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Mahoning Valley Race Course Picks & Predictions — October 26, 2026

October 26, 20268 racesAll Mahoning Valley Race Course picks

Results are in — see the official Mahoning Valley Race Course chart and payouts (our top pick won 1 of 8)→

It's a crisp autumn Monday at Mahoning Valley Race Course — 63°F and clear skies overhead, which means a fast, consistent dirt surface all day long. Ideal conditions for speed horses, and this eight-race card has plenty of them.

The card mixes claiming races, maiden action, and a pair of starter allowances, giving you a little bit of everything to work with. TrackWiz analysis has identified strong top picks across all eight races, and with the dirt playing true under these conditions, pace scenarios should set up cleanly from gate to wire.

Whether you're playing the first few races for free or diving into the full card with a TrackWiz subscription, there's real opportunity here today. Let's break it down.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:15 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A top-heavy claiming mile where the TrackWiz ratings create a clear separation at the top, but the morning line suggests the market hasn't fully caught up — making this a race where playing the number could pay off.

win6He's My BoyML 7/2

He's My Boy (6) owns the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 86.35 — a full 16 points clear of the next contender — and that kind of separation in a claiming field at this level is hard to ignore. Trainer Rodney C. Faulkner sends him out with Angel I. Diaz in the irons, a combination worth watching. At 7/2 on the morning line, this looks like potential overlay territory given how dominant the rating edge is over a one-mile dirt trip.

place1Dream PoliceML 3/1

Dream Police (1) checks in with a solid 70.34 TrackWiz rating and a 14% career win rate, which is respectable in a field where most horses are toiling in the single digits. Laureano Sosa picks up the mount for trainer Timothy E. Hamm, and at 3/1 on the morning line there's genuine each-way appeal here. The mile distance suits closers, and if He's My Boy takes the field on a pace duel, Dream Police could be the one picking up the pieces.

show5Balki BartokomousML 5/1

Balki Bartokomous (5) rates just a tick below Dream Police at 69.52 and brings an average speed figure of 53 — right in line with the field's competitive band. Trainer Rey Juarez-Mendoza sends him out with Jose A. Bracho, and at 5/1 he offers genuine exotic value for trifecta construction. His 9% career win rate is modest, but in a show role over a route of ground, consistency matters more than peak wins.

Race 2

12:43 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden special weight sprint where the entire field is winless, but the TrackWiz ratings reveal a hidden pecking order — and the morning-line favorite doesn't top the list.

win5SnitchML 3/1

Snitch (5) leads all horses in this maiden field with a TrackWiz rating of 79.76 — a notable edge when you consider the 2/1 morning-line favorite Sharon's Wish checks in nearly 30 points lower at 50.34. Trainer Robert M. Gorham puts Erik Barbaran up, a solid pairing for a 5 1/2-furlong dirt sprint where speed out of the gate can be decisive. In a maiden field full of unknowns, backing the top-rated horse at 3/1 represents genuine value.

place1The Ace ProjectML 6/1

The Ace Project (1) is the second-highest rated horse in the field at 70.67 and comes from the Timothy E. Hamm barn, which also enters Ati Dude — meaning Hamm is double-barreled in this race and clearly targeting the outcome. Victor R. Fernandez picks up the mount on The Ace Project at 6/1, making this a legitimate place overlay if the stable's primary attention splits the vote. Don't dismiss a trainer running two horses; sometimes the longer shot is the stable's actual key.

show2Ati DudeML 9/2

Ati Dude (2) is the second Hamm entry in this race, which immediately gives him stable intrigue. At 9/2 on the morning line with a 63.44 TrackWiz rating, he's the third-best rated horse in the field and has Laureano Sosa — a familiar Hamm partner — in the saddle. In a maiden race where pace shape is everything, having two horses from the same barn fighting for position could actually benefit the one with the cleaner outside trip.

Race 3

1:11 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Lady Fortune looks like the class of this six-furlong claiming field on paper, but a competitive pace scenario featuring multiple speed horses could set things up for a late-running type to close into a vulnerable lead.

win5Lady FortuneML 5/2

Lady Fortune (5) tops the field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and the field's best average speed figure at 54 — the only horse to post that number in this group. Her 16% career win rate is solid for this level, and trainer Richard Zielinski sends her out with Fernando Salazar Becerra at just 5/2 on the morning line. In a six-furlong dirt sprint at Mahoning Valley, a horse who combines the top rating with the top speed figure is exactly the profile you want.

place4Diamonds N DewML 3/1

Diamonds N Dew (4) is no slouch here — a 75.69 TrackWiz rating paired with the field's best career win rate at 19% makes her a legitimate contender, not just a place filler. Trainer Shane Meyers puts Jose A. Bracho up at 3/1, and this combination has the look of a horse who competes hard even when facing a top-end rival. If Lady Fortune gets into a pace duel early, Diamonds N Dew has the tactical speed and win record to capitalize.

show2Angel WingsML 6/1

Angel Wings (2) rates third in the field at 67.9 and owns a 13% career win rate — perfectly respectable in a claiming contest like this. Trainer Ivan Calderon taps Laureano Sosa, who knows this oval well, and at 6/1 there's real value in using Angel Wings underneath in exotics. She brings a 53 average speed figure and should find herself in a comfortable stalking spot behind whatever pace develops.

