Unlock the other 7 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

Mahoning Valley Race Course Picks & Predictions — October 24, 2026

October 24, 202610 racesAll Mahoning Valley Race Course picks

It's a crisp, clear Saturday at Mahoning Valley Race Course — 58°F with no weather concerns in sight, which means a fast, consistent dirt surface and no excuses for connections. That's exactly the kind of afternoon that separates genuine talent from horses that have been hiding behind sloppy tracks and pace scenarios that didn't suit them.

Today's 10-race card is loaded. Five stakes races headline the back half of the card, stretching from a sharp 6-furlong sprint in Race 8 all the way to a 1 1/4-mile route finale that features one of the most heavily bet morning-line favorites we've seen at this track in a while. If you're here for action, you came to the right place.

TrackWiz has broken down all 10 races, and our ratings — built from speed figures, pace projections, class assessments, and trainer angles — are locked and loaded. Three races are available free to all readers. The rest of the card is waiting for subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:15 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

A starter allowance opener where the TrackWiz ratings create a clear top three, but Credit Check at 6/1 could steal some value from a chalky pool.

win2Compute ThisML 3/1

Compute This earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 87.08, and a 22% career win rate is genuinely strong for this level — nearly one in four lifetime starts has ended in a trip to the winner's circle. Erik Barbaran gets the call for trainer Marco Ccamaque, a pairing worth watching. At 3/1 on the morning line, this isn't a giveaway price, but the rating edge over the field is substantial enough to justify confidence.

place3Credit CheckML 6/1

Credit Check is the value play in the exotics at 6/1, posting a TrackWiz rating of 82.71 that slots neatly into second place in this field. Luis Raul Rivera rides for James R. Jackson, and that 17% career win rate shows this horse knows how to hit the board. If Compute This stumbles, Credit Check is right there to pick up the pieces.

show4Mizzen the PointML 9/2

Mizzen the Point brings the best career win percentage in the field at 25%, and Yarmarie L. Correa is a capable pilot for Paul G. Overholt's barn. The 73.3 TrackWiz rating makes this horse a legitimate show contender and a solid underneath piece in the exacta and trifecta.

Race 2

4:45 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A maiden special weight on the dirt with a full slate of winless horses — this one comes down to who has shown the most in the mornings and whose connections believe they're ready to break through.

win1Whiskey River RunML 9/5

Whiskey River Run tops the TrackWiz ratings at 58.67 and draws the rail for Jose A. Bracho, who gives trainer Susan L. Anderson a live shot to break the maiden here. The 9/5 morning line makes this horse the public choice, and with the highest rating in the field to back it up, the confidence is earned. An average speed figure of 52 is competitive in this company.

place8Drill Sgt. GabeML 2/1

Drill Sgt. Gabe is separated from the top pick by less than half a point in TrackWiz ratings (58.33 vs. 58.67), making this essentially a photo finish on paper. Erik Barbaran has been a steady presence at Mahoning Valley, and trainer Michelle Winters sends this horse out at 2/1 — the second-shortest price on the board. A place ticket here is strong insurance given how close these two are.

show6Kestrel KingML 9/2

Kestrel King posts the best average speed figure in the field at 53, a tick above the top two picks, and goes at a workable 9/2. Mauro Cedillo rides for Louis V. Ruberto, and that speed edge could matter in a short 5.5-furlong sprint where early zip counts. Include this one under the win picks in your trifecta.

