Mountaineer Picks & Predictions — August 9, 2026

Emily's Joy rates second in the field at 71.66 and is actually the co-speed leader in terms of average speed figure at 57, matching our win pick. Trainer Israel Acevedo deploys Luis Alberto Batista in what looks like a serious effort, and a 13% career win rate in claiming company is honest for this level. At 9/2, she offers solid each-way value and should be right there at the wire.

Miss Queue sits third on the TrackWiz scale at 68.81 and brings trainer Jay P. Bernardini's usually reliable operation to the table with Norberto Arroyo, Jr. in the irons. Her 18% career win rate gives her a legitimate shot to hit the board, and at 5/1, she's worth including in your show tickets and trifecta combinations. In a field this large on turf, pace scenarios can shuffle the deck and she figures to be around late.

Trigger Point rates second in the field at 79.11 and posts a 42% career win rate that makes him one of the most consistently successful horses in this race. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini — who has a strong two-entry presence in today's card — pairs him with Norberto Arroyo, Jr., a confident jockey booking for a horse that clearly knows how to compete. At 7/2, he's almost as short as the favorite but has the form to run him down if Midnight Show hits any trouble.

Jamming Cameron rates third in the field at 69.96 and brings an eye-catching 46% career win rate — matching the top win percentage in the field outside of the unbeaten Midnight Show. Ricardo Barrios rides for trainer Dave Treharne, and his 55 average speed figure gives him real run potential at six furlongs. At 8/1 on the morning line, he's the value horse in this spot and worth including in trifecta coverage.

Pigeon Cay rates second in the field at 74.56 and goes off at 7/2 on the morning line with Maikol Vilchez up for trainer Christopher Logston. There's a meaningful gap between him and the rest of the field below, which suggests a logical one-two finish could materialize. His 51 average speed figure is consistent with the turf surface demands, and he shapes up as a safe place play in this spot.

Red Drapes is the value inclusion here at 15/1 on the morning line, rating at 53.99 and carrying a 53 average speed figure — which is actually among the sharper marks in the field. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini is a familiar name on today's card and consistently places horses to run competitively, with Brandon Tapara getting the call. At double-digit odds in a maiden turf route, he's a legitimate longshot show ticket and trifecta wheel candidate.

Royal Salute checks in second on the TrackWiz scale at 80.8 and is actually the shortest price in the field at 5/2 on the morning line — meaning the public may have already found him. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini sends him out with Charle Oliveros aboard, and his 54 average speed figure is a tick above the field average. His 13% career win rate is modest, but the class of Bernardini's operation and the high rating make him a legitimate contender to hit the board.

Geraldraydaplegray is a genuine value play at 12/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 68.89 that puts him third in this field. Luis Alberto Batista gets the mount for trainer Sergio Donjuan, and the 53 average speed figure matches what the best closers in this field are carrying. At a marathon distance on turf, pace can string out and create opportunities for horses with solid figures who may be overlooked in a 12-horse field — he's worth a show ticket and a look in the trifecta.

Neoequos rates second at 78.92 and carries a 25% career win rate going for trainer Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. — one of the sharper conditioners in the business. Micah J. Husbands takes the mount, and the 55 average speed figure matches the class demands of a stakes mile. At 3/1, he's the morning-line second choice and has the profile to run second if our top pick fires — he anchors the exacta on both sides.

Warp Nine rates third in the field at 72.59 and offers a sensible 8/1 morning line for a trainer-jockey combo in Harold Wyner and Frankie Pennington who represent solid regional form. His 53 average speed figure puts him slightly below the top two, but in a nine-horse stakes field where pace can get messy at a mile and a sixteenth, stalkers with decent figures can find their way into the money. He's a legitimate trifecta component at a playable price.

Trendsetter rates second in the field at 84.08 with a 30% career win rate, and trainer Ben Colebrook sends him out with Kazushi Kimura — a jockey with a strong national profile. His 53 average speed figure keeps him squarely in contention at 1 1/8 miles on dirt, and the 5/2 morning line reflects his status as the clear second choice. If J J Grey stumbles or gets into trouble, Trendsetter has the rating to win outright.

Wayne's Law sits third on the TrackWiz scale at 68.73 with a 25% career win rate and an average speed figure of 54 that matches the top two in this field on raw pace data. Trainer Amador Merei Sanchez fields Diego A. Herrera for this 1 1/8-mile test, and at 8/1, there's legitimate value in his show ticket given the distance could favor a horse who rates patiently. He's a live trifecta piece if the top two get into a pace duel.

Pure Panic rates second at 82.32 and is actually the second-shortest price in the field at 7/2, going with Luis Alberto Batista for trainer Claudie Marshall Godsey, Jr. His 15% career win rate is modest but his rating tells a more competitive story than that win percentage suggests. He's a logical exacta partner with our top pick and should be right in contention throughout the six-furlong trip.

Crosstown Shootout brings the best average speed figure in this field at 56 and rates third on the TrackWiz scale at 79.08, a solid number for a claiming sprint. Trainer Shannon McGovern deploys Rodney A. Prescott, and a 25% career win rate makes him one of the more consistent performers in the field. At 5/2, he's the morning-line second choice and represents solid show value — use him on top of the exotics as well.