Parx Racing Picks & Predictions — May 20, 2026
It's a hot one at Parx Racing today — clear skies, blazing sunshine, and a track temperature pushing 90°F. That kind of heat can take the starch out of horses who want to set blistering fractions, so watch for closers and horses with tactical speed to get a leg up as the afternoon wears on. The dirt surface will be a factor all day, and pace scenarios could shift as the card progresses.
We've got a full 10-race card on the table, all dirt, all business. The conditions are mostly claiming races from the sprint distances up to a mile and 70 yards — bread-and-butter Parx racing. Our TrackWiz models have crunched the numbers across the entire card, and there are some genuinely strong ratings in the mix, including a couple of top picks clearing the 89-point threshold in premium races. It's the kind of card where sharp angles can pay off nicely.
Best Bets
Race 1
Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt
A wide-open claiming sprint with three legitimate contenders bunched near the top of the TrackWiz ratings — expect a competitive pace battle over 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt.
Neighbelline (#5) earns our top rating at 82.71 and posts the field's second-best average speed figure at 54, tying Perugia at the top of the speed column. Mychel J. Sanchez takes the mount, and this horse's combination of pace efficiency and class consistency makes her the one to beat at a workable 6/1 morning line. Perugia (#9) is the obvious threat — an 18% career win rate is easily the best in the field and she's the morning-line favorite at 2/1 — but at shorter odds, Neighbelline offers the better value angle here. Champagne Mischief (#2) rounds out the exotics picture with a solid 79.14 TrackWiz rating, though her 12% win rate doesn't inspire much confidence beyond a place/show role.
Rating board at 79.1. Ridden by Luis M. Ocasio. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.59 sec/furlong. 2 wins and placed in 8 of 14 races on Dirt tracks.
Rating board at 73.4. Ridden by Yedsit Hazlewood. For past year, Jockey has a 28% win rate and finished in the money in 69% of races. For past year, Jockey & Trainer Combo has a 32% win rate and finished in the money in 76% of races.
Race 2
Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt
With Traffic Master scratched, this five-horse field shapes up as a two-horse battle at the top — Assume Nothing and Best Bet are miles clear of the rest on paper.
Assume Nothing (#6) is our top pick here, leading the field with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating and a career win rate of 19% — both best among active entrants. Trainer Jamie Ness sends out Yedsit Hazlewood for the call, and that Ness-Hazlewood combination has been reliable at Parx. The 1 mile 70 yards distance suits a closer profile, and Assume Nothing's average speed figure of 52 ties Best Bet at the top of the class. Best Bet (#5) at 8/5 is the lukewarm chalk but is the shorter price — Assume Nothing at 9/5 is essentially the same price and offers slightly better upside based on our ratings edge.
Race 3
Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt
A wide-open maiden claiming sprint where every horse is still looking for that elusive first win — the TrackWiz ratings, not career stats, tell the story here.
Change Your Name (#4) stands out clearly in a maiden field, carrying the top TrackWiz rating at 87.81 and the field's best average speed figure at 54 — a full tick ahead of the next group. Mychel J. Sanchez gets the call for trainer Ilias Tapsas, a sharp jockey booking in a spot where pace figures should carry the day at 6 furlongs. The 5/2 morning line makes this horse the public's choice as well, but our ratings strongly support the favoritism. Warheaded (#6) is the main alternative at 7/2, posting a 62.74 rating and a 53 speed figure — a decent secondary exotics option if you want to spread.
We're opening the doors on three races for everyone today — Races 1, 2, and 3. In the opener, Neighbelline stands out at a juicy 6/1 morning line, posting a TrackWiz rating of 82.71 in a 5½-furlong dirt sprint. If you like a value play to kick off the day, that's your horse. In Race 2, Assume Nothing steps up as our highest-rated free pick at 88.83 — a number that commands respect in a mile-and-70-yard dirt route. And in the Maiden Claiming in Race 3, Change Your Name grades out at 87.81 and comes in at a workable 5/2 on the morning line, a solid price for a horse with that kind of rating.
The heat today could soften things up as horses dig deep in the stretch, so keep a close eye on horses that are rated well and have tactical versatility. All three free-race picks show enough quality to win outright — and at these prices, there's genuine value on the board.
Full Card Analysis
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Bottom line: this is a well-stocked 10-race dirt card at Parx with legitimate contenders up and down the lineup. Neighbelline, Assume Nothing, and Change Your Name are your free best bets to get the day started — and the premium card is loaded with high-rated picks in the back half. Bet smart, manage your bankroll in the heat, and remember: no race is a lock. Good luck out there today.