Race 3

5:15 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Chalon's First looks like a class standout in this claiming field, but the pace scenario with nine runners going six furlongs could set things up nicely for a deep closer.

win3Chalon's FirstML 7/2

Chalon's First is simply in a different tier here — an 86.35 TrackWiz rating in a field where the next-best horse checks in at 59.95 is a massive separation. The 27% career win rate is the best among all nine entrants, and Erik Barbaran in the irons for trainer Michael L. Rone is a sharp booking. The 7/2 morning line should represent fair value given that ratings gap.

place7CandycrumbsML 9/2

Candycrumbs checks in second in the ratings at 59.95 and ships out at 9/2 for trainer Jay P. Bernardini with Brandon Tapara up. A 15% career win rate is modest, but the average speed figure of 53 is solid, and this horse figures to benefit if the pace gets hot up front with nine horses entered. A place finish feels like the realistic ceiling and the smart play in the exotics.

show6Judge RulesML 5/1

Judge Rules at 5/1 brings a TrackWiz rating of 49.9 for trainer Juan Pablo Silva, and while the 10% career win rate isn't flashy, this is a horse that could sneak into the trifecta if the pace falls apart. Jose A. Leon gets the mount, and at that price, a show bet or underneath exotics inclusion is worth considering as a hedge.

Our three free races give you a solid foundation to build a winning ticket. In Race 1, Compute This earns our top TrackWiz rating of 87.08 in a Starter Allowance going 6 furlongs — a field of horses that have earned their way out of claiming ranks but are still finding their level. That's a juicy spot for a horse our model loves. Race 2 flips to a Maiden Special Weight sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs, where Whiskey River Run goes off as the 9/5 morning-line choice — maiden races carry inherent uncertainty, but the pace shape sets up well for our top selection. Then in Race 3, claiming company at 6 furlongs gives us Chalon's First at 7/2 on the morning line, a horse posting an 86.35 TrackWiz rating that represents genuine value if the price holds.

All three free races are dirt sprints, and on a clear, dry day like today, expect the track to play honest — no artificial pace bias tilting things in either direction. Horses that can get out of the gate cleanly and sustain their run into the stretch should be rewarded. Keep that in mind as you structure your early pick sequences.

Send me tomorrow's free Mahoning Valley Race Course card before post time.

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

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

5:45 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

City Scene enters as a short-priced allowance favorite with a dominant TrackWiz rating, but Country Promises and Belle Bottoms give this race a legitimate second tier that should produce a solid exacta.

win1City SceneML 6/5

City Scene is the standout of the early card — a 89.71 TrackWiz rating paired with a 46% career win rate is the profile of a horse that consistently delivers. Luis Raul Rivera rides for James R. Jackson, a trainer well-represented on today's card. The 6/5 morning line will limit the payout, but the case for a win here is as strong as any race on the card.

place2Country PromisesML 5/1

Country Promises at 5/1 is an intriguing place piece for trainer Robert M. Gorham, posting a 76.06 TrackWiz rating and a 35% career win rate — both genuinely respectable numbers at the allowance level. Erik Barbaran picks up the mount, and with the same average speed figure as City Scene (55), this horse isn't outclassed on raw figures. At 5/1, the place price on an exacta could offer real value.

show4Belle BottomsML 8/1

Belle Bottoms at 8/1 is the value-oriented show selection, carrying a 73.31 TrackWiz rating and a 28% career win rate that suggests consistency. Fernando Salazar Becerra has the call for Nestor R. Rivera's barn, and the 55 average speed figure puts this horse in the same conversation as the top two on pace. Use in the trifecta underneath and as a saver show bet.

Race 5

6:16 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

One of the deepest fields of the day — eleven runners in an allowance sprint with three horses bunched between 81 and 86 in the ratings and real separation from the rest of the pack.

win4Tom's AvatarML 4/1

Tom's Avatar edges out the field at 85.62 on the TrackWiz scale, and Laureano Sosa gets the assignment for Timothy E. Hamm — a trainer who has multiple horses running well today. The 4/1 morning line represents genuine value for a horse sitting atop an eleven-runner field. An average speed figure of 54 is right in line with the competitive cluster at the top.

place2WisleyML 7/2

Wisley is essentially a dead heat with Tom's Avatar on the TrackWiz model at 85.28, and Chelsey Keiser takes the mount for Richard Zielinski's operation. A 28% career win rate tells you this horse converts at a solid clip, and the 7/2 price means there's real money to be made if Tom's Avatar takes the win and Wisley hits the board. This is a legitimate contender, not just a place play.

show8Quick ShipML 3/1

Quick Ship rounds out the top three at 81.73 with the highest career win percentage of the trio at 40% — that's a horse that knows how to finish. Guillermo Rodriguez rides for Justin Radosevich, and the 3/1 morning line reflects public respect. The 55 average speed figure also gives this horse the best raw speed of the top group, which could matter in a sprint.

