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Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Picks & Predictions — August 15, 2026

August 15, 20268 racesAll Los Alamitos Quarter Horse picks

Results are in — see the official Los Alamitos Quarter Horse chart and payouts (our top pick won 4 of 8)→

It's a clear, comfortable Saturday at Los Alamitos — 77°F, no wind to speak of, and a fast Dirt surface that should reward pure speed from gate to wire. If you love short-format Quarter Horse racing, this is your kind of day.

Eight races are on the board, stretching from a quick 220 yards all the way out to 1,000 yards, with a mix of Maiden Claimers, a pair of straight Claiming and Allowance spots, and three marquee Trials in the back half of the card. Those Trials — Races 6, 7, and 8 all going 400 yards — are the centerpiece of today's card and where the serious money will flow.

TrackWiz analysis covers the full card. The first three races are free for everyone, and subscribers unlock the deep dive on Races 4 through 8, including those pivotal Trial heats.

Best Bets

Race 1

2:15 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden claimer that shapes up as a one-horse race on paper — Beauty Jenny's TrackWiz rating towers over the field, but at 2/1 on the morning line, the value will be in the exotics around her.

win4Beauty JennyML 2/1

Beauty Jenny (4) is the class of this field by a wide margin, posting a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 — more than 35 points clear of the second-ranked horse. Trainer Angela Maria Aquino puts her in the hands of Cesar Ortega, a capable pilot who should have no trouble getting her into position in a short 4.5-furlong dash. Her average speed of 54 matches the top cluster in this field, and for a maiden claimer, that consistency matters. At 2/1 on the morning line, she's the obvious win play.

place2OmemgeeML 5/2

Omemgee (2) checks in as the second-best rated horse in the race at 53.61, and Ricardo S. Ramirez gets the call for trainer Jesus J. Uranga. Her average speed of 54 is right in line with the top performers in the field, making her a solid placement candidate if Beauty Jenny takes care of business up front.

show1Spy in DisguiseML 8/1

Spy in Disguise (1) is a legitimate longshot value play for show tickets and exotic coverage at 8/1 on the morning line. Francisco Monroy gets the mount for trainer Alberto Ruvalcaba, and while her TrackWiz rating of 48.33 won't scare anyone, in a maiden claimer this wide open behind the top pick, she has the speed to fill out a ticket.

Race 2

2:41 AM EDT

Claiming · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

A claiming sprint where the morning-line favorite doesn't hold the top TrackWiz rating — Westport Captain is our top-rated horse at 4/1, which sets up a potential overlay situation worth exploiting.

win1Westport CaptainML 4/1

Westport Captain (1) leads the field with a TrackWiz rating of 85.62, a full 17 points ahead of the next contender, yet the market has him at 4/1 while sending Unbridled Vision off at 2/1. That's a significant disconnect our analysis doesn't agree with. Trainer Vann Belvoir and jockey Edgar Payeras are a familiar combination, and Westport Captain's average speed of 56 is tied for the best in the field. A 10% career win rate in a claiming field tells you he knows how to compete without necessarily dominating — he just needs things to go right today.

place5Grey PowerML 6/1

Grey Power (5) is an interesting place play at 6/1 despite a solid TrackWiz rating of 75.62 — second-best in the field behind our win pick. The market seems cool on him because of a 5% career win rate, but in place betting, a horse who runs consistently without necessarily breaking through can be exactly what you want. Pedro Flores rides for trainer Sergio Morfin, and with an average speed of 55, he's competitive on that front.

show6James J. BraddockML 3/1

James J. Braddock (6) brings a 12% career win rate and a TrackWiz rating of 68.55 to the gate for trainer Jesus Nunez and jockey Ricardo S. Ramirez. At 3/1 on the morning line, he's arguably going to be short enough to not represent great show value, but his numbers make him a safe anchor for trifecta construction — reliable enough to hit the board in a field this competitive.

Race 3

3:05 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1000 yd · Dirt

A 1000-yard maiden claimer with a clear top two on paper — Hydroplane and Bretts Acclaim are separated from the rest of the field by a significant ratings gap, making this look like a two-horse race with a longshot show kicker.

win5HydroplaneML 9/5

Hydroplane (5) is our top-rated horse in this field at 88.83 and goes postward as the morning-line favorite at 9/5 for trainer Gloria Haley and jockey Francisco Orduna-Rojas. Her average speed of 56 leads the entire field — a meaningful edge over a 1000-yard distance where early punch matters. Despite a 0% career win rate reflecting maiden status, the underlying numbers suggest she's capable of breaking through today.

place2Bretts AcclaimML 5/2

Bretts Acclaim (2) is the clear second choice in our model with a TrackWiz rating of 81.73 and an average speed of 55 — right behind Hydroplane. Trainer Robert J. Lucas sends her out with Cristobal Herrera aboard, and the 5/2 morning line reflects her legitimate competitive profile. She's the natural place ticket underneath Hydroplane and a solid key in exactas.

show1Draw CloseML 6/1

Draw Close (1) is listed at 6/1 on the morning line and represents an interesting show ticket for exotic players. Trainer Terri Eaton and jockey Pedro Flores team up here, and while no average speed is available for Draw Close — which adds some uncertainty — a TrackWiz rating of 51.67 puts her comfortably ahead of the bottom half of this field. In a maiden event where pace can get messy, a horse breaking from the rail can catch a trip.

