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Free Mountaineer Picks & Predictions — August 24, 2026

August 24, 20268 racesAll Mountaineer picks

Results are in — see the official Mountaineer chart and payouts (our top pick won 0 of 8)→

Mountaineer Park is rolling out an 8-race card on Monday, August 24, and the conditions couldn't be more cooperative. At a comfortable 68°F under partly cloudy skies, the dirt should be consistent and the turf firm — exactly the kind of day where early speed can dictate results on the front end and pace handicapping really pays off.

The card kicks off with a maiden claiming sprint before shifting to a pair of turf routes that give today's slate some genuine versatility. We've got three free picks to get you started, plus five premium deep-dives for subscribers who want the full picture before they build their tickets.

3 Free Races at Mountaineer

Race 1

11:00 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming opener where two horses stand clearly above the rest on ratings — expect Crime Lord and Finn d'Oro to dominate the pace conversation while the rest of the field plays catch-up.

win3Crime LordML 8/5

Crime Lord draws the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 89.12 and carries an 8/5 morning line that suggests the oddsmakers agree — this is the horse to beat. Norberto Arroyo, Jr. gets the call, a jockey who knows how to navigate 6-furlong dirt sprints efficiently. With an average speed figure of 53 against a field where most rivals check in at 51-52, Crime Lord has a measurable edge in raw ability. Trainer Juan Pablo Silva putting him out here at this level signals confidence, and our models say that gap is real.

place6Finn d'OroML 2/1

Finn d'Oro has the second-best rating in the race at 78.79 and comes in at a fair 2/1 on the morning line. Trainer Robert S. Scallan sends him out with Maikol Vilchez up, and the average speed figure of 52 is competitive enough to secure a piece of the purse. If Crime Lord falters or gets shuffled early, Finn d'Oro has the profile to pounce — a solid place play in exotics.

show2BrohamML 5/1

Broham checks in third on our ratings at 53.33 — a notch below the top two but clearly ahead of the rest of the seven-horse field. Kevin Gonzalez rides for Burton K. Sipp, and with a 5/1 morning line there's some overlay potential if Broham finds a clean trip. At a minimum, he figures to be competitive for the show spot and fits well in trifecta construction.

Race 2

11:25 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Turf

A wide-open allowance on the turf with 11 runners and genuine pace and class questions throughout — Something Sweet's elite career win rate makes her the anchor, but several closers lurk at big prices.

win9Something SweetML 4/1

Something Sweet is hard to ignore at 4/1 with a 33% career win rate — by far the best in this field and a number that speaks to genuine class. Her TrackWiz rating of 85.62 leads all runners, and Norberto Arroyo, Jr. is a strong booking for trainer Jennifer A. Johnson. An average speed figure of 53 ties her with several rivals, but the win percentage gap over the field is massive and suggests she consistently runs her best when it counts.

place10Shotgun MargaretML 3/1

Shotgun Margaret brings a 14% career win rate and the second-highest rating in the field at 83.91 — she's clearly a first-division horse in this spot. Kevin Gonzalez picks up the mount for trainer John R. Shuler, and her average speed of 54 is the best in the field. At 3/1, she may not offer much place value, but she's a must-use in exactas and trifectas behind our top selection.

show3DreamwifedreamlifeML 8/1

Dreamwifedreamlife at 8/1 makes for an interesting show play, carrying a 76.64 TrackWiz rating and a 9% career win rate that fits this level. Trainer Eric R. Reed runs two horses in this race, and using the same barn in an exacta/trifecta is a legitimate angle. The 8/1 morning line means she'd pay decently in multirace exotics — she rounds out the ticket well.

Race 3

11:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 7 fur · Turf

This 14-horse turf claimer is one of the deeper fields on the card, with a legitimate top tier and several pace scenarios that could scramble the result — the pace shape here will be critical at 7 furlongs on the lawn.

win8Sip'n' SpeedML 5/2

Sip'n' Speed tops our ratings at 85.15 despite carrying the 5/2 morning line — a slight disconnect that may create a touch of value. Luis Alberto Batista gets the mount for trainer Angelo Pizzurro, and the combination of a field-leading rating and a 52 average speed figure checks the right boxes. The concern here is only a 4% career win rate, which suggests he's been competitive without closing the deal, but TrackWiz's model sees enough underlying ability to make him the top selection in a race where the top two are separated from the pack.

place5SiljimML 6/1

Siljim at 6/1 with a rating of 82.71 is genuinely underpriced relative to the morning line when you compare him to the competition. Bailey Weatherly rides for Donald T. Blankenship, and a 8% career win rate on turf at this level suggests he runs consistently without blowing up. The 6/1 price makes this a strong place play — if Sip'n' Speed hits the board, Siljim is very likely right there with him.

show11Rock TuneML 5/1

Rock Tune rounds out our top three with a 76.62 rating and the highest average speed figure (54) among our picks, which is a meaningful data point in a race where pace control matters. Erik Barbaran rides for J. Michael Rogers, a solid combination. The 5/1 morning line is fair, and a 9% career win rate in a field this size is respectable — Rock Tune is a good trifecta anchor.

