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Monmouth Park Picks & Predictions — August 28, 2026

August 28, 20266 racesAll Monmouth Park picks

This card ran on August 28, 2026.

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Best bets at Monmouth Park, August 28, 2026

Race 17Too Many MikesML 8/52:00 PM EDT

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Results are in — see the official Monmouth Park chart and payouts (our top pick won 2 of 6)→

Welcome to Monmouth Park on August 28th, where a six-race Friday card gives us a solid mix of turf routes, dirt sprints, and a little something for every angle player in the building. Cloudy skies and 80°F temps have the grass courses playing firm and fast — exactly the conditions that separate true turf horses from pretenders.

Three of today's six races are contested on the turf, and the pace setups on those routes look particularly interesting. We've also got a starter allowance sprint on the dirt that has the makings of a pace duel worth watching closely. Bottom line: this isn't a throwaway Friday card. There's real meat on the bone here.

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Race 1

2:00 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A wide-open maiden claimer on the turf where TrackWiz ratings separate the contenders from the pretenders — three horses stand well above the rest in a field where nobody has broken their maiden yet.

win7Too Many MikesML 8/5

Too Many Mikes earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 89.12 and draws the morning-line favoritism at 8/5, so the market and our model are in agreement here. Edwin Gonzalez gets the call in the irons, and with an average speed figure of 53 on a turf course that rewards consistency, this horse looks like the class of a soft maiden claiming field. In a race where every horse is still searching for their first win, the separation in ratings between Too Many Mikes and the rest of the field is meaningful — that 15-point gap over the next-closest rival Balitea is significant.

place9BaliteaML 10/1

Balitea is the sneaky interesting piece of this race, carrying a 74.18 TrackWiz rating and going postward at 10/1 morning line — that's a potential overlay situation if the crowd underestimates her. Melissa Iorio rides, and with an average speed figure matching several of the lower-priced horses in the field, Balitea profiles as a logical place finisher in a race where the top three in our ratings are separated by less than 16 points.

show5Whiskey WhimML 6/1

Whiskey Whim sits third in our TrackWiz ratings at 73.71 and offers 6/1 morning-line value in a maiden field where the top of the market is bunched. Trainer Juan Carlos Avila saddles this one with Charlie Marquez up, and the combination of a competitive average speed figure of 53 and a solid rating make Whiskey Whim a reasonable exotic inclusion — especially in trifecta and superfecta tickets where getting the show spot right at a price can pay off nicely.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

2:38 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A dirt claiming mile-plus test where Captain Oats and All the Luck both post elite TrackWiz ratings, setting up what looks like a genuine two-horse battle at the top — but Fratellone's 2/1 morning line demands attention in the pace scenario.

win2Captain OatsML 5/2

Captain Oats is our top-rated horse in this race at 87.81 and he backs it up with a 25% career win rate — that's the kind of number that says this horse actually knows how to finish first when conditions line up. Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. takes the mount for trainer Luis Rivera, Jr., and at 5/2 on the morning line, Captain Oats isn't a massive overlay but the combination of top rating, proven winning ability, and a legitimate jockey-trainer pairing makes him the most compelling selection in the field. The 1 mile and 70 yards on dirt suits a horse with a 54 average speed figure, and his class profile separates him from most of this field.

place3All the LuckML 7/2

All the Luck sits just a tick behind Captain Oats at 85.90 in our ratings, and Jose C. Ferrer is a savvy hand who can navigate a longer dirt route. The 4% career win rate may look light, but in a claiming context what matters more is the horse's current form cycle, and the TrackWiz number says he's live — he's worth including underneath in exactas as a likely place finisher.

show5FratelloneML 2/1

Fratellone is the morning-line favorite at 2/1, which means the public will be all over him, but our model ranks him third in the field at 82.18 — solid but not lights-out. Edwin Gonzalez rides for Juan Carlos Avila, and with a 16% career win rate and an average speed figure of 51, Fratellone can hang around long enough to hit the board even if he gets outrun at the wire by the top two. He's the kind of horse you want in your trifectas as the show piece.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Our three free races today span maiden claimers and a claiming route, and TrackWiz analysis likes the way the top picks line up. Too Many Mikes opens the card on the turf at 8/5 morning line — that's a legitimate price for a horse with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating in a maiden field. Watch the turf rail position early; with firm going expected, inside runners have been getting a nice advantage at this meeting.