Race 6

6:48 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

The odds board makes Panda Listen the heavy chalk at 3/5, but TrackWiz analysis flips the script — Box Office Hit and Chestnut Queen carry notably higher ratings, setting up a potential upset in this stakes event.

win6Box Office HitML 7/2

Box Office Hit tops the TrackWiz ratings at 80.7 despite being listed at 7/2 on the morning line, a meaningful pricing disconnect from the public's 3/5 favorite. Fernando Salazar Becerra rides for Robert M. Gorham — a trainer who also sends out Inside Joke today, suggesting a confident stable. A 33% career win rate at the stakes level is a respectable foundation, and the 54 average speed figure is competitive.

place5Chestnut QueenML 8/1

Chestnut Queen at 8/1 is the sneaky value play of the card — a 79.76 TrackWiz rating that ranks second in this field and yet goes off at a big price because the public is locked in on the favorite. Laureano Sosa rides for Timothy E. Hamm, and at 20% career wins, this horse has shown it can compete. If the pace pressing Panda Listen from the outset opens the door, Chestnut Queen is set up to swoop.

show4Panda ListenML 3/5

Panda Listen deserves respect — the 3/5 morning line means the market loves this horse, and Fernando De La Cruz aboard for Brendan P. Walsh is a sharp trainer-jockey combo. The 55 average speed figure is the best in the field. We slot the chalk in the show position because our ratings say it's slightly overbet, but leaving it completely out of your exotics would be a mistake.

Race 7

7:21 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

Book Value arrives as a short-priced stakes favorite with an eye-opening 100% career win rate, but Distinct Ruler at 5/1 makes this race more than a one-horse show.

win7Book ValueML 8/5

Book Value is the headliner — a 89.12 TrackWiz rating, a 100% career win rate (meaning every career start has ended in a win), and the best average speed figure in the field at 55. Erik Barbaran picks up the mount for Robert M. Gorham's barn, and the 8/5 morning line reflects a horse the market respects. The only question is whether this will be the first time this horse faces adversity — and today's field will test that.

place8Distinct RulerML 5/1

Distinct Ruler at 5/1 is the most compelling place play on the card — an 83.11 TrackWiz rating, a 33% career win rate, and Luis Raul Rivera in the irons for James R. Jackson. If Book Value takes care of business up front, Distinct Ruler looks like the clear second-best on ratings. At 5/1, an exacta with the favorite could return a satisfying number.

show4Breakheart PassML 5/2

Breakheart Pass at 5/2 brings the best career win percentage in the field among the contenders at 66%, and Santiago Gonzalez handles the mount for Robert C. Cline. The 80.21 TrackWiz rating makes this a legitimate threat, and this horse should be respected in trifecta construction. If Book Value stumbles, Breakheart Pass is the horse most likely to capitalize.

Race 8

7:54 PM EDT

Stakes · 6 fur · Dirt

A six-furlong stakes sprint with two heavy hitters at the top of the market — Superwolf and Silent Rule figure to battle it out on paper, but Empire's Fire at 6/1 offers real value as a board price.

win7SuperwolfML 7/5

Superwolf is our top selection and the top-rated horse in the field at 89.42 — and the 56 average speed figure is the highest on the entire card today. Erik Barbaran gets the call for Robert M. Gorham's barn, and a 64% career win rate means this horse closes the deal. The 7/5 morning line makes it a short price, but the data says this is a legitimate standout.

place5Silent RuleML 3/2

Silent Rule at 3/2 is no pushover — an 85.46 TrackWiz rating and a staggering 92% career win rate make this horse one of the most consistent on the card. Brandon Tapara rides for Jay P. Bernardini, and the 55 average speed figure is right there with the top competition. In a head-to-head battle with Superwolf, this could go either way — use both on top of your exacta and reverse it.

show8Empire's FireML 6/1

Empire's Fire at 6/1 represents the best value in this stakes field — a 77.37 TrackWiz rating, a 48% career win rate, and Jose A. Bracho navigating for Jeffrey A. Radosevich. That 48% clip at career level is a legitimately strong number, and the 55 average speed figure keeps this horse in range. If the top two burn each other up in a duel, Empire's Fire is right there to pick up the pieces.

