Daily Picks

Parx Racing Picks & Predictions — May 25, 2026

Monday, May 25, 20269 racesParx Racing

Happy Memorial Day Monday at Parx Racing, where a 9-race all-dirt card is on deck under cloudy skies and a comfortable 69°F. Conditions look favorable for consistent footing, and with no rain in the mix, expect times to stay honest and pace scenarios to play out close to script.

It's a workingman's card — maiden specials, claimers, and a pair of starter optional claiming sprints — but don't let the modest conditions fool you. There's real money to be made when you know where to look, and our TrackWiz analysis has been busy all morning finding the spots worth attacking.

Three races are open to everyone today, with our top picks Backside, Youbetterbejoking, and Lucky Capo leading the free card. Subscribers get the full nine-race breakdown, including some live longshot angles in races where the morning line doesn't tell the whole story.

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Race 1

4:40 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden special weight sprint with all first-time starters — zero career wins across the board — meaning TrackWiz ratings and workout patterns do the heavy lifting here.

win2BacksideML 6/1

Backside (#2) owns the top TrackWiz rating in this maiden field at 82.71, which is a meaningful edge when you're handicapping horses without a race record to lean on. Paco Lopez is one of the sharper riders you'll see at Parx, and getting a live mount at 6/1 morning line is the kind of value spot he tends to capitalize on. The average speed figure of 52 is respectable in this company, and with Lopez potentially saving ground from the two-hole, the pace scenario sets up nicely for a mid-race move.

place5AssociatedML 7/2

Associated (#5) carries a strong 78.26 TrackWiz rating and checks in at 7/2 on the morning line, making this one of the more professionally-regarded maiden debuts in the field. The 54 average speed figure — tied for second-best in the race — suggests the workouts have been solid, and Mychel J. Sanchez gives this one a legitimate chance to hit the board in a race where nobody has proven anything yet.

show1Coach BennettML 4/1

Coach Bennett (#1) rates third in this field at 71.97 and carries a 4/1 morning line under trainer Robert E. Reid, Jr., who also has Buff Gary in the race — always worth noting when a barn doubles up. The rail post in a maiden sprint can be a mixed bag, but Abner Adorno is an experienced hand who knows how to save ground, and a 54 average speed puts this one right in the mix for exotic tickets.

Race 2

5:07 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A six-horse claiming route going a mile and 70 yards, where TrackWiz analysis separates one clear top-rater from a competitive mid-pack bunch — but the pace could get honest with multiple closers in the mix.

win2YoubetterbejokingML 5/1

Youbetterbejoking (#2) is the top-rated horse in this field at 84.17, and at 5/1 morning line that's a genuine overlay for a horse that TrackWiz analysis has well clear of the competition. The 52 average speed figure is solid for this level, and Kendry Rivera gets the mount for trainer Elliott Soto-Martinez, who knows this Parx surface well. With an 18% career win rate baked into the profile, this horse has shown it can compete — now it just needs to fire a career-best effort.

place3It's Game TimeML 4/1

It's Game Time (#3) is the second-ranked horse on TrackWiz ratings at 76.99 and brings a strong 22% career win rate to the table — the best in this field. Jamie Ness is a trainer who consistently sends well-prepared horses to the post, and Frankie Pennington is a capable rider in these claiming routes. At 4/1, the morning line reflects respect for this one, and the win percentage says it shows up more often than not.

show5Speedy HansML 3/1

Speedy Hans (#5) is the morning-line favorite at 3/1 and rates third in this field at 71.67, so the public and TrackWiz analysis are largely aligned here. A 53 average speed figure and an 18% career win rate suggest a horse that competes consistently without necessarily dominating. Mychel J. Sanchez picks up the mount, and in a claiming route going long, don't be surprised if Speedy Hans grinds his way into the exacta.