On the dirt, Captain Oats (5/2, 87.81 rating) draws our attention in the mile-and-70-yard claimer — a distance that can expose pace-pressers if the early fractions get loose. And in Race 3, Guapo Again matches Captain Oats' 87.81 rating in the starter allowance sprint, where six furlongs on a fast Monmouth dirt track will reward whoever gets to the front cleanest. All three of these plays are fully unlocked and waiting for you below.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

3:11 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

Six furlongs of dirt starter allowance action where Guapo Again brings a standout TrackWiz rating and a 23% career win rate into a field that has a clear speed setup — but President Z's 26% career win rate adds a real competitive wrinkle.

win8Guapo AgainML 5/2

Guapo Again is the horse to beat here, posting the field-best 87.81 TrackWiz rating while carrying a 23% career win rate that says this isn't a horse that just looks good on paper. Trainer Kelly J. Breen is a sharp conditioner who puts horses in spots where they can fire, and Edwin Gonzalez in the irons at 5/2 on the morning line gives you a legitimate win contender at a price that isn't insulting. The 55 average speed figure on dirt at six furlongs is exactly the profile you want in a sprint starter allowance, and our model is firmly behind this one.

place2Amazing WooML 5/1

Amazing Woo earned an 81.50 TrackWiz rating and goes to the gate at 5/1 for trainer Kathleen A. Demasi — a barn that knows how to place horses at Monmouth. The 17% career win rate gives him real credibility as a place option, and with Eliseo Ruiz riding, Amazing Woo figures to be stalking the early pace and making a run in the stretch. At 5/1, he's a great place-bet value if you're looking to fade the favorite slightly.

show6Shakin LooseML 7/2

Shakin Loose brings the highest average speed figure in the field at 56, which in a six-furlong dirt sprint is a number worth circling. Jose C. Ferrer is one of the sharper jockeys on the Monmouth circuit, and trainer Wayne Potts also saddles President Z — meaning this barn has two live shots in the race. At 7/2 on the morning line, Shakin Loose is arguably the best speed figure in the race and worth including in all your exotic tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 4

3:44 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

This allowance optional claiming turf route features a stacked middle tier with several horses rated within ten points of each other — Postino's Prophecy leads on our model, but the 8/1 prices on Point to That Star and Golden Ring hint at potential overlay value underneath.

win2Postino's ProphecyML 7/2

Postino's Prophecy tops the TrackWiz ratings in Race 4 at 86.35 and gets Chantal Sutherland in the saddle — a jockey who's known for her patience in turf routes and can rate a horse beautifully over a mile and a sixteenth. Trainer Holly L. Harris has this one pointing at this spot, and the 7/2 morning line is a fair price for the top-rated horse in the field. The 54 average speed figure on turf is competitive, and the model's separation from the field gives Postino's Prophecy a clear edge.

place7Point to That StarML 8/1

Point to That Star is a TrackWiz value play — rated 79.79 and priced at 8/1 on the morning line, which is a number that doesn't reflect the model's opinion of this horse. Kendry Rivera takes the mount for Jose H. Delgado, and with a 53 average speed figure over turf, Point to That Star has the profile of a closer who can sneak into the exacta when the pace collapses late. At that price, he's a must-use in exactas and trifectas.

show6Golden RingML 8/1

Golden Ring also sits at 8/1 morning line with a 78.79 TrackWiz rating, making this Chelsea Sims Rabadan trainee another potential overlay in a wide-open field. Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. is a proven commodity at Monmouth Park and gives Golden Ring every chance to hit the board. With an 8% career win rate and a 53 average speed figure, Golden Ring isn't the most prolific winner, but this race sets up as exactly the kind of race where a pace scenario can deliver a surprise place or show at a big price.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 5

