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Penn National Picks & Predictions — June 12, 2026

June 12, 20268 racesAll Penn National picks

This card ran on June 12, 2026.

Best bets at Penn National, June 12, 2026

Race 15Bermuda TriangleML 3/15:45 PM EDT

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Last 30 days at Penn National: our top pick won 10 of 33 races (30%) and finished in the money in 20.

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Happy Friday from Penn National, where eight races are on tap under partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 80°F. Conditions are about as good as it gets at Penn in mid-June — no rain in the picture, which means the turf should be playing fair and the dirt should be consistent and fast. That's good news for pace handicappers who like a predictable surface.

Today's card is a nice mix of claiming action, a starter optional claiming sprint, and a step up in class with an allowance optional claimer in Race 6. The first three races go on the turf — one mile, one and a half miles, and back to a mile — giving grass specialists plenty to work with before the card shifts entirely to the dirt. Eight races, three of them free for all TrackWiz readers, and five more waiting for subscribers who want the full picture.

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Race 1

5:45 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A wide-open turf mile at the claiming level with a clear class standout at a playable morning line price — but enough mid-pack talent to keep the exotics honest.

win5Bermuda TriangleML 3/1

Bermuda Triangle owns the field's top TrackWiz rating at 87.08 and comes in as the morning-line favorite at 3/1 — a number that actually offers some value given the margin over the competition. Angel R. Rodriguez is in the irons, and with a career win percentage of 13%, this horse knows how to finish. The 1-mile turf trip should suit a horse carrying this kind of rating edge, and the pace scenario looks manageable with several slower-rated closers in the field.

place7Freedom MakerML 5/2

Freedom Maker is the second choice on the morning line at 5/2 and backs it up with a solid 74.21 TrackWiz rating — the second-best figure in the field. Julio A. Hernandez takes the mount, and while the 11% career win rate is modest, this horse has the profile of a consistent placer who rarely runs a bad race at this level.

show4ZapataML 8/1

Zapata at 8/1 is the value angle in this field — a 64.79 rating that ranks third overall while sitting well below the favorite in the betting. Trainer Fenneka T. Bentley has this horse ready to compete, and with Ricardo Chiappe aboard, there's legitimate pilot talent in the irons. At 8/1, Zapata is the kind of show-price overlay that can anchor your exacta and trifecta tickets without killing your ROI.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

6:14 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/2 mi · Turf

The marathon distance of 1 1/2 miles on turf thins out the field to six, but the ratings gap between the top two horses and the rest of the field is wide enough to make the exacta a prime target.

win4Mucho MojoML 4/1

Mucho Mojo carries the field's best TrackWiz rating at 85.62 and goes postward at a juicy 4/1 morning line despite being the top-rated horse — that's a potential value disconnect worth exploiting. Jorge A. Vargas Jr. is one of the sharper pilots in this book, and the stamina-testing 1 1/2-mile distance could expose weaker closers. A career win percentage of 8% tells you this horse has found winning tough, but the overall profile here screams ready to pop.

place5Mo RewardsML 2/1

Mo Rewards is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 and carries a 16% career win rate — the best in the race — along with a solid 71.46 rating. Trainer Jamie Ness is a consistent presence at Penn National, and Melvis Gonzalez is a capable handler at the distance. If Mucho Mojo fires, Mo Rewards looks like the most likely to chase him home.

show2DrakonML 7/2

Drakon rates third in the field at 69.59 and goes at 7/2, making him a near-overlaid show price given how close his figure is to the top two. Martin Chuan gets the call for trainer Keri Brion, and the 54 average speed figure is the best in the race — raw foot matters even at a mile and a half. This horse fills out the trifecta nicely and shouldn't be left off tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Our free coverage opens with the turf trifecta — Races 1, 2, and 3 — and there's a real range of profiles here worth paying attention to. Bermuda Triangle (3/1 morning line, TrackWiz rating 87.08) leads our card in Race 1 and sets a confident tone. Race 2 stretches out to a mile and a half on the turf, where Mucho Mojo (4/1) carries an 85.62 rating and looks like a solid fit for the extra distance. The one that really catches the eye, though, is Race 3's Nilambar — an 8/1 shot in a maiden claimer who our model rates at 79.79. That's a meaningful gap between the morning line and what we're seeing analytically, and on a fair turf course, longshot angles in maiden races can pay handsomely.