Three races are available to all readers today, and they're a solid cross-section of the card. He's My Boy opens things up in Race 1 — a one-mile claiming affair where our rating of 86.35 at a juicy 7/2 morning line makes him one of the better value plays of the day. Speed figures at the mile tend to reward horses who can settle early on this oval, and he fits the profile.

Race 2 flips the script with a 5½-furlong maiden sprint where Snitch comes in as our top pick at 3/1 — maiden races carry more uncertainty, but Snitch's 79.76 rating stands out in what shapes up as a wide-open field. Then in Race 3, Lady Fortune enters as the strongest-rated free pick on the card at 87.81, posted as the 5/2 morning line favorite in a six-furlong claiming race. When our top rating and the morning line agree, that's a combination worth paying attention to.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

1:39 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

This starter allowance at six furlongs features a top-rated horse at mid-range odds, but the intrigue is in the secondary contenders — Ollie's Folly and Hidden Ransom both carry career win percentages in the high 20s and 30s that demand respect.

win5Spirit of AkronML 3/1

Spirit of Akron (5) leads this field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and pairs a solid 18% career win percentage with a 54 average speed figure matching the best in the field. Trainer Robert C. Cline has Jose A. Bracho in the irons — Bracho is one of the busiest and most effective riders on this card today. At 3/1, Spirit of Akron is fairly priced for a horse with this level of rating separation over most of the field.

place4Ollie's FollyML 5/2

Ollie's Folly (4) brings a 29% career win rate — second-best in this field — which tells you this is a horse who knows how to hit the board. Trainer Johanna Urieta puts Deshawn L. Parker up at 5/2, making Ollie's Folly the morning-line favorite despite a slightly lower TrackWiz rating of 72.46. That win percentage is the kind of stat that keeps a horse in contention even when the rating edge belongs to someone else.

show1May MayhemML 8/1

May Mayhem (1) is the value play in the exotics here at 8/1 on the morning line. A 72.38 TrackWiz rating nearly matches the top contenders, and a 17% career win rate isn't far off the field average — the 8/1 morning line just doesn't reflect those numbers. Trainer Gary L. Johnson sends out Jason Simpson, and if the pace gets hot between the frontrunners, May Mayhem could be the one closing into a spot in the late stages of the six furlongs.

Race 5

2:07 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A deep nine-horse claiming field at six furlongs with genuine top-end contenders clustered tightly in the ratings — this is a race that screams for exotic coverage rather than betting it straight.

win6Angel I'm NotML 7/2

Angel I'm Not (6) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 86.35 and carries a 16% career win rate for trainer Robert C. Cline, who is one of the more active conditioners on today's card. Victor R. Fernandez gets the mount at 7/2, and this horse's average speed figure of 53 is competitive in a field where most horses cluster around that same number. In a big field like this, the horse with the highest rating edge often provides the best anchor for exactas and trifectas.

place7Quick RendezvousML 3/1

Quick Rendezvous (7) is the most interesting horse in this race on career win percentage — a 25% rate is comfortably the best in the field and signals a horse that consistently fires. Jose A. Bracho rides at 3/1 for trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich, and an average speed figure of 54 puts Quick Rendezvous in the top tier for raw speed. The TrackWiz rating of 74.64 is a step back from the top two, but the win percentage suggests this horse often outperforms what the numbers alone predict.

show8Be KozyML 8/1

Be Kozy (8) deserves respect in the exotics at 8/1 on the morning line. The TrackWiz rating of 74.05 is the third-best in the field — essentially tied with Quick Rendezvous — and a 54 average speed figure matches the top end of this group. Trainer Johanna Urieta has Deshawn L. Parker up, and a 15% career win rate in a claiming field at this level is respectable. The morning line underestimates this horse relative to her numbers.

