Mountaineer Picks & Predictions — July 8, 2026

Button Box checks in at 85.74 — second only to Honeyquist in the ratings — and posts an average speed figure of 56, tied for the field's best along with our win pick. At 7/2 on the morning line under trainer Crystal Richison and jockey Kevin Gonzalez, he's a natural running mate for Honeyquist in exacta and trifecta plays. A 19% career win rate says he wins his share, and at a sprint distance on the turf, early speed can carry the day.

Unworkable rounds out the top three with an 81.93 rating and a 20% career win rate — a solid resume for an allowance-level claimer. He posts the field's best average speed figure at 56, matching Button Box, which tells you his raw ability isn't far off the top two. Trainer Israel Acevedo has him priced at 4/1 with Luis Alberto Batista up, and at that number he's a legitimate show play and a worthwhile trifecta inclusion.

Little Sam's is our place selection with a 67.6 rating and an 18% career win rate under trainer Israel Acevedo. Jockey Luis Alberto Batista gets the call at 7/2 on the morning line, and the pairing at this price makes him an attractive exacta partner with the heavy favorite. His average speed figure of 53 is competitive in this field, and if the pace gets hot early, he should be running on late.

Buzzworthy rounds out our top three with a 61.67 rating and — importantly — the field's best average speed figure at 55, a number that stands above even our top pick. Trainer Juan Pablo Silva doubles up in this race, which is worth noting as a potential stable confidence play. At 5/1 on the morning line with Jose A. Leon up, she offers genuine trifecta value and shouldn't be left out of multi-horse combos.

Everheart is the natural foil at 2/1, posting an 82.06 rating that ranks second in the field. Trainer Juan C. Vazquez sends her out with Michael Y. Pagan aboard, and the 11% career win rate is a bit light, but this is a place pick — not a win bet — and her raw speed numbers at 52 suggest she'll be competitive all the way to the wire. The exacta pairing of A Little Bit Crazy and Everheart looks like the bankable play in this race.

Pasta Salad Rhonda rounds out the trifecta at 4/1 on the morning line with a 59.03 rating. Trainer Jabdiel Castillo gives her to Deshawn L. Parker, the meet's most active rider, and a 12% career win rate puts her in the mix in a small field. Her average speed figure of 50 is the lowest among the top picks, but in a short field like this, hitting the board is more about pace scenario than raw numbers — and Parker tends to find room.

Clearly Inish is a razor-thin second in our ratings at 87.64 and is actually the morning-line second choice at 9/5, which is tighter than you'd expect given the half-point gap. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini doubles up in this race and hands the mount to Norberto Arroyo Jr., whose experience at this track at this distance is a genuine advantage. A 7% career win rate sounds modest, but horses trained by Bernardini at Mountaineer tend to be live regardless of the numbers on paper.

Princess Azara grades out third in this field at 80.18 — a meaningful step below the top two, but still a significant class edge over the bottom half of the field. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini doubles her stablemate in this race, and Francisco Garcia takes the mount at 5/1 on the morning line. An 8% career win rate won't set the world on fire, but at 5/1 she represents the best trifecta value in a race where the top two figure to dominate the finish.

States United is the natural main threat at 85.21 in our ratings — third-highest in the race but a clear second when you strip away Thought's commanding edge. Trainer Anthony Farrior deploys Erik Barbaran at 3/1 on the morning line, and a 23% career win rate gives this horse a legitimate win profile, not just a place one. He should be tracking the pace through the far turn and have a late run in him at a mile on the dirt.

Deadpan rounds out our top three with a 69.69 rating and a 15% career win rate under trainer Anthony Farrior, who doubles up in this race — always worth noting when a barn goes to the well twice. Deshawn L. Parker takes the mount at 4/1 on the morning line, and his route experience at Mountaineer is a real asset in a one-mile closer's dream scenario. Use Deadpan in trifectas to bridge the gap between the top two and the rest of the field.