4:17 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A competitive allowance optional claiming sprint on the dirt where Dee's On Dow owns the top rating but Taqdeer's superior average speed figure makes this feel like a genuine duel — and Rogue Justice at 12/1 lurks as the longshot threat.

win5Dee's On DowML 3/1

Dee's On Dow is our top-rated horse in Race 5 at 87.08, backed by an impressive 33% career win rate that is among the best in the field — this is a horse that converts when given the chance. Chantal Sutherland gets the mount for Jorge Delgado, and at 3/1 on the morning line, the price is fair for a horse the model likes this much. The 55 average speed figure on dirt over six furlongs fits the distance, and the high win rate over a career means Dee's On Dow has been here before and knows how to win.

place8TaqdeerML 2/1

Taqdeer brings the highest average speed figure in this race at 56, which in a six-furlong dirt sprint is not a number you ignore. Jose C. Ferrer rides for David Jacobson, a trainer who puts horses in competitive spots, and the 18% career win rate gives Taqdeer legitimate board-hitting credibility. The 2/1 morning line makes Taqdeer the public choice on speed, and while our model has him second, the speed figure advantage means he'll be right there at the wire.

show6Rogue JusticeML 12/1

Rogue Justice is the dark horse of this race — a 65.96 TrackWiz rating might not scream contender, but paired with a 17% career win rate and a 12/1 morning line, the value case is real. Trainer Joann Bertone is dropping this one into an allowance optional claiming spot, which is a level where horses with this kind of rating can fire at a big price. Eliseo Ruiz rides, and if the pace gets hot between Dee's On Dow and Taqdeer, Rogue Justice is exactly the type to come from off the pace and grab a piece late.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 6

4:47 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

A ten-horse maiden claiming turf route at 1 1/16 miles where Battle Lou's rating stands well clear of the field — but with every horse still looking for their first win, the race shape could produce a surprise underneath.

win7Battle LouML 9/2

Battle Lou is the clear top selection in Race 6, posting a 84.90 TrackWiz rating that's more than 18 points clear of the next-best horse in the field — that kind of separation in a maiden turf field is significant. Eliseo Ruiz gets the assignment for trainer Ruperto A. Perez, and the 9/2 morning line on the highest-rated horse in a maiden field is a price worth accepting. The 53 average speed figure on turf is right in range for this distance, and in a field of winless horses, the model strongly favors Battle Lou to break through here.

place3TyrusML 5/1

Tyrus earns a 66.27 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. takes the mount for Anthony Pecoraro, who also saddles My Pal Bill in this same race. The stable is clearly double-barreled in here, which suggests confidence in both runners, but Tyrus profiles as the more likely to hit the board based on our ratings. At 5/1, the place price on Tyrus is legitimate value in a maiden field that doesn't have a dominant top choice once you get past Battle Lou.

show1My Pal BillML 4/1

My Pal Bill rounds out our TrackWiz selections with a 65.62 rating and 4/1 morning-line odds — solid value for the third selection in a ten-horse field. Edwin Gonzalez rides for Anthony Pecoraro, the same barn as Tyrus, and having two horses in the top three of our ratings is a strong signal that this stable will be competitive in this race. The 53 average speed figure is consistent with the top group, and My Pal Bill is a natural trifecta and superfecta inclusion at a fair price.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

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Today's headline plays are Too Many Mikes on the turf to open, Captain Oats in the dirt route, and Guapo Again in the sprint — all free and fully detailed below. If you want the complete six-race breakdown with pace scenarios and exotic structures, full-card analysis is available to TrackWiz subscribers. Check out our plans at /pricing and get every angle before first post. Good luck out there — and remember, even the best cards have surprises. Play smart, size right, and enjoy the races.

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