Daily Picks

Free Mountaineer Picks & Predictions — September 20, 2026

September 20, 20268 racesAll Mountaineer picks

Best bets at Mountaineer, September 20, 2026

Race 15Royal SaluteML 5/27:00 PM EDT

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 6 races are for members.

A free account opens race 2 too. Premium opens all 8, with AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet, which splits one bet across the horses you like.

Join Free See plans · from $9.99

It's a wet Sunday at Mountaineer Park — rain is falling and temperatures are sitting at a cool 69°F, which means the dirt is going to be a factor all day long. Eight races are on the board, and the conditions are already shaping up to be as important as the form itself. When the strip gets sloppy or heavy, pace scenarios shift, closers can struggle to fire, and the horses that want to be on or near the lead early suddenly get a big edge.

The card is a deep claiming-heavy lineup — six of the eight races go at that level — so we're digging into class moves, workout patterns, and pace setups to find where the real value hides. We've also got a Maiden Special Weight sprint on dirt and a Starter Optional Claiming test stretching out to a mile on turf. That Race 1 turf question is the wild card today: if the rail gets pulled or the course plays wet, surface preferences become everything.

1 Free Race at Mountaineer

Race 1

7:00 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A wide-open Starter Optional Claiming mile on the turf with three horses clustered near the top of the TrackWiz ratings and a sneaky longshot lurking at double-digit odds — this one sets up as a prime exotic race.

win5Royal SaluteML 5/2

Royal Salute tops our ratings at 82.67 and posts the field's best average speed figure at 55, a meaningful edge going a full mile on grass. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini saddles this one, and the 5/2 morning line suggests the market already respects the profile — but there's still value here relative to the rating gap over the field. Jockey Deshawn L. Parker gets the call, and a career win rate of 12% doesn't scream explosive, but the class and speed numbers do the heavy lifting in this analysis.

place7El OndeadoML 12/1

El Ondeado is an intriguing price play at 12/1 on the morning line despite posting a strong 73.96 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field. Trainer Denis Cluley sends this one out with Kevin Gonzalez aboard, and a 16% career win rate at a generous price makes El Ondeado a legitimate place contender worth stacking in your exotics at overlay odds.

show9LetmeknowbeforeugoML 7/1

Letmeknowbeforeugo rounds out our top three with a 70.32 rating and a solid 25% career win rate — the best among any horse rated below Royal Salute in this field. Trainer Alejandro Gomez has his son, Alejandro Gomez Jr., in the irons, a family stable connection that sometimes signals extra attention to the prep. At 7/1, this horse offers show value and exotics depth in a wide-open turf route.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

7:25 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

A first-time starter maiden sprint on the dirt with a dominant TrackWiz rating at the top and a competitive cluster of newcomers all searching for their first win — pace shape will be crucial over five furlongs.

win8NessyML 5/2

Nessy stands alone at the top of this field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — a significant margin over the next-best horse — and ties for the top average speed figure in the race at 55. Trainer Nestor R. Rivera sends out his barn's best-rated runner with Luis Raul Rivera in the irons, a stable combination worth noting. The 5/2 morning line confirms the market agrees, and in a maiden sprint where raw ability tends to shine through early, Nessy looks like the one to beat.

place7Echo BayML 5/1

Echo Bay checks in at a 53.33 rating and also posts a 55 average speed figure, matching Nessy for the best raw speed in the field. Trainer Juan Pablo Silva has Charle Oliveros up, and the 5/1 price offers solid place value in a maiden race where workout projections can vary wildly on race day.

show5CeratiML 6/1

Cerati rates out at 51.67 and clocks a 53 average speed figure — respectable numbers in a first-time starter field where many horses are quantity unknowns. Trainer Moises Valdez has Alejandro Gomez Jr. aboard, and the 6/1 morning line makes Cerati a sensible show play or exotics inclusion in a maiden sprint that could see early chaos.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

TrackWiz is unlocking three races for all readers today, and they tell a nice story about how we're approaching this card. In Race 1, Royal Salute (morning line 5/2, TrackWiz rating 82.67) draws our attention in the Starter Optional Claiming mile on turf — keep an eye on any late course announcements given the rain. Race 2 sends us to the dirt for a 5-furlong Maiden Special Weight, where Nessy grades out as our top pick with an 87.81 rating, the second-highest mark among our three free selections. Then in Race 3, Go Go Star (7/2 morning line, 86.35 rating) takes on the 6-furlong claiming sprint — and with a wet, potentially speed-favoring track, the pace setup here is one to watch closely.

Across all three free races, the common thread is this: horses that can get position early without burning themselves out are going to have a structural advantage if the dirt plays cuppy or sealed. We're not blindly backing front-runners, but we're asking hard questions about any closer's ability to get through potential off-track ground today.