Race 6

2:35 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Three horses are packed within a single rating point at the top of this nine-horse claiming mile, setting up a fascinating finish where the pace scenario over the extra distance could be the deciding factor.

win5Silver Is a GiftML 5/2

Silver Is a Gift (5) leads all horses with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating, edging Valiant Strike by less than a point — which makes this effectively a coin flip at the top on ratings alone. What separates Silver Is a Gift is the 5/2 morning line on a horse with a 53 average speed figure and trainer Hugo Andrade sending out Jann N. Hernandez for the route. In a one-mile dirt race, the horse who can rate off the pace and unleash a sustained run often wins, and this profile fits that scenario.

place4Valiant StrikeML 3/1

Valiant Strike (4) is essentially co-top-rated at 87.08 and brings a more experienced profile — a 16% career win rate with Robert C. Cline training, one of the meet's most active barns. Victor R. Fernandez rides at 3/1, and Cline also has Scioto in this race, which means the barn is going for the win with dual firepower. Valiant Strike's 52 average speed figure is a tick below Silver Is a Gift, which may explain the slight rating edge for the favorite, but he's absolutely live for the exacta.

show1Worthy of It AllML 5/1

Worthy of It All (1) rounds out our top three at 84.15 — only 3.7 rating points behind the leader in a field of nine. That 22% career win rate is the best in the entire field, and trainer Michael L. Rone puts Erik Barbaran up at 5/1. This is a horse who wins more than his fair share, and even if the top-rated duo run 1-2, Worthy of It All's consistency and win percentage make him an essential trifecta inclusion.

Race 7

3:03 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

Midnight Warship ships in as the morning-line favorite with the field's best speed figure and second-best rating, but Gunner Gabriel lurks at 6/1 with a 30% career win rate that makes this more than a single-horse race.

win8Midnight WarshipML 2/1

Midnight Warship (8) owns the strongest TrackWiz rating in this field at 84.63 and — most importantly — the only horse posting an average speed figure of 55, a full point above his nearest competitors. That speed figure edge is meaningful in a six-furlong dirt starter allowance where fractions matter. Trainer Michael L. Rone sends out Luis Raul Rivera at 2/1, and with a 26% career win rate, Midnight Warship is the kind of professional who shows up to run every time.

place7Gunner GabrielML 6/1

Gunner Gabriel (7) is the most compelling piece of this puzzle at 6/1 on the morning line. A 30% career win rate — tied for the field's best alongside Counting On Clyde — on a horse with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating is a combination that screams value. Trainer Johanna Urieta puts Deshawn L. Parker up, and a 54 average speed figure matches the best non-Midnight Warship horses in the race. This is a strong overlay candidate for exacta players who want to beat the chalk.

show5Mr LooochML 5/2

Mr Loooch (5) offers a balanced profile — 73.33 TrackWiz rating, 54 average speed figure, and a 16% career win rate for trainer Marco Ibarra with Erik Barbaran aboard. At 5/2 he's the second choice on the morning line, which means the market already respects him, but his best path to the exotics is stalking the pace and letting the speed horses — including Midnight Warship — set it up for him. A solid trifecta anchor.

Race 8

3:31 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

A ten-horse allowance mile at night that features a clear ratings leader in Lightning Speed, but the field is deep enough — and the distance long enough — that pace shape and trip luck could easily reshuffle the order of finish.

win5Lightning SpeedML 7/2

Lightning Speed (5) tops this allowance field with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating — the same figure posted by Angel I'm Not in Race 5, and that's a strong benchmark at this level. Trainer Timothy E. Hamm, who is active all day at Mahoning Valley, puts Laureano Sosa in the saddle at 7/2 on the morning line. A 9% career win rate is modest, but in an allowance field at one mile, horses with strong ratings but lower win percentages often have more upside than their record suggests — they've been competitive, just unlucky.

place6BukeleML 5/1

Bukele (6) rates second in the race at 73.71 with a 54 average speed figure — one of only a few horses in this ten-horse field to post that number. Trainer Caryn Vecchio has Jose A. Bracho up at 5/1, providing solid pilot continuity for a one-mile test. A 11% career win rate is average for this company, but Bukele's speed figure and rating edge over much of the bottom half of this field makes him a logical exacta partner with Lightning Speed.

show10Killa CreedML 6/1

Killa Creed (10) closes out our picks at 6/1 with a 67.24 TrackWiz rating and the advantage of a 16% career win rate — matching Pure Grinding at the top of the field's win percentage. Trainer David Wolochuk sends out Chelsey Keiser, and a 54 average speed figure puts Killa Creed in the competitive tier for raw pace. In a ten-horse allowance mile where things can get messy, having a third horse with a legitimate rating and solid win history is exactly the kind of trifecta insurance you want.

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Today's Mahoning Valley card is a clean, playable slate on a beautiful fall afternoon. Lady Fortune is the standout free play, He's My Boy offers excellent value at 7/2, and the premium races — especially those starter allowances — are where the real overlays could emerge. Full card analysis, pace projections, and exotic tickets are waiting for subscribers. Don't leave money on the table. Check out TrackWiz Premium and get every angle before the first race goes off.

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