The through-line in all three free races is pace scenario: the turf at Penn rewards horses who can settle and pounce, and on a dry, consistent surface today, closers with late kick deserve a hard look. Keep that in mind when you're building your tickets for Races 1–3.

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Race 3

6:43 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A wide maiden claiming turf mile with a big field of first-time winners and lightly-raced types — these races can produce surprises, but a couple of horses show clear separation in the ratings.

win5NilambarML 8/1

Nilambar sits at 8/1 on the morning line yet carries a field-best 79.79 TrackWiz rating — that's the kind of underlay angle that gets handicappers excited in maiden races. David Cora picks up the mount for trainer Bruce M. Kravets, and the 54 average speed figure is excellent in this group. In a maiden field where none of these horses have won, rating edges matter more than ever, and Nilambar's edge is real.

place11Sounds Like FunML 5/2

Sounds Like Fun is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 with a 75.98 rating — just a tick below Nilambar — and brings Angel R. Rodriguez back into play for trainer Brandon L. Kulp, the same connections behind Race 1's top pick. The 53 average speed figure is solid, and at 5/2 the place payoff could still offer value if Nilambar fires and runs away from this field.

show6Garage BeersML 10/1

Garage Beers is our longshot show play here — 10/1 on the morning line, but this horse owns the field's highest average speed figure at 56, which stands out in a maiden claimer where raw speed can be everything. Trainer Elisha Perez puts Angel Cruz aboard, and while the 0% career win rate is expected in a maiden race, that blazing speed number suggests there's more here than the odds imply. At 10/1 in the exotics, Garage Beers can make trifectas very profitable.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Race 4

7:12 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The 7/5 morning-line favorite Miles Ahead looks vulnerable on the numbers in this six-furlong dirt claimer — the top three TrackWiz ratings all belong to horses going off at longer prices, setting up a genuine value play.

win2Brother RiceML 3/1

Brother Rice tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 — matching the field's ceiling — and carries a 25% career win rate that's the second-best in the race. David Cora rides for trainer Carl J. O'Callaghan, and the 56 average speed figure is the highest of any horse in this sprint. Going postward at 3/1 while the numbers say he's the class of the field makes this one of the cleaner win plays on the card.

place3Heard On ThestreetML 7/2

Heard On Thestreet comes in at 7/2 with an 82.14 rating and a 23% career win rate — the third-best win percentage in the race. Trainer Timothy C. Kreiser has this horse primed, and a 55 average speed figure ties the field average for the sprint distance. If the pace gets hot early, Heard On Thestreet's rating and form suggest he can find a way into the placings.

show1BykML 4/1

Byk rounds out our top three at 4/1 with a 76.48 rating and a jaw-dropping 37% career win rate — the best in the field by a wide margin. Trainer Ricardo A. Murillo consistently puts this horse in position to perform, and that win percentage in a 6-furlong dirt sprint is the kind of stat you can't ignore for show and exotic purposes. At 4/1, Byk is a strong show play and an essential part of exacta combinations.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 5

7:41 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A competitive Starter Optional Claiming sprint on dirt where the top two horses are separated by less than two rating points — this sets up as a genuine battle, and the right pace scenario could determine which one hits the wire first.