Free with an account

Open the next race free

A free account opens the first 2 races at every track, and every race at our Track of the Day. No credit card needed.

Create a free account Sign in

Full Card Analysis

Race 3

7:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Three horses with TrackWiz ratings in the 78-87 range make this a legitimately competitive claiming sprint, but the top-rated runner draws the rail and figures to control the pace scenario over six furlongs.

win1Go Go StarML 7/2

Go Go Star leads all runners with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating and draws the rail in a six-furlong dirt sprint — the kind of setup where a quality front-runner can dictate terms. Trainer Scott R. Murphy sends the horse out with Bailey Weatherly up, and despite a modest 7% career win rate, the rating edge and pace position are the story here. The 7/2 morning line is fair value given the top rating in what shapes up as a pace-contested sprint.

place6Tammy's CruiserML 2/1

Tammy's Cruiser owns the second-best rating in this field at 81.79 and is the morning-line favorite at 2/1, suggesting the market views this as a two-horse race at the top. Trainer Eddie Clouston uses Michael Y. Pagan, and a 53 average speed figure matches Dream Life for second-best in the field. At the likely short price, Tammy's Cruiser is best used in exacta combinations with our top pick.

show2Dream LifeML 6/1

Dream Life slots in at a 79.56 rating with a 25% career win rate — the highest among any horse in this field — and trainer Eric R. Reed has Charle Oliveros aboard. The 6/1 morning line is attractive for a horse with genuine class backing and a win percentage that speaks to consistency, making Dream Life a strong show ticket and exotics anchor.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 4

8:15 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

This is a premium-content race — unlock full analysis with TrackWiz. A loaded ten-horse claiming sprint with a dominant top-rated runner at manageable odds and a pair of longshot prices hiding real ratings that could blow up the exacta.

win4SneadsML 2/1

Sneads paces this field with a commanding 88.54 TrackWiz rating and draws post 4 with Charle Oliveros in the irons — a solid riding assignment in a six-furlong dirt sprint. Trainer L. Craig Cox sends this runner out as the 2/1 morning-line choice, and the rating advantage over even the second-best horse in the field is substantial. A 12% career win rate is modest, but the overall numbers here point strongly toward Sneads as the one to build tickets around.

place5Candy InvasionML 12/1

Candy Invasion comes in rated 71.65 — third-best in the field — yet gets posted at 12/1 on the morning line, making this one of the more intriguing overlay prices on the entire card. Trainer Shane M. Spiess uses Yuri Yaranga, and a 17% career win rate with a consistent 51 average speed figure rounds out a profile that looks undervalued at that price. In the place spot, Candy Invasion could pay handsomely.

show1Dusty BillyML 8/1

Dusty Billy rates 68.83 with a strong 21% career win rate and posts a 53 average speed figure — solid credentials for a claiming route sprint. Trainer Danny R. Bird puts Jose A. Leon up, and the 8/1 morning line gives this horse genuine overlay appeal for show tickets and exacta/trifecta coverage. The win percentage alone stands out in a field where most runners are well below 20%.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 5

8:40 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The favorite doesn't hold the top TrackWiz rating in this five-and-a-half furlong claiming sprint — that distinction belongs to a 4/1 shot — setting up a pace scenario where the morning line may be misleading bettors.

win6Uncle WilliamML 4/1

Uncle William tops this ten-horse field with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating despite going off at 4/1, longer than the 2/1 morning-line choice. Trainer Juan C. Vazquez saddles this one with Luis Negron in the irons, a combination that knows the Mountaineer circuit well. The 54 average speed figure is competitive, and the rating gap over most of this field is meaningful — Uncle William looks like a genuine overlay compared to Lord of Mischief at the top of the morning line.

place7Lord of MischiefML 2/1

Lord of Mischief is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 and earns that respect with a 76.32 TrackWiz rating and a 25% career win rate — tied for the highest in the field. Trainer Cathy Carr Rozantz has Kyle Gilbert aboard, and the 55 average speed figure ties for best in the race. The concern is whether the market has it backwards with Uncle William rated higher — Lord of Mischief slots naturally into the place spot in your exotics.

show8How About ItML 5/1

How About It posts a 75.83 rating — just a tick below Lord of Mischief — and checks in at 5/1 with trainer Jay P. Bernardini using Brandon Tapara. The 54 average speed figure is right in the mix with the top horses, and a 13% career win rate in claiming company suggests this runner competes consistently without always closing the deal. Show tickets and trifecta coverage make sense here.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 6

9:05 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A tight six-horse claiming mile on the dirt where the top two TrackWiz ratings are separated by just two points, setting up a genuine head-to-head battle between the top pair with a solid third option in the mix.