Our three free races give you a solid launching pad. Race 1 is a 4½-furlong Maiden Claimer where Beauty Jenny (morning line 2/1, TrackWiz rating 88.54) projects as the class of the field. In Race 2, Westport Captain offers genuine value at 4/1 odds in a straight Claiming sprint — that's the kind of morning line that can balloon even further at post time if the public leans elsewhere. Then in Race 3, the distance stretches to 1,000 yards — a genuine endurance test by Quarter Horse standards — and Hydroplane (9/5 ML, 88.83 rating) looks like the most well-rounded horse in a Maiden Claiming field.

One angle to watch across all three free races: on a fast, dry Dirt surface like today's, horses with strong early burst out of the gate tend to dominate at Los Alamitos. Beauty Jenny and Hydroplane both profile as horses who can establish position immediately — and in short-format racing, that often means the race is over before anyone can catch them.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

3:29 AM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

A short 350-yard allowance where trainer James W. Glenn, Jr. saddles two horses — Talker and Squeaker — creating an interesting barn dynamic, but our analysis has Talker firmly on top with the strongest overall profile in the field.

win2TalkerML 8/5

Talker (2) tops our ratings at 89.12 and carries a 33% career win rate that's hard to argue with at this level — that's an elite conversion figure for a quarter horse. Jockey Cesar Ortega rides for trainer James W. Glenn, Jr., a combination that clearly knows what it takes to win. The 8/5 morning line makes him the chalk, but that price is earned — when your top-rated horse is also the most accomplished one in the field, you play it straight.

place1Dios DoradoML 5/2

Dios Dorado (1) brings a 20% career win rate and a strong TrackWiz rating of 82.03, just a tick behind Talker in our model. Trainer Eddie D. Willis sends him out with Justine Klaiber up, and at 5/2 on the morning line, he's a natural exacta partner underneath the favorite. In a 350-yard race where fractions of a second separate the field, a horse with this kind of class profile is always dangerous.

show4TalismanML 3/1

Talisman (4) sits at 3/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 73.58 and a 25% career win rate — numbers that suggest consistency without quite reaching the top tier. Oscar M. Peinado rides for trainer Valentin A. Zamudio, and in a short 350-yard sprint, any horse breaking cleanly from the gate can grab a piece. He's a solid show anchor and worth including in trifecta tickets.

Race 5

3:53 AM EDT

Maiden · 220 yd · Dirt

A wide-open 220-yard maiden sprint where Apollitical Eye Mrl's bloodline pedigree — that 'Apollitical' prefix signals serious Quarter Horse heritage — combines with the top model rating to make him the standout, though this short distance leaves little room for error from anyone.

win2Apollitical Eye MrlML 2/1

Apollitical Eye Mrl (2) posts the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 88.54 and goes at 2/1 on the morning line for trainer Jaime H. Gomez and jockey Gabriel Angel Gomez Lara. The 'Apollitical' lineage is one of the most celebrated in modern Quarter Horse racing, and that breeding profile matters enormously over 220 yards where raw speed and genetics are everything. No average speed is available to lean on, but the model's conviction here is clear — this is the horse to beat.

place3El ExecutivoML 5/2

El Executivo (3) is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 57.5 for trainer Juan G. Aleman and jockey Martin Arriaga. That 30-point gap to Apollitical Eye Mrl is notable, but in a 220-yard dash, anybody can fire and hit the board. He's the natural place play for bettors who want to stay on the top two in the program.

show7Budder It Again KevML 9/2

Budder It Again Kev (7) rounds out our show spot at 9/2 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 55.21 — the third-best in this field. Trainer Valentin A. Zamudio also saddles Big Kixx Cartel in this race, which could split focus, but Ruben Lozano takes the mount and that price offers real value for trifecta construction in what figures to be a competitive maiden opener.