Race 9

8:27 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/8 mi · Dirt

A wide-open ten-horse stakes at a mile and an eighth with Silver Kiss and Candlelight Hours separated by barely one rating point at the top — this could come down to the wire.

win8Silver KissML 2/1

Silver Kiss heads our analysis with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and a 54% career win rate — more than half of all career starts have ended in victory, which is elite consistency at any level. Chelsey Keiser rides for David Wolochuk, and the 2/1 morning line is a fair reflection of this horse's edge. The 54 average speed figure and that win percentage make Silver Kiss the most complete entry in this field.

place1Candlelight HoursML 5/2

Candlelight Hours is essentially a coin flip with the top pick on TrackWiz ratings at 87.22 — that's a razor-thin gap. Luis Raul Rivera rides for James R. Jackson, a trainer showing up multiple times today with live horses. A 40% career win rate and the 5/2 morning line both signal that the connections believe this horse is live. If you're constructing an exacta, consider boxing these two.

show4LionisticML 6/1

Lionistic at 6/1 is the value piece underneath — a 67.31 TrackWiz rating, a 30% career win rate, and Jose A. Bracho navigating for Jeffrey A. Radosevich. There's a notable ratings gap between the top pair and the rest of the field, but Lionistic is the clear third-best on our model. At 6/1, a show bet or trifecta inclusion gives you meaningful return if the chalk runs true.

Race 10

9:00 PM EDT

Stakes · 1 1/4 mi · Dirt

Fair and Square enters as a prohibitive 2/5 favorite with the top TrackWiz score on the card, but General Mathis and Leavetheninetynine provide legitimate value for exotic bettors willing to look past the chalk.

win5Fair and SquareML 2/5

Fair and Square carries the highest TrackWiz rating of any horse on today's card at a perfect 90, and Rocco Bowen — a jockey with a strong national profile — gets the mount for Timothy E. Hamm. A 46% career win rate nearly matches City Scene's standout mark from Race 4, and at 1 1/4 miles, this horse will have plenty of room to let its class tell. The 2/5 price is short, but fading this one in win singles would be a mistake.

place4General MathisML 7/2

General Mathis at 7/2 is the primary threat to the favorite — a 65.87 TrackWiz rating is well back of Fair and Square, but a 43% career win rate is a legitimately strong number. Luis Alberto Batista rides for Johanna Urieta, and at a route distance of 1 1/4 miles, stamina and trainer prep become crucial. Use this one in the exacta and as a place ticket if you want a return without betting the chalk.

show7LeavetheninetynineML 8/1

Leavetheninetynine at 8/1 is the sleeper in the race — a 65.52 TrackWiz rating essentially ties General Mathis at the second tier, and Luis Raul Rivera has been active and sharp throughout today's card. Trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich also saddles La Artista in Race 9, showing strong barn form on the day. At 8/1, a trifecta spot with this longshot could produce a meaningful payout if the top two run true.

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

Bottom line: today's Mahoning Valley card delivers real opportunities from the jump. Compute This, Whiskey River Run, and Chalon's First are your free best bets to start the afternoon, and five stakes races in the back half of the card mean the exotic pools are going to be lively. If you want our pace projections, ticket structures, and full analysis on all 10 races — especially that loaded stakes sequence — the complete breakdown is available to TrackWiz subscribers. Good luck out there, and let's cash some tickets.

← All Mahoning Valley Race Course picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 10 races free