Race 3

5:34 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

This maiden claimer at a mile and a sixteenth features a genuine value angle — the morning-line favorite isn't the top-rated horse, creating a potential overlay situation worth exploiting.

win6Lucky CapoML 9/2

Lucky Capo (#6) sits atop the TrackWiz ratings at 84.90 while going off at 9/2 on the morning line — that's a significant gap between public perception and our analysis. The 52 average speed figure is the best in this field, giving Lucky Capo a real edge in the early running where setting a comfortable tempo over a mile and a sixteenth is crucial. Andy Hernandez has the call for trainer Melecio Saldana Guerrero, and in a maiden claimer where no horse has broken their maiden, top speed and top ratings often tell the story.

place2Matzoball MuhammetML 5/1

Matzoball Muhammet (#2) rates second in this field at 76.47 with a 52 average speed figure, matching Lucky Capo for the best in the race. Francisco Martinez is aboard for trainer Felix L. Flores-Coba, and at 5/1 on the morning line this is a legitimate value play for exacta and trifecta coverage. The distance of a mile and a sixteenth is a test, but the ratings suggest this one has the profile to last.

show3Little SneckdrawML 5/1

Little Sneckdraw (#3) is an interesting inclusion at 5/1 morning line with the third-best TrackWiz rating in the field at 67.89. Despite a slightly lower average speed figure of 50, trainer Ramon F. Martin has this one showing enough in the mornings to warrant a spot on your tickets. Joezer Rangel gets the call, and in a maiden claimer where the top two could tire each other out, a closer profile like this one has a realistic shot at hitting the board.

The early part of today's card sets up nicely for players who like projectable pace scenarios on dirt. In Race 1, Backside opens at 6/1 in a maiden special weight sprint — that's morning line value worth circling if the TrackWiz rating of 82.71 holds up under post-time pressure. Race 2 stretches things out to a mile and 70 yards, where Youbetterbejoking (5/1 ML, 84.17 rating) looks well-positioned in a claiming field that figures to be honest early. The pace setup in that one could set up a big closing move.

Lucky Capo rounds out the free card in Race 3, a maiden claiming route at 1 1/16 miles. At 9/2 on the morning line with the highest free-race rating at 84.90, this one is squarely on our radar. Route maiden claimers can be tricky to read, but Lucky Capo's numbers give us a clear edge to lean on.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:01 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

The betting public has made Gruene Hall a heavy 4/5 favorite in this maiden claimer, but TrackWiz analysis says there's a horse with a higher rating right next to it in the gate — and you can get it at 4/1.

win4Mia CountingML 4/1

Mia Counting (#4) owns the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 85.62, edging the odds-on favorite at 81.29 — a meaningful distinction that makes the 4/1 morning line look genuinely attractive. Dalila A. Rivera gets the mount for trainer Eli Betancourt, and with a 51 average speed figure matching several rivals, it's the overall profile and preparation that sets Mia Counting apart. In maiden claiming company at a flat mile on dirt, a horse with this ratings edge deserves to be your top selection regardless of what the tote board says.

place6Gruene HallML 4/5

Gruene Hall (#6) is the public's choice at 4/5 and rates second on our board at 81.29, so dismissing this one entirely would be a mistake. Kleiner A. Mejias is up for trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero, and even if we think Mia Counting has the slight edge, the favorite's profile says it belongs right there on the podium. For safety in your exotics, Gruene Hall finishing second is a very real scenario.

show1Lady AmelieML 3/1

Lady Amelie (#1) is the third-ranked horse in this field at 73.03 and carries a 3/1 morning line — the shortest among our top three picks. Cipriano Gil gets the call for trainer Jose M. Santaella-Calderon, and a 51 average speed figure keeps Lady Amelie competitive with the top two. If the heavy favorite gets beat and Mia Counting wins, this one looks like a logical trifecta closer.