win1SummersattheshoreML 5/2

Summersattheshore leads this field at 87.81 — matching the highest rating on the entire card for today's races — and draws the rail with Michael Y. Pagan up. Trainer Juan C. Vazquez, who knows this horse well, sends the runner out at 5/2, a fair morning line given the rating dominance. The 16% career win rate is respectable at the claiming level, and over a mile of dirt, a front-runner with this kind of TrackWiz score is a hard fade.

place4Political SpinML 2/1

Political Spin rates just two points off the top at 85.73 and goes as the 2/1 morning-line choice — meaning the market actually favors this runner over our win pick. Trainer Juan C. Vazquez stables both the top two horses in this race, which makes the stable's internal preference worth watching at post time. With Luis Negron in the irons and a 16% career win rate, Political Spin is a strong exacta play in either order with Summersattheshore.

show6Dont CompressML 7/2

Dont Compress slots into the third spot with a 72.99 rating — a clear tier below the top two but well ahead of the rest of the field. Trainer Denis Cluley uses Kevin Gonzalez, who has multiple mounts on today's card and knows the track. The 7/2 morning line and 15% career win rate make this a sensible show anchor and a natural trifecta closer in a race that looks like a three-horse show.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 7

9:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Wings of God carries a standout rating into a nine-horse claiming mile where the rest of the field is tightly bunched in the 40s and 50s — if the top pick fires, this could be a one-sided affair, but the pace scenario over a mile leaves room for closers.

win3Wings of GodML 5/1

Wings of God headlines this field with an 84.17 TrackWiz rating — a significant gap over the second-best runner — and gets Jefferson Skerrett in the irons for trainer Jami C. Poole. The 5/1 morning line is genuinely generous given that rating margin, suggesting real overlay value. An 8% career win rate keeps expectations grounded, but in a claiming mile where the competition is light, the numbers here make Wings of God the clear top selection.

place4TacticsML 6/1

Tactics slots in at 59.94 with a 14% career win rate and draws a clean post 4 assignment with Erik Barbaran aboard. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini is a known quantity on this circuit, and at 6/1 on the morning line, Tactics offers legitimate place value in a race where the middle tier is closely matched. The 51 average speed figure is modest, but in a pace-honest mile, tactical positioning can matter.

show2Mo Hair SamML 5/2

Mo Hair Sam checks in at a 55.82 rating with a 10% career win rate and the 5/2 morning line — second choice on the board despite ranking third in our analysis. Trainer Keith A. Austin uses Renzo Diaz, and the 53 average speed figure is competitive. At likely short odds, Mo Hair Sam is better used in trifecta coverage than as a straight show ticket, but the consistency profile makes the inclusion sensible.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 8

9:55 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

An eleven-horse claiming mile with a clear top-rated runner at short odds but a 5/1 price sitting right behind in the ratings — the exotics here could get spicy if the morning-line favorite can't hold off a late-charging threat.

win6Brown Liquor ManML 2/1

Brown Liquor Man leads this large field with an 87.86 TrackWiz rating and goes as the 2/1 morning-line choice with Luis Alberto Batista up. Trainer Carlos A. Lopez sends a horse that carries a 17% career win rate and a 52 average speed figure into a deep eleven-horse claiming mile — solid credentials. The rating edge over even the second-best horse is meaningful, and the market has this right as the top selection.

place11If I Were YouML 5/1

If I Were You matches Wings of God from Race 7 with an 84.17 TrackWiz rating and gets Bailey Weatherly — who has multiple strong mounts today — for trainer Robert S. Scallan. The 5/1 morning line represents genuine value for a horse whose rating is a full tier above most of this field. A 10% career win rate is the modest note, but in the place spot with strong numbers backing it up, If I Were You is a cornerstone of the exotics.

show4Poppy's PrideML 8/1

Poppy's Pride rates 72.29 with the field's best average speed figure at 53 and a solid 17% career win rate. Trainer Robert S. Scallan doubles up in this race, which is an interesting stable angle worth monitoring — Scallan clearly has confidence in his two runners. At 8/1 on the morning line, Poppy's Pride is the best-priced legitimate contender in the show spot and a strong trifecta inclusion.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 11 runners

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

Bottom line: Royal Salute, Nessy, and Go Go Star are our free best bets for the day, and the wet conditions at Mountaineer make pace positioning the story of the card from gate to wire. The real depth — five more races with tight ratings, exotic ticket breakdowns, and our full pace analysis — is waiting for subscribers. Head to TrackWiz premium to unlock the complete card before post time. Good luck out there, and watch that rail.

← All Mountaineer picks & predictions