Daily Picks

Mountaineer Picks & Predictions — June 23, 2026

Tuesday, June 23, 20268 racesMountaineer

Mountaineer comes up in ideal shape on Tuesday, June 23rd — clear skies, 72°F, and what looks like a firm turf course to open the card. Eight races are on the slate, and the mix of surfaces and conditions gives both casual players and serious grinders plenty to work with today.

The card leans heavily on claiming competition, which is par for the course at Mountaineer on a weekday, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's a throwaway card. A couple of these fields are genuinely competitive, and our TrackWiz ratings are flagging some interesting angles — including a longshot price in Race 4 that's catching our eye. More on that below.

Races 1 through 3 are free for all TrackWiz readers. The back half of the card, including the lone Allowance spot in Race 7 and the full pace-scenario breakdowns, is available to subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A sprawling 13-horse turf mile in the opener gives bettors plenty of options, but the TrackWiz numbers point to a clear standout — the question is whether the field can keep pace with the top-rated horse.

win5Hot WingsML 7/2

Hot Wings draws the eye immediately with the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 86.35, a significant gap over the rest of the contenders. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini sends out this runner at 7/2 on the morning line, and with Brandon Whitacre aboard, the connections are clearly pointing for a top effort. The 5% career win rate is modest, but the raw ratings advantage on a one-mile turf course suggests a horse that's been running in better company and may face a softer spot here. In a big field where pace can get chaotic, a horse with this kind of class edge is exactly the type you want anchoring your ticket.

place1Premier CruML 10/1

Premier Cru is a sneaky interesting play at 10/1 morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 74.34 — third-best in the field — and an 11% career win rate that shows genuine ability to hit the board. Luis Negron gets the call for trainer Juan C. Vazquez, a combination that's shown up competitively at this meet. In a packed turf field where place prices can be generous, Premier Cru offers solid value as a place alternative without needing to solve the entire exotics puzzle.

show8Prince JeremyML 9/2

Prince Jeremy brings a 74.1 TrackWiz rating and a legitimate 23% career win percentage — the second-best win rate among the key contenders — making him a horse that knows how to finish. Trainer Denis Cluley puts Kevin Gonzalez up from post 8, a workable spot in a one-mile turf route where you can find a stalking position early. At 9/2, he's not a throw-in; he's a real threat to hit the board and rounds out the exacta and trifecta combinations nicely.

Race 2

11:25 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

The second race on the turf card sets up as a top-heavy affair with a clear morning-line favorite and strong TrackWiz numbers clustered near the top, but the double-digit morning lines in the middle of the field could make exotics very rewarding.

win12My Lucky DeiaML 2/1

My Lucky Deia tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.42 and is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 for a reason — this horse comes in with a 17% career win rate and a standout average speed figure of 55, the best in the entire field. Trainer Juan Pablo Silva hands the reins to Norberto Arroyo Jr., who also rides Clearly Inish in this race, showing how in-demand this jockey is on the card. When a horse leads both the rating and speed metrics by a meaningful margin in a turf mile claiming event, the favorite deserves full respect — My Lucky Deia is our top selection here.

place11Good Enough for MeML 4/1

Good Enough for Me comes in with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — just 1.8 points behind the top pick — and a 4/1 morning line that offers legitimate value as a place ticket. The fact that trainer Alejandro Gomez also rides his own horse is a strong confidence signal; when a trainer-jockey connection is the same person, they clearly believe in the runner. A 7% career win rate is modest, but this horse's overall profile suggests competitive efforts in spots like this one.

show10Clearly InishML 8/1

Clearly Inish posts a 75.94 TrackWiz rating and gets Norberto Arroyo Jr. up — the same rider who pilots the top selection, meaning trainer Jay P. Bernardini has horses at both ends of the key pairs. At 8/1 on the morning line, this is a nice show value play and a legitimate exotic inclusion. A 53 average speed figure keeps Clearly Inish in the conversation in a field where most horses are bunched in the 51–53 range.

Race 3

11:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Switching to the dirt for the third, this mile claiming contest has a clear class-on-paper angle at the top, but several mid-range horses with strong win percentages make the exotics interesting.

win9Political SpinML 5/2

Political Spin is the horse to beat — an 83.7 TrackWiz rating, a 20% career win percentage, and a competitive 52 average speed figure all check out for a one-mile dirt claiming race. Trainer Juan C. Vazquez puts up Norberto Arroyo Jr. — one of the meet's most active riders — and at 5/2 on the morning line, the market agrees this is the dominant figure in the field. The 20% career win rate is among the highest in this spot, meaning this horse has already demonstrated the ability to close the deal. Political Spin is a confident top selection.

place1Kaiyas SongML 8/1

Kaiyas Song quietly posts a 79.79 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — for trainer William G Witherow, who sends out Agustin Bracho from the rail. The 12% career win rate is respectable, and at 8/1 on the morning line, there's genuine value here if the top pick faces any trouble. This is the type of horse that fits naturally in place and exotic slots without demanding you pay a heavy price.

show8My Fine AquilineML 4/1

My Fine Aquiline rounds out the TrackWiz top three with a 73.23 rating and rides with Francisco Garcia for trainer Carlos A. Lopez — a sharp combination at this level. The 13% career win rate and a 52 average speed figure are both squarely in the competitive range for a dirt mile claimer. At 4/1 morning line, My Fine Aquiline is worth including in trifecta and exacta underneath as a horse that should be running on at the finish.