Race 5

6:28 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Golden Chakra is a legitimate standout in this starter optional claiming sprint, posting the highest TrackWiz rating of any horse on today's card through five races — this looks like a race to bet with confidence.

win1Golden ChakraML 6/5

Golden Chakra (#1) grades out at an eye-catching 89.71 — the top TrackWiz rating we've seen through five races today — and backs it up with a 25% career win rate and a 54 average speed figure, both tops in this field. Frankie Pennington has the mount for trainer Robert Mosco, and the 6/5 morning line reflects exactly what this horse is: the clear class of a starter optional claiming sprint at six furlongs. The combination of top speed, proven winning percentage, and the rail post in a sprint is a convergence of factors that makes Golden Chakra difficult to dismiss.

place3Edge of the BladeML 3/1

Edge of the Blade (#3) rates second in this field at 74.64 and carries a 54 average speed figure matching the top pick — so raw speed isn't the separator here. Abner Adorno is aboard for trainer Kathleen A. Demasi, and at 3/1, there's real value if Golden Chakra falters or gets squeezed at the break. The 10% career win rate is modest but this is the kind of conditions race where a horse running to its best effort can outperform that number.

show2Mariah's Big GirlML 6/1

Mariah's Big Girl (#2) at 6/1 provides a nice value component to your exotics in what is otherwise a chalk-heavy race. An 18% career win rate is the second-best in the field, and while the 50.63 TrackWiz rating sits behind the top two, Dexter Haddock is a capable rider for trainer Trevor Gallimore. If the pace gets hot early between the two top picks, this one could pick up the pieces in the late stages.

Race 6

6:55 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Ten horses go a mile and 70 yards in this wide-open claiming field, but TrackWiz analysis finds a pair of horses clearly separated from the pack — and the real question is whether the third spot comes from a surprising source.

win7True ConnectionML 3/1

True Connection (#7) leads all horses in Race 6 with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating while going off at a reasonable 3/1 on the morning line. Anthony Salgado gets the call for trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado, and a 51 average speed figure is consistent with the overall pace shape of this field. What stands out is the gap between True Connection's rating and the rest of the pack — only Warrior Wayne is within striking distance — which suggests this horse simply has more quality than the competition in a ten-horse claiming field.

place2Warrior WayneML 7/2

Warrior Wayne (#2) is the second-highest-rated horse in this race at 80.94 and owns a 16% career win rate — solid credentials in a claiming field this deep. Mychel J. Sanchez is an upgrade in the irons for trainer Guadalupe Preciado, and the 7/2 morning line reflects genuine public respect. In a race going over a mile on dirt, a 52 average speed figure gives Warrior Wayne the pace tools to stay prominent and grind into the exacta.

show4Lookin WildML 4/1

Lookin Wild (#4) rates third on our board at 75.21 and carries the best career win rate in the field at 17%, which tells you this horse knows how to close out a race. Jean Aguilar picks up the mount for trainer Miguel Penaloza, and a 4/1 morning line puts this one in the sweet spot for trifecta and superfecta play. In a ten-horse field where pace can get messy, a proven winner with a 17% strike rate should find his way into the frame.

Race 7

7:22 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

This six-furlong claiming sprint is headlined by a tight trio at the top of the ratings — separated by just a few points — making it a competitive puzzle with real value in the place and show slots.

win5All American RodML 6/5

All American Rod (#5) tops the TrackWiz ratings in this sprint at 83.95, a narrow edge over Simply Disregarded and Authentic Kingdom that speaks to how competitive this race is. Mychel J. Sanchez rides for Jamie Ness, a trainer who consistently fires horses forward in claiming sprints, and a 53 average speed figure keeps this one right in the thick of things pace-wise. The 6/5 morning line suggests the public agrees — this is the right top pick, even if the short price compresses the win value.

place4Simply DisregardedML 6/1

Simply Disregarded (#4) is the standout value angle in this race, rated just slightly behind All American Rod at 82.71 but going off at a juicy 6/1 on the morning line. The 25% career win rate is the highest of any horse in this field — a full eight points above the top pick — which tells you this horse has a history of closing the deal when conditions are right. Luis M. Ocasio in the saddle for trainer Leslye G. Bouchard, and at 6/1, the place payoff here could be excellent.

show3Authentic KingdomML 8/1

Authentic Kingdom (#3) rounds out a very tight top trio at 79.79 on the TrackWiz scale and adds a 15% career win rate to its credentials. Dexter Haddock gets the mount for Clarence B. King, and a 53 average speed figure matches the top two horses — making this a genuine three-way race at the top. At 8/1 morning line, Authentic Kingdom is legitimately undervalued for trifecta and superfecta construction, especially in a race where the top three are this closely bunched.

