You're reading 3 of 8 races free
Unlock the other 5 races on today's card, plus AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet ticket construction.
Free Mountaineer Picks & Predictions
Mountaineer runs on dirt and turf, with about 63% of races on the dirt, racing from 2 fur to 1 3/4 mi, with fields averaging 9.8 starters. Every card gets free picks on selected races plus a full-card breakdown for subscribers — 50 Mountaineer sheets published so far.
3 Free Races Today at Mountaineer
Race 1
Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt
A maiden claiming sprint where TrackWiz ratings create a clear pecking order — but maiden races are always volatile, and a 30-point gap between the top horse and the field is worth respecting.
Big Notion (8) carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 89.12 — a full 18 points clear of the next rival — and posts the best average speed figure at 54. Trainer Juan Pablo Silva also has Crime Lord in this field, suggesting the barn is live with multiple weapons, but Big Notion is clearly the stable's A-team entry. The 8/5 morning line reflects public confidence, and our analysis backs it up. In maiden company, a horse with this kind of ratings edge is tough to beat.
Crime Lord (6) is the logical second choice here, with a 71.17 rating and the same 53 average speed as Big Notion's stablemate. Jockey Jose A. Leon gets the call, and being trained by the same barn as the top pick (Juan Pablo Silva) could actually set up an interesting stable dynamic — if Big Notion gets into trouble, Crime Lord is right there to capitalize. At 3/1, there's real place value here.
Candy Luna (7) checks in with a 58.37 rating — third-best in the field — and a 52 average speed figure that's competitive for this level. Trainer Donald T. Blankenship and jockey Bailey Weatherly team up at a 5/1 morning line, making Candy Luna a reasonable exotics inclusion. In a maiden field where surprises happen, having the third-rated horse in your show spot makes solid sense.
Race 2
Claiming · 2 fur · Dirt
A short-burst 2-furlong claiming dash dominated by two statistically elite horses — but the pace will be absolutely blistering and anything can happen when the race is over in seconds.
Determined Love (2) is the standout here with a 89.42 TrackWiz rating and an impressive 36% career win rate — by far the best winning percentage in this field. Trainer Dave Treharne and jockey Luis Alberto Batista combine for what looks like a confident, well-placed runner. At 7/5, you're not getting a gift price, but a horse closing in on a 40% win rate in claiming company deserves to be the heavy favorite.
Miss Nuckols (3) is the clear second choice at an 80.10 rating and a respectable 26% career win rate. Trainer Claudie Marshall Godsey Jr. keeps this filly competitive, and Ricardo Barrios has the mount at a 4/1 morning line that represents genuine place value. In a race this short, her profile fits neatly into exacta and place coverage behind Determined Love.
Dolce Veloce (6) brings a 63.09 rating and a 21% career win rate — matching Can She Scoot on that metric but rating out meaningfully higher. Trainer Melinda K. Sanders sends her out at 9/2 with Kevin Gonzalez in the irons, a workmanlike combo for this level. She's a strong show candidate and an interesting exacta wheel underneath the top two.
Race 3
Starter Optional Claiming · 7 1/2 fur · Turf
A wide-open 14-horse turf starter optional claiming field where three horses are bunched between 81 and 88 in the ratings — separation at the top is narrow enough that the pace scenario could decide everything.
Sisyphus (8) earns our top spot with an 87.08 rating and one of the strongest profiles in this field — a 22% career win rate that ranks among the best of the top-rated horses. Trainer Adam King sends him out at 3/1 morning line with Luis Alberto Batista aboard, a jockey who also rides Old Flag — a split that bears watching, but Batista's primary assignment here is the edge. On turf at 7.5 furlongs, Sisyphus has the class and the numbers to take this field apart.
Royal Salute (14) rates second in the field at 85.89 with a 54 average speed figure that matches the leaders. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini, who also has Valentine Bug in this race, puts Charle Oliveros aboard at 5/2 — the second-shortest price on the board. A 13% career win rate is modest, but this horse's raw ratings suggest the winning has been there in quality efforts even without the trips to the winner's circle.
Old Flag (12) posts an 81.70 rating, the third-best in the field, with a 54 average speed and 16% career win rate. Trainer Juan Pablo Silva is a familiar name on this card, and Luis Alberto Batista also catches this ride — giving Batista two top horses to sort out. At 3/1, Old Flag is priced like a co-favorite and rounds out a strong superfecta top four nicely.
Send me tomorrow's free Mountaineer card before post time.
Free picks in your inbox each morning. No card required, unsubscribe anytime.
About the Mountaineer Racing Surface
- Surfaces
- Dirt and Turf
- Distance range
- 2 fur to 1 3/4 mi
- Typical field
- 9.8 starters
- Typical card
- 8 races
Most common race conditions at Mountaineer: Claiming, Maiden Claiming, Starter Optional Claiming, Allowance.
Measured across the last 24 Mountaineer cards we have handicapped.
Recent Mountaineer Race Sheets
- August 12, 20268 races
- August 11, 20268 races
- August 10, 20268 races
- August 9, 20269 races
- August 5, 20268 races
- August 4, 20268 races
- August 3, 20268 races
- August 2, 20268 races
- July 29, 20268 races
- July 28, 20268 races
Mountaineer Picks — Common Questions
Is there a free Mountaineer card?
Yes. Every Mountaineer race sheet includes free picks with full analysis on selected races, with no account required. The remaining races on the card are part of a TrackWiz subscription.
What surface does Mountaineer race on?
Mountaineer cards run on dirt and turf. Across the last 24 cards, roughly 63% of races were on the dirt.
How many races are on a typical Mountaineer card?
Mountaineer cards average 8 races, with fields of about 9.8 starters. Distances run from 2 fur to 1 3/4 mi.
When are Mountaineer picks published?
Mountaineer picks are published ahead of the first post for that day's card. We have published 50 Mountaineer sheets; you can get each new one by email before post time.