Unlock the other 5 races on today's card, plus AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet ticket construction.

The winner is in our top 4 picks 75% of the time, across 17 tracks.

Daily Picks

Mountaineer Picks & Predictions — October 13, 2026

October 13, 20268 racesAll Mountaineer picks

It's a beautiful Tuesday night at Mountaineer Park — clear skies, 74°F, and a firm surface that should play right into the hands of horses who want to run. Eight races are on the board, split between turf and dirt, and the conditions are about as good as it gets for a mid-October evening in West Virginia.

The early card leans heavily on the grass, with the first three races all going on the turf. That sets up some interesting pace scenarios and puts a premium on horses with proven turf form. As the card shifts to dirt in Races 4 through 8, we get a nice mix of Claiming company, a Ratings Handicap, and a Maiden Special Weight that gives us a legit longshot angle worth exploring.

TrackWiz has analysis on all 8 races tonight. The first three are free for everyone — the rest are unlocked for subscribers. Let's break it down.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:00 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A wide-open 14-horse turf mile with two horses standing out above the rest, but depth in the middle of the pack makes exacta construction tricky — don't leave out the 4/1 fourth choice.

win5Royal SaluteML 2/1

Royal Salute is the class of this field by a wide margin, posting a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 — a full 17 points clear of the second-ranked horse. Jockey Deshawn L. Parker gets a live mount here, and trainer Jay P. Bernardini is no stranger to sending sharp horses postward. The average speed figure of 55 ties for the best in the field, and at 2/1 on the morning line, the market already agrees this is the one to beat.

place9Uncle TrulyML 3/1

Uncle Truly comes in as the second-highest-rated horse in the race at 71.43 and brings a solid 20% career win rate to the table. Trainer Eddie Clouston puts him out at 3/1, which feels fair given his profile, and Luis Negron keeps the book on him. He looks like a natural for the exacta underneath Royal Salute if the favorite lives up to the hype.

show12Old FlagML 4/1

Old Flag checks in at a 68.41 TrackWiz rating — top three in this field — and trainer Juan Pablo Silva has the connections in place with jockey Charle Oliveros in the irons. At 4/1, there's enough juice here for trifecta purposes, and a 15% career win rate in claiming company suggests he finds the board more often than not.

Race 2

11:25 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

This 5-furlong turf sprint looks like a two-horse race on the ratings, but Diamond Dancer at 6/1 adds a credible value angle that could blow the exacta apart.

win12Ur FabulousML 2/1

Ur Fabulous is an absolute standout here — a 88.54 TrackWiz rating and a jaw-dropping 50% career win rate make this the most dominant favorite on the card. Trainer Jay P. Bernardini sends her out at 2/1, and Brandon Tapara takes over in the saddle. In a sprint on the turf, a horse with this combination of raw rating, speed (avg 53), and win efficiency is simply very difficult to oppose.

place7Diamond DancerML 6/1

Diamond Dancer at 6/1 is the value play in this race, sporting a strong 81.71 TrackWiz rating — second in the field — and a career win percentage of 37%. Trainer Juan Pablo Silva puts up Jose A. Leon, and with that win rate, Diamond Dancer has a history of closing the deal when pointed to a spot. If Ur Fabulous draws off too easily, Diamond Dancer looks like the logical pick for the runner-up spot.

show11Spirit to InspireML 5/1

Spirit to Inspire checks in at 71.68 on the TrackWiz scale and owns an average speed figure of 54, tying her for the top speed mark in the field alongside Lightning Lane. At 5/1, trainer Mark A. Kendrick has her placed well, and Rishawn Blanche gets the call. She's a solid underneath play in trifectas, especially if the pace scenario sets up for closers.

Race 3

11:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Turf

A compact but competitive 5-furlong turf sprint where the morning-line favorite isn't the highest-rated horse — Balam at 7/1 represents a real value opportunity against a muddled top group.

win6BalamML 7/1

Balam comes in with the second-highest TrackWiz rating in the race at 81.25 and a career win percentage of 25% — the best among the top-rated horses in this field. What makes the 7/1 morning line particularly interesting is that his rating is higher than the 2/1 favorite Prince Jeremy (75.28). Trainer Israel Acevedo puts up Luis Alberto Batista, and with an average speed figure of 55 — tied for the best in the race — this is our top value play of the turf undercard.

place10A OkML 3/1

A Ok rates third in this field at 78.65 and carries a 23% career win rate, which is the kind of consistency you want in a place horse. Luis Negron picks up the mount for trainer Jay P. Bernardini, who has multiple runners on the card today and clearly has his barn in form. At 3/1, the price is fair for a horse that should be knocking on the door at the wire.

show3Sneaky SneakyML 6/1

Sneaky Sneaky is an interesting inclusion in the exotics at 6/1 — a 76.68 TrackWiz rating and the top average speed figure in the race at 56 suggest she has the raw ability to outrun her odds. Trainer Jeff Fletcher deploys Luis Tapara, and with that kind of foot, she could easily close into the show spot if the pace sets up right. A 9% career win rate sounds modest, but the speed is undeniable.