The opening three races set a nice table. Hot Wings (7/2 morning line, TrackWiz rating 86.35) kicks things off in a 1-mile turf claimer — the clear weather and expected firm turf surface should suit horses with tactical speed, and Hot Wings fits that profile. Right behind in Race 2, My Lucky Deia draws in as the morning-line favorite at 2/1 and carries our highest free-race rating at 87.42. Two consecutive turf miles to open the card could establish an early pace bias worth tracking as the day unfolds.

Race 3 shifts things to the dirt for a mile, and Political Spin (5/2, 83.70) is our top selection there. Class and consistency matter in dirt claiming miles, and TrackWiz analysis puts Political Spin at the top of a manageable field. If you're building a pick-3 ticket starting from Race 1, these three names form a solid spine.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:15 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Six furlongs on the dirt brings out the sprinters in Race 4, and the TrackWiz model sees a potential overlay lurking near the top — a horse with a strong rating that the morning line may be underestimating.

win3VitaemiML 7/1

Vitaemi tops the TrackWiz ratings at 81.25 but goes off at 7/1 on the morning line — that gap between model rating and public odds is exactly the kind of value angle TrackWiz analysis is built to find. Trainer John T. Brown sends out Bailey Weatherly from post 3, a clean draw in a six-furlong sprint. A 13% career win rate and a 52 average speed figure suggest a horse that's competitive without being flashy — and a 7/1 price on the top-rated runner in the field is worth pressing.

place1Jolly Miss JillML 5/2

Jolly Miss Jill is the morning-line co-favorite at 5/2 with a 77.1 TrackWiz rating and a 13% career win percentage, carrying Francisco Garcia for trainer Juan C. Vazquez. The 52 average speed figure matches the field pace, and from post 1 she gets the ideal ground-saving rail position in a two-turn sprint. If Vitaemi fades or gets caught in traffic, Jolly Miss Jill is right there to pick up the pieces.

show5Miss FortML 3/1

Miss Fort brings the best average speed figure in the field at 54 and rates a solid 76.87 by TrackWiz metrics for trainer Denis Cluley, with Ricardo Barrios in the irons. At 3/1 on the morning line, she's not a longshot, but the speed edge over most of this field makes her dangerous in a sprint scenario where early pace matters. She's a logical show play and a key part of any trifecta construction.

Race 5

12:40 AM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

The Starter Optional Claiming mile on dirt features a loaded field of horses with high career win percentages across the board, making this one of the trickier races to unpack — but TrackWiz ratings create a clear separation at the top.

win10The DoormanML 4/1

The Doorman leads all horses in this field with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating and a 17% career win percentage, going postward at a fair 4/1 on the morning line. Trainer Jami C. Poole puts Elijah Greenidge up from the outside post 10 — a deep draw in a one-mile race, but with Greenidge's ability to find a stalking position, this horse has the tactical speed to work into contention. A 52 average speed figure is in line with the field, and the rating edge here is substantial enough that The Doorman is our clear top selection in Race 5.

place5KhozandoML 7/2

Khozando owns a 78.32 TrackWiz rating and a 22% career win rate — one of the strongest win percentages in the race — and goes off at a very attractive 7/2 morning line. Trainer Jeff Fletcher deploys Yuri Yaranga from post 5, a clean middle draw for a mile route. The combination of solid rating, high win percentage, and a fair price makes Khozando the natural complement to The Doorman in exactas and doubles.

show7ThoughtML 3/1

Thought rates 62.98 by TrackWiz metrics and brings a 24% career win percentage — second-highest in the entire field — giving trainer Alejandro Gomez a live runner to go with his own mount in this spot. Jockey Alejandro Gomez riding a horse trained by himself at 3/1 is always worth noting as a sharp confidence signal. The win rate suggests this horse consistently fires, and at 3/1, Thought is a legitimate show/exotic threat.