Race 8

7:49 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A starter optional claiming sprint at six and a half furlongs where two horses stand clearly above the field on ratings — but they're going off at 3/1 and 2/1, making exacta construction the smart play.

win1Neigh DudeML 3/1

Neigh Dude (#1) carries the top TrackWiz rating in Race 8 at 87.08 and backs it up with a 27% career win rate — the highest of any horse on today's card through eight races and a genuinely elite number for this level. Andy Hernandez gets the mount for trainer Michael M. Moore, and a 54 average speed figure matches the best in the field. At 3/1 on the morning line, there's still some value here relative to what the TrackWiz numbers say, and a 27% career win percentage means this horse tends to close the deal when he fires.

place3LassoML 2/1

Lasso (#3) is the morning-line second choice at 2/1 and rates just behind Neigh Dude at 85.16, but what jumps out is the 55 average speed figure — the highest in the field — and a 25% career win rate. Andrew Wolfsont rides for trainer Louis C. Linder, Jr., and in a sprint that rewards horses who can sustain high speed through six and a half furlongs, raw pace numbers like these are crucial. This is a horse that could easily win the race outright, and the 2/1 price makes the exacta combining these top two extremely appealing.

show4Mac Daddy TooML 4/1

Mac Daddy Too (#4) rates third in this field at 68.37 and owns a 54 average speed figure that keeps him competitive with the top pair. Mychel J. Sanchez is in the irons for trainer Robert Mosco, and while the 9% career win rate isn't flashy, this is a horse that has found a way to hit the board in starter optional claiming company. At 4/1, Mac Daddy Too is the logical show play and trifecta anchor if the top two horses are your win and place picks.

Race 9

8:16 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

The nightcap is a nine-horse claiming route where one horse has a massive ratings advantage over the field — but at 5/2, the real intrigue is finding value underneath for exacta and trifecta play.

win6Parlay for DestinyML 5/2

Parlay for Destiny (#6) leads all horses in this race by a commanding margin with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — nearly 25 points clear of the third-ranked horse. Mychel J. Sanchez takes the mount for trainer Michael V. Pino, a combination that should handle the mile and 70-yard distance comfortably given a 51 average speed figure that's in line with this field. A 10% career win rate might look modest, but the overall ratings profile here is dominant, and the 5/2 morning line is fair value for a horse this far ahead of the pack on our analysis.

place1Smooth MotionML 4/1

Smooth Motion (#1) rates second in this nine-horse field at 63.49 with a 52 average speed figure — actually the best in the race — for trainer Alexander Martinez. Jean Aguilar picks up the mount, and while the 6% career win rate is low, pace figures don't lie: this horse has the raw speed to press or stalk and still have something left in a claiming route. At 4/1, Smooth Motion provides real exacta value behind the top pick and should factor if Parlay for Destiny draws clear.

show3CoalvilleML 5/1

Coalville (#3) rounds out the TrackWiz top three at 61.30 and gives trainer Jose M. Santaella-Calderon another live runner in what is a full nine-horse field. Dexter Haddock is aboard, and a 51 average speed figure is consistent with the pace demands of this route. The 7% career win rate is modest but in a field this deep, hitting the show position at 5/1 is absolutely within reach — especially as a trifecta anchor.

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Today at Parx shapes up as a solid holiday card with clear angles from top to bottom. Backside, Youbetterbejoking, and Lucky Capo lead the free picks, while Golden Chakra and Parlay for Destiny headline a premium analysis that covers all nine races. If you're ready to go deeper, the full TrackWiz breakdown — including pace projections, exotic tickets, and longshot alerts — is waiting for subscribers. Good luck at the windows, and let's have a big Memorial Day.

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