Our three free best bets all come off the turf, which is no accident — with conditions this good on the grass, we wanted to lean into the surface advantage early. Royal Salute opens the card at 2/1 and posts the highest TrackWiz rating among the free picks (88.54), making the morning line look fair rather than generous. Ur Fabulous matches that rating exactly in Race 2 over a shorter 5-furlong trip — a distance that rewards early speed, so watch the pace unfold out of the gate.

The most intriguing free play of the night is Balam in Race 3. At 7/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 81.25, there's real value in that price if the turf continues to play evenly. Longshots in short turf sprints can absolutely catch the field sleeping, and Balam is our pick to do exactly that. Don't sleep on this one.

Send me tomorrow's free Mountaineer card before post time.

Free picks in your inbox each morning. No card required, unsubscribe anytime.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:15 AM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Moving to the main track for a 5.5-furlong dirt sprint, Go Go Star stands out atop the ratings, but a cluster of horses between 75-77 makes this race tighter than it looks on paper.

win1Go Go StarML 7/2

Go Go Star is the clear top-rated horse in this field at 84.23 — a meaningful separation from the second group clustered in the mid-70s. Trainer Scott R. Murphy sends Bailey Weatherly aboard at a morning line of 7/2, which represents fair value given the rating edge. The 10% career win rate is modest, but TrackWiz analysis shows his overall form profile is significantly stronger than the competition in this spot.

place9VingativaML 7/1

Vingativa at 7/1 is one of the more intriguing value plays on the afternoon — a 77.0 TrackWiz rating puts her squarely in the second tier of this field, and a 15% career win rate is respectable in claiming company. Kevin Gonzalez climbs aboard for trainer Don Roberson, and with an average speed of 52, she's proven capable of competing at this level. The morning-line price makes her an excellent exacta partner with the top pick.

show6Girl ByeML 10/1

Girl Bye at 10/1 is worth a look in the exotics — her 76.88 TrackWiz rating actually edges out Vingativa by a hair, yet she's available at a much bigger price. Trainer Jeff Fletcher sends out Yuri Yaranga, and with an average speed of 53, she's shown she can produce at this distance. If the pace gets hot up front and the field compresses, she's capable of running into the show slot.

Race 5

12:40 AM EDT

Ratings Handicap · 6 fur · Dirt

This Ratings Handicap over 6 furlongs on the dirt is loaded with high career win percentages — multiple horses in the 30-50% range make this an unusually formful field where separating the contenders requires a close look at the ratings.

win7Cant Fake the HateML 3/1

Cant Fake the Hate sits atop our TrackWiz ratings at 82.62 and owns an eye-catching 41% career win rate — one of the highest in a field full of accomplished winners. Charle Oliveros gets the mount for trainer Eric R. Reed, and at 3/1 on the morning line, the market has him as a co-second choice. An average speed figure of 53 is consistent with what this field is producing, and the combination of high win rate and top rating makes him the most reliable selection in the race.

place8True ClassML 6/1

True Class brings a 79.06 TrackWiz rating and a 38% career win rate — both excellent numbers — and trainer Hugo Andrade sends out Yuri Yaranga at 6/1. The average speed figure of 54 is the best in the entire field, suggesting True Class has the foot to close if the leaders set a hot pace. At 6/1, there's legitimate value here, and the high win percentage tells you this horse finds the board with regularity.

show3Flat Out DiamondsML 7/1

Flat Out Diamonds at 7/1 is a sneaky-good show play in this spot — a 78.78 TrackWiz rating and a 37% career win rate are both outstanding for a horse going off at this price. Trainer Jennifer A. Johnson sends out Kevin Gonzalez, and the connection has multiple horses in the race today. The morning-line odds suggest the market is underestimating this one, making her an ideal trifecta anchor.