Race 6

1:05 AM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A tight seven-horse field sprinting five furlongs on the dirt sets up as a pace-first affair, and one horse stands out so clearly in the TrackWiz numbers that it's hard to argue against chalking this one.

win5Hero's ManML 2/1

Hero's Man has an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — the highest in any field on today's card — and a 26% career win percentage that screams class edge in this spot. Ricardo Barrios rides for trainer Dave Treharne, and the 2/1 morning line reflects a horse the market already respects. With a 54 average speed figure matching the leaders in this sprint and a win rate that towers over the competition, Hero's Man is simply the most complete profile in the race. This is as confident a top selection as you'll find on the card.

place6Priority LaneML 5/2

Priority Lane rates 74.36 and goes off at 5/2 — second choice on the morning line — for trainer Jay P. Bernardini, with Erik Barbaran in the irons. A 6% career win rate is the one concern, but the TrackWiz number and morning-line positioning suggest a horse that routinely runs big without always closing the deal. In a short sprint, place money on a horse this well-rated at a fair price is a smart play.

show7KiltoomML 4/1

Kiltoom brings a 62.87 TrackWiz rating, a 17% career win percentage, and an average speed figure of 54 — matching the top speed figures in this small field. Kevin Gonzalez rides for trainer Crystal Richison from post 7, the outside draw in a five-furlong sprint which can present traffic challenges. At 4/1, Kiltoom is the clear third choice and a logical show anchor or exacta underneath if Hero's Man and Priority Lane handle the front end.

Race 7

1:30 AM EDT

Allowance · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

An allowance sprint at 5½ furlongs draws a competitive eight-horse field, with one horse carrying a massive TrackWiz advantage over the morning-line favorite — a potential value inversion worth exploiting.

win4A OkML 3/1

A Ok leads this field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and an outstanding 28% career win percentage — the highest win rate in the field by a significant margin. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini sends out Erik Barbaran from post 4 at 3/1 on the morning line, and the combination of elite win rate, top rating, and a competitive 53 average speed figure makes this a clear-cut top selection in an allowance sprint. A horse that wins more than one-in-four career starts at this level demands respect as the foundation of every ticket in Race 7.

place1Union BranchML 5/2

Union Branch is the morning-line co-favorite at 5/2 with a 67.69 TrackWiz rating and 12% career win rate for trainer John R. Shuler, with Brandon Whitacre drawing the advantageous rail post. In a 5½-furlong sprint, post 1 can be a genuine asset if the horse breaks cleanly and saves ground around the turn. While the rating trails A Ok by a meaningful gap, Union Branch's tactical position and public confidence make it the natural place play.

show5Dancing KingML 7/1

Dancing King posts a 65.37 TrackWiz rating and a 13% career win percentage, going off at 7/1 on the morning line for trainer Jennifer A. Johnson with Ricardo Barrios up. At that morning-line price, this horse represents solid show value and a nice exotic underneath option — a 53 average speed figure puts Dancing King squarely in the competitive range for a 5½-furlong dirt allowance. The 7/1 price creates a nice risk-reward balance for trifecta players.

Race 8

1:55 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The nightcap is a wide-open six-furlong dirt claiming race with 13 runners and multiple horses rated in the 70s and 80s by TrackWiz — this is a deep, competitive field where pace and positioning will be decisive.

win2Julie's FerrariML 4/1

Julie's Ferrari tops the TrackWiz leaderboard in this 13-horse field at 84.04, with a 14% career win percentage and a 53 average speed figure that fits a six-furlong dirt sprint. Ricardo Barrios gets the call for trainer Gary Welsh from post 2 — a clean inside draw that allows for ground-saving positioning in a big field. The rating gap between Julie's Ferrari and the rest isn't enormous, but in a field this deep, having the top number is meaningful. This is our Race 8 top selection.

place1Cost BasisML 7/2

Cost Basis sits just 1.39 points behind the top pick at 82.65 and brings a 13% career win rate to trainer Robert S. Scallan, with Bailey Weatherly riding from the rail. The 53 average speed figure matches the competitive tier of this field, and a 7/2 morning line suggests the public also sees this as a legitimate threat. In an 11-horse sprint, a horse with both a strong rating and a prime post position is exactly who you want on your place ticket.

show5Joe Don LooneyML 8/1

Joe Don Looney is the one to watch at 8/1 on the morning line — that price may underestimate a horse with the highest average speed figure in the entire field at 57, a number that jumps off the page in a six-furlong sprint. Trainer Burton K. Sipp puts Alejandro Gomez up, a sharp combination for a horse that appears to have raw pace ability. A 17% career win rate adds further credibility, and if Joe Don Looney can control the early fractions from post 5, the 8/1 morning price could look very generous at day's end.

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Bottom line for June 23 at Mountaineer: Hot Wings, My Lucky Deia, and Political Spin are the free best bets to build around early. The back half of the card features the day's highest-rated horse in Hero's Man and a legitimate longshot angle in Vitaemi that subscribers won't want to miss. Check out the full card analysis — including pace projections and exotic ticket recommendations — available now at TrackWiz Premium. Good luck at the windows.

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