the most credible outsider in what otherwise looks like a two-horse race at the top.

Race 7

1:41 AM EDT

Claiming · 220 yd · Dirt

A competitive 220-yard claiming sprint where our top two rated horses sit at 5/2 and 4/1 morning lines, with a 12/1 shot sneaking into the show position — value exists across multiple tiers of the ticket.

win8Im Chica FresaML 5/2

Im Chica Fresa (#8) leads the field with an 86.06 TrackWiz rating and carries a 20% career win rate — consistent production for a claiming runner at this level. Trainer Luz Chavira puts Cordarelton J. Benn in the irons, and the 5/2 morning line is a fair reflection of her status as the class of the field. In a 220-yard sprint, a fast break is everything, and a horse with this kind of rating edge is hard to leave off the ticket.

place3Miss Chick ChimesML 4/1

Miss Chick Chimes (#3) rates second in the field at 83.23 and carries a 16% career win rate, suggesting she's competitive but not dominant — a profile that screams place horse. Francisco Giles picks up the mount for trainer Martin Rodriguez, and the 4/1 morning line offers legitimate value for a horse that might not beat the favorite but has the numbers to land on the board. She's a natural place play and exacta partner with the top pick.

show4Catty Six BML 12/1

Catty Six B (#4) rates at 73.96 with a 21% career win rate — one of the higher win percentages in the field — and goes off at 12/1 on the morning line. Trainer Victor G. Fierro pairs her with Claudio Ponce Aguilar, and that 21% win rate over a career suggests she knows how to finish races. At 12/1, she's a live show horse and a trifecta piece worth including, especially given the win rate that outpaces many shorter-priced rivals.

Race 8

2:07 AM EDT

Allowance · 300 yd · Dirt

An allowance field at 300 yards where the top-rated horse is clear on the TrackWiz model, but a 75% career win percentage hidden in the field makes this more interesting than it looks on the morning line.

win2Big Bang RocketML 2/1

Big Bang Rocket (#2) tops the field with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and is installed as the 2/1 morning-line favorite. Trainer Justin W. Joiner puts Francisco Calderon in the irons, and a 22% career win rate shows this horse has been competing consistently. In an allowance spot — a step above claiming company — a horse with a clear rating edge and a respected trainer-jockey combo is exactly what you want to key your tickets around.

place10The Lion KinggML 9/2

The Lion Kingg (#10) rates at 76.35, which is solidly second in this field, but the eye-popping stat here is a 75% career win rate — an extraordinary number that demands attention even in a small sample. Trainer Kash Reed sends Juan Pulido to the gate at 9/2 odds, which feels like a gift if that win rate has any predictive value. He's our place pick and a serious upset threat if Big Bang Rocket has any issues.

show7Shez FlynML 5/2

Shez Flyn (#7) rates at 73.06 with a 22% career win percentage and is priced at 5/2, which is the second-shortest price in the field. Trainer Wendy Alejandra Garcia puts Pragedis J. Murgia up, and the 22% win rate across a career shows consistent competitiveness. She won't offer much show value at those odds, but she's a legitimate key horse for exacta combinations underneath the top pick.

Race 9

2:33 AM EDT

Maiden · 330 yd · Dirt

Jess Sissy Cartel enters as a dominant favorite in this maiden sprint at 330 yards, but a well-rated closer at 5/2 and a sneaky 12/1 shot make this ticket more interesting than a chalk-play card.

win7Jess Sissy CartelML 7/5

Jess Sissy Cartel (#7) owns the field's best TrackWiz rating at 89.42 and is installed as the 7/5 morning-line favorite — the kind of short price you see when a horse is clearly a cut above maiden company. Francisco Calderon gets the mount for trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III, and this is the same trainer who fields a competitive stable throughout the day's card. The rating margin over most of this field is substantial, and in a 330-yard sprint, raw talent tends to win out.

place8Cr Favorite TequilaML 5/2

Cr Favorite Tequila (#8) rates at 72.65 — second-best in the field — and goes off at 5/2, making her an attractive place play at a price that offers some return. Trainer Rolando Almanza puts Noe Villatoro aboard, a capable jockey who can get a horse out of the gate in sprint formats. If Jess Sissy Cartel handles the short-priced pressure and delivers, Cr Favorite Tequila has the rating to be right there for the exacta.

show2Eagle F15ML 12/1

Eagle F15 (#2) is our most intriguing exotic piece with a 64.86 rating that ranks third in this 12-horse field, yet goes off at 12/1 on the morning line. Trainer Janessa Lee Muniz puts Olvin Josue Martinez up, and while the gap to the top two is real, the odds gap is even more pronounced — there's genuine overlay here relative to the rating. In a wide-open maiden field with 12 runners, including a 12/1 shot with the third-best rating in your trifecta is smart ticket construction.

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Today's best free plays are anchored by Run Like Da Devil in the opener and the intriguing 6/1 price on A Sun of Thunder in Race 3. But the real meat of this card — including Feisti Cowboy, Bicycle Johnny, and a loaded Race 9 closer — is waiting for you in the full breakdown. Upgrade your TrackWiz subscription at /pricing and get every angle, every ticket, every edge. Good luck out there.

← All Lone Star picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 9 races free