Our free coverage spans the first three races, and there's a nice through-line here: the mild temps and firm footing favor horses who can find a comfortable pace early and sustain it. Crime Lord opens the card at 8/5 on the morning line and carries our top TrackWiz rating of the free races — in a maiden claiming sprint on dirt, that kind of edge matters. From there, the action moves to the grass, where Something Sweet (4/1, Race 2) and Sip'n' Speed (5/2, Race 3) both profile well on turf that should be playing true today.

Back-to-back turf races in Races 2 and 3 create a natural double opportunity, and both picks landed within a fraction of a point of each other in our ratings — a sign the field is competitive but not without a clear edge. Don't sleep on the value in Race 2, where Something Sweet's 4/1 morning line suggests the market hasn't fully caught up yet.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:15 AM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 7 fur · Turf

A wide-open starter optional claimer on the turf draws 14 runners, with several horses in the 60-85 rating band making this more competitive than the morning line might suggest — the short-priced favorite Force of Justice faces a real challenge from a pair of underrated rivals.

win5El OndeadoML 4/1

El Ondeado heads our selections with the top rating in the field at 85.62 and lands at a tempting 4/1 morning line — genuinely overlaid in our view. Kevin Gonzalez gets the call for trainer Denis Cluley, and a 17% career win rate over what appears to be a solid sample speaks to consistent competitiveness. At 7 furlongs on turf, class and rating tend to hold up, and El Ondeado's edge over the chalk here is meaningful enough to make him the best bet of the race.

place6Small FieldML 7/2

Small Field sits second in our ratings at 83.42 for trainer Shane Meyers and jockey Alexander Chavez, with an impressive 22% career win rate that ranks among the best in the field. He's priced at 7/2 on the morning line, creating nice place value behind El Ondeado. The win percentage and rating suggest a horse who performs consistently at a high level — ideal for exacta coverage.

show13Force of JusticeML 6/5

Force of Justice carries the shortest price in the field at 6/5, and while our ratings have him third at 76.99, that 36% career win rate is legitimately elite. Ricardo Barrios rides for Virginia Demczyk and he knows how to handle short favorites. We like El Ondeado more on ratings, but Force of Justice's win rate demands respect in any show or trifecta construction.

Race 5

12:40 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden claimer at 6 furlongs on dirt where two horses — Ocata and All Roads to Denis — separate sharply from the rest on our ratings, making this effectively a two-horse race with a value third at 8/1.

win6OcataML 5/2

Ocata owns the highest TrackWiz rating in this maiden field at 87.81 and comes in at 5/2 — a fair price for the top-rated runner. Kevin Gonzalez takes the mount for trainer Denis Cluley, a sharp connection that figures prominently on today's card. While her average speed of 50 is modest, the overall model score puts significant daylight between her and most of this field, and in a maiden race that's often where the edge lies.

place8All Roads to DenisML 3/1

All Roads to Denis at 3/1 is the second-ranked horse on our board with an 84.40 rating, and Norberto Arroyo, Jr. — who has multiple mounts today — brings reliable horsemanship to the party. An average speed of 51 gives her a slight edge over the win pick on raw figures, and trainer Angelo G. Jackson sending her out at 3/1 suggests there's stable confidence here. She's a must-use in any exotic behind Ocata.

show3The Groom's JulML 8/1

The Groom's Jul at 8/1 represents genuine show value with a 69.56 rating that's well clear of the remaining field members. Trainer Devan Ewell, Sr. runs two horses in this race, and The Groom's Jul is the better-rated of the pair. Agustin Bracho handles the mount, and a 51 average speed figure in the upper tier of this field makes her a logical trifecta inclusion at a price that would pay nicely.