Race 6

1:05 AM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A short, sharp 5-furlong dirt sprint with just six runners — Baby Dog owns a massive ratings edge, but the rest of the field is bunched tightly enough that the exacta and trifecta spots are genuinely competitive.

win2Baby DogML 5/2

Baby Dog is the standout in this field by a significant margin — an 87.81 TrackWiz rating towers over the rest of the field, with the next-best horse (Eyesonthecandy) checking in at 79.57. Luis Negron gets the call for trainer Eddie Clouston, who has shown a knack for placing horses at the right level throughout this card. At 5/2 on the morning line, this is one of the stronger win bets of the day despite the short price.

place5EyesonthecandyML 2/1

Eyesonthecandy at 2/1 is the morning-line favorite despite being rated second in the field — the market clearly respects this one, and with a 79.57 TrackWiz rating and an average speed of 52, she belongs in the mix. Trainer Devan Ewell Sr. deploys Agustin Bracho, and with a 8% career win rate, the box score might undersell the talent. She looks like the natural place finisher if Baby Dog goes gate-to-wire.

show6It's Only MoneyML 7/2

It's Only Money at 7/2 rounds out our top three in this compact field — a 78.80 TrackWiz rating is third-best in a six-horse race, and Douglas Lafrance Jr. gets the mount for trainer Crystal G. Pickett. The career win rate of 5% is low, but the speed figure profile and rating suggest she's capable of running into the money at a fair price for trifecta purposes.

Race 7

1:30 AM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Maiden Special Weight sprints on the dirt are notoriously hard to handicap — every horse has a zero in the win column by definition — but the ratings spread here is wide enough that All Roads to Denis looks like a legitimate overlay.

win5All Roads to DenisML 8/1

All Roads to Denis tops the TrackWiz ratings in this maiden field at 79.79 — a full 16 points ahead of the second-best horse — and goes off at 8/1 on the morning line, which is a significant overlay for a horse this far clear on our ratings. Trainer Angelo G. Jackson puts up Brandon Tapara, and in a field where no horse has ever won a race, the ratings edge is the clearest signal we have. MSW maidens are unpredictable, but when a horse is this dominant on the numbers, you take the value.

place1Team MischievousML 5/2

Team Mischievous is the morning-line favorite at 5/2 and comes in second in the ratings at 63.41. Trainer Tina Ramgeet sends out her own jockey Andrew R. Ramgeet, keeping it in-house — a stable that knows this horse well is never a bad thing in a maiden spot. At 5/2, the market believes in this one, and the rating profile supports a place or show effort at minimum.

show7Midnight StrollerML 7/2

Midnight Stroller at 7/2 owns a 61.11 TrackWiz rating — third in the field — and Jason Simpson takes the mount for trainer Devan Ewell Sr. With an average speed of 51, she's in line with several others on raw foot, but the rating and the morning-line price suggest she belongs in the exotics. In a wide-open maiden sprint where anything can happen, third-best on the ratings at a fair price is worth including in trifectas.

Race 8

1:55 AM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A deep 12-horse Starter Optional Claiming field at 6 furlongs, with three horses rated in the mid-80s creating a genuine top tier — but the mid-pack cluster means the exotics could pay handsomely if one of them sneaks in.

win9Speighty WarML 2/1

Speighty War comes in as the top-rated horse at 86.45 and carries a 23% career win rate — both strong numbers in a tough field. Kevin Gonzalez picks up the mount for trainer Terry J. Crago, and at 2/1 on the morning line, the market correctly identifies this as the one to beat. An average speed figure of 53 keeps him competitive on raw foot, and the combination of high rating, solid win percentage, and a quality pilot makes him the most complete package in the race.

place2UndalayML 5/1

Undalay at 5/1 is a legitimate value play — an 84.17 TrackWiz rating puts him second in this field, just 2.3 points behind the top pick, and a 19% career win rate shows he can convert when pointed at the right spot. Brandon Tapara gets aboard for trainer Jay P. Bernardini, who has been prominent throughout today's card. At 5/1, you're getting a horse that could honestly be the best in the race at a meaningful overlay compared to his rating.

show12ToddcheroML 6/1

Toddchero at 6/1 rounds out our top three with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating and an average speed figure of 55 — the best in this field. Trainer Benny R. Feliciano keeps the mount in the family with Ricardo Feliciano in the saddle. A 14% career win rate is steady for this level, and the raw speed figure suggests he's capable of pressing the pace and holding on for a piece of the purse at a competitive price.

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

Tonight's Mountaineer card is a clean, well-structured eight-race slate under ideal conditions. Royal Salute and Ur Fabulous headline the free plays as short-priced top picks, while Balam at 7/1 is the value play we're most excited about. For the full dirt-card breakdown — including pace projections, exotic tickets, and our take on All Roads to Denis in the MSW — the complete analysis is waiting for subscribers. Good luck at the windows tonight.

← All Mountaineer picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 8 races free