Race 6

4:19 AM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Doodah Cartel is the rare legitimate odds-on favorite you can actually trust — a 46% career win rate and a 90.0 TrackWiz rating in a field where nobody else cracks 66, making this a 'price-the-rest' race for exotic players.

win3Doodah CartelML 4/5

Doodah Cartel (3) is as dominant on paper as it gets at this level — a TrackWiz rating of 90.0 (tops in today's entire card) paired with a staggering 46% career win rate. Trainer Paul C. Jones sends him out with Henry Reynoso Lopez, and the 4/5 morning line is completely deserved. In trial races, where advancement to the final is the goal, a horse this accomplished over his rivals is essentially running in a different class. Bet him to win and use him on top of everything in your exotics.

place1Fireworks Over ParisML 12/1

Fireworks Over Paris (1) is the surprise place pick here at 12/1 on the morning line — that's where the value lives in this race. Trainer Jose Antonio Flores and jockey Irving Lara team up for a horse with a 20% career win rate and a TrackWiz rating of 65.19, which leads everyone except Doodah Cartel and our show pick. If the chalk does the expected work up front, there's a legitimate scramble for second behind him, and Fireworks Over Paris has the profile to land in it at a big price.

show7Walk When I WalkML 4/1

Walk When I Walk (7) rounds out the picks with a 33% career win rate — the second-highest rate in the field after the favorite — and a TrackWiz rating of 62.35. Ricardo S. Ramirez rides for trainer Sergio Morfin, and this horse has shown a genuine ability to finish. At 4/1, he's not exactly a gift price, but his win rate suggests he competes hard enough to grab a piece in trials. Trifecta players should use him underneath Doodah Cartel.

Race 7

4:43 AM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

Another 400-yard trial, and Hi Octane looks like the class act — a 36% career win rate and nearly a 90-point TrackWiz rating — but Hurry Up and Go North offer enough to keep the exacta interesting.

win3Hi OctaneML 9/5

Hi Octane (3) is the clear top selection with a TrackWiz rating of 88.83 and a 36% career win rate — the best conversion figure in this field by a healthy margin. Trainer Kristen Watanabe sends her out with Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo aboard at 9/5 on the morning line, a fair price given the profile. In trial conditions over 400 yards, horses that know how to win with regularity tend to do it again — and Hi Octane's record strongly suggests she's that kind of competitor.

place2Hurry UpML 3/1

Hurry Up (2) is our place pick with a TrackWiz rating of 63.95 and a 25% career win rate — respectable numbers for a trial field. Trainer Scott Willoughby and jockey Gabriel Angel Gomez Lara team up, and at 3/1, Hurry Up should be on most exacta tickets under Hi Octane. Willoughby also saddles Go North in this race, so he'll have two horses to root for, but the rating gap between Hurry Up and Go North gives us a clear preference.

show6Go NorthML 6/1

Go North (6) gives Willoughby a second shot in this trial at 6/1 on the morning line, and a TrackWiz rating of 62.1 keeps him in the conversation for show tickets. Ricardo S. Ramirez picks up the mount, and a 12% career win rate is the one concern — he doesn't close out races at the same rate as the top two in our model. That said, trials can produce messy outcomes, and at 6/1, Go North is worth a trifecta slot.

Race 8

5:07 AM EDT

Trial · 400 yd · Dirt

The final trial of the card is the most intriguing from a value standpoint — You Are the Best holds our top rating at 9/2 while the morning-line favorite Cowboy Country 123 goes off at 9/5 but ranks third in our model, creating a genuine overlay opportunity.

win6You Are the BestML 9/2

You Are the Best (6) is our top-rated horse at 84.9 and carries a 20% career win rate going for trainer Paul C. Jones and jockey Jesse P Gonzalez. The disconnect here is real — the market has Cowboy Country 123 as the 9/5 chalk while You Are the Best sits at 9/2, nearly double the price on the horse our analysis prefers. In trial racing where qualification matters, you want the horse with the highest ceiling, and You Are the Best checks that box. This is the kind of price advantage TrackWiz analysis is built to find.

place7Cowboy Country 123ML 9/5

Cowboy Country 123 (7) brings the best career win rate in the field at 27% and a TrackWiz rating of 74.43 for trainer Jose Antonio Flores and jockey Irving Lara. He's the morning-line favorite at 9/5 for good reason — win rate matters in these short sprints — but our model ranks him third overall. He's a strong place play who will likely run into the money, and at probable short odds, he's best used as the 'A' part of an exacta rather than a straight win bet.

show2Morning Star KML 8/1

Morning Star K (2) is a fascinating show play at 8/1 on the morning line, posting a TrackWiz rating of 68.39 — second-best in this field — with a 22% career win rate. Trainer Juan G. Aleman and jockey Martin Arriaga connect here, and the 8/1 price on a horse this well-rated suggests the public may be overlooking him. In a competitive trial where three or four horses have legitimate claims, Morning Star K represents genuine trifecta value at a price you rarely see on a horse with these underlying numbers.

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Bottom line: today's Los Alamitos card is built around speed, short distances, and three Trial races that demand your attention. Beauty Jenny, Westport Captain, and Hydroplane headline the free plays, while Doodah Cartel is the marquee name for subscribers. Clear conditions, fast Dirt, and eight races of pure Quarter Horse action — it's a good day to be at the track. Unlock the full card breakdown at /pricing and don't let the Trials catch you unprepared.

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