Race 6

1:05 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A small but sharp six-horse allowance optional claiming sprint at 5½ furlongs on dirt — Zealous Storm looks like a standout, but You Bet a Fortune's massive career win rate makes the exacta extremely compelling.

win4Zealous StormML 6/5

Zealous Storm leads our ratings at 89.71 and comes in as the morning line favorite at 6/5 — a deserved position atop this compact field. Norberto Arroyo, Jr. picks up the mount for trainer Juan Pablo Silva, and the stat that jumps off the page is a 40% career win rate, one of the best we'll see all day. Her average speed of 53 is solid for this sprint distance, and the TrackWiz model suggests she has a clear class edge — she's our best bet of Race 6.

place1You Bet a FortuneML 5/2

You Bet a Fortune at 5/2 for trainer Jay P. Bernardini and jockey Brandon Tapara is almost too good to pass up in the exacta. A 36% career win rate is elite company, and her average speed of 55 is actually the highest in the field — she has genuine upside if Zealous Storm has an off day. The 75.65 rating keeps her in the second tier on our board, but the raw speed and win rate say she can absolutely land on top.

show2Zen NationML 7/1

Zen Nation brings a remarkable 53% career win rate — the best in the field — and that's a number that demands respect no matter where she lands in the ratings (70.30). Trainer Jami C. Poole and jockey Michael Y. Pagan combine at 7/1 on the morning line, which may be generous given the win percentage. She's a legitimate show play and a solid third leg in any trifecta ticket today.

Race 7

1:30 AM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Three horses rated 81 or above set up a legitimate three-way battle in this allowance optional claiming sprint, with the morning line underrating our top selection A Ok while the 2/1 favorite Out of Cents could be a vulnerable chalk.

win5A OkML 5/1

A Ok tops our ratings at 84.17 and offers the best value in the field at 5/1 — our model sees a horse priced higher than he should be. Brandon Tapara gets the mount for Jay P. Bernardini, a trainer who is active on today's card and clearly targeting this spot. A 30% career win rate is exceptional for this level, and an average speed of 53 is right in the competitive zone for a 5½-furlong dirt sprint. This is where we find real overlay value today.

place4Out of CentsML 2/1

Out of Cents at 2/1 is the morning line favorite and carries the highest average speed figure among our picks at 54 — the raw speed is real. Joe Stokes rides for Eddie Clouston, and a 22% career win rate confirms this is a consistent performer who knows how to hit the board. While we prefer A Ok on ratings, Out of Cents is absolutely live for the place and a natural exacta partner.

show3Prince JeremyML 5/2

Prince Jeremy rates third in our selections at 81.03 with an 18% career win rate — a solid if unspectacular number that fits the show role perfectly. Kevin Gonzalez gets the call for Denis Cluley, who also runs El Ondeado in Race 4, showing strong stable form today. At 5/2, Prince Jeremy isn't cheap, but the rating and jockey booking make him a dependable trifecta leg in what shapes up as a three-horse race at the top.

Race 8

1:55 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A ten-horse dirt claimer at 6 furlongs where Go Collector's top rating creates a clear hierarchy at the top, though a handful of horses with solid win percentages and speed figures could make the exotics very interesting.

win7Go CollectorML 4/1

Go Collector leads this field with a 85.62 TrackWiz rating and comes in at 4/1 — a price that reflects genuine value for the top-rated runner in the race. Luis Alberto Batista gets the mount for trainer Sergio Donjuan, and a 17% career win rate is respectable in a competitive claiming field. His average speed of 55 ties for the best in the field alongside Homerunhappy, but Go Collector's overall rating advantage is the deciding factor — he's the clear top selection here.

place8Poppy's PrideML 6/1

Poppy's Pride at 6/1 makes a compelling place play with a 65.40 rating that slots her solidly into second tier. Trainer Robert S. Scallan and jockey Maikol Vilchez team up for what figures to be a stalker trip in a race that may get honest fractions up front. An 18% career win rate says she hits the board regularly, and the 6/1 morning line represents real value if Go Collector draws clear.

show9QuistmerML 9/2

Quistmer checks in at 63.26 on our ratings and carries a 9/2 morning line with Norberto Arroyo, Jr. in the irons for trainer Jay P. Bernardini — a sharp booking on a horse who fits the show role well. A 12% career win rate in a field like this is workable, and Arroyo has already had multiple quality mounts today. At a price that could pay double digits in trifectas, Quistmer is a worthwhile ticket inclusion.

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Bottom line: Crime Lord is the play to open the day, the turf double with Something Sweet and Sip'n' Speed offers real value in the free races, and the back half of the card has enough price plays to make today worth attacking. Subscribers can access the full 8-race breakdown — pace projections, exotic tickets, and all — right now. Check out our TrackWiz subscription plans and get in on the full card before post time.

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