win1Miguel's BelleML 4/1

Miguel's Belle carries the field's top rating at 85.62 and gets Paco Lopez — one of the most accomplished riders on the Penn National circuit — in the irons. Trainer Michael V. Simone keeps this filly sharp, and her 18% career win rate is respectable in this company. At 4/1, she's a clear value overlay compared to the morning-line favorite Peridot Pendant, and our analysis sees her as the best of these in the key numbers.

place5Lastchance RomanceML 3/1

Lastchance Romance trails the top-rated horse by just under two points at 83.98 and goes at 3/1 — another case where the ratings and morning line are pointing in the same direction. Trainer Erin C. McClellan has a 29% career win rate to work with here, and Inoel Beato is a solid tactical rider who can navigate a pace scenario in a short field. If Miguel's Belle wins, this horse has the form to be right there in second.

show2Peridot PendantML 2/1

Peridot Pendant is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 despite rating third in the field at 76.13, which is an interesting disconnect. That 47% career win rate is remarkable — nearly half of her career starts have ended in victory — and Emilio Flores is a capable pilot for trainer Erin C. McClellan. We like her third on the ratings, but the win rate alone keeps her firmly in play for show and exacta coverage.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 6

8:10 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

An Allowance Optional Claiming route on dirt where the top-rated horse is at value odds against a morning-line favorite carrying lower numbers — classic setup for the TrackWiz rating to do its job.

win1BraquetML 3/1

Braquet tops the field at 87.08 — the same rating ceiling we've seen from the best horses on this card — and goes at 3/1 with David Cora taking the mount for trainer Bruce M. Kravets. A 22% career win rate at the allowance level is respectable, and the 55 average speed figure matches the field's best. The 1 1/16-mile dirt distance rewards horses with tactical versatility, and Braquet's numbers say he can handle this field.

place3Foxy JuniorML 8/5

Foxy Junior is the morning-line favorite at 8/5 with a 44% career win rate — extraordinary numbers — but the 67.89 TrackWiz rating trails Braquet by nearly 20 points, which is why we slot him second. Jomar Torres rides for T. Bernard Houghton, and this horse's win percentage makes him a constant threat to hit the board. He's a strong place play even if our analysis puts him a step behind Braquet on pure form.

show2Social FortressML 5/2

Social Fortress at 5/2 carries a 57.98 rating and an impressive 33% career win rate that speaks to genuine class consistency. Paco Lopez is one of the circuit's top pilots, and trainer Gregory D. Sacco is no stranger to placing horses competitively at Penn. In a five-horse field, Social Fortress at 5/2 could easily hit the board and offers meaningful value in trifecta construction.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 7

8:39 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Chain Reaction dominates the TrackWiz ratings in this six-furlong dirt claimer, but a double-digit gap over the third-best horse doesn't always translate cleanly — the pace scenario and a couple of sneaky alternatives keep the exotics interesting.

win2Chain ReactionML 9/5

Chain Reaction is the class of this field at 88.83 — the highest single rating on the entire card today — and goes at 9/5 as the morning-line favorite, which actually represents fair value given the margin of superiority. Yabriel O. Ramos is a trusted rider for trainer Bruce M. Kravets, and the 55 average speed figure supports a horse that can set or stalk the pace in a 6-furlong sprint. You don't need a complicated reason here — the numbers are simply the best in the race by a wide margin.

place6PardsyML 6/1

Pardsy is our value angle in second at 6/1 morning line, carrying a 57.96 rating that ranks second in the field despite being pushed well down the odds board. David Cora takes the call for trainer Sandee D. Martin, and a 15% career win rate is workable at the claiming level. At 6/1, Pardsy is a natural exacta partner with the favorite and offers the kind of overlay that boosts payoffs significantly.

show4The Judge and JuryML 3/1

The Judge and Jury at 3/1 brings a 22% career win rate — the best in this field — and a solid 53.33 rating to round out the top three. Wilfredo Corujo rides for trainer Cody Beattie, and this horse's track record of winning more than one in five starts at the claiming level means he's rarely out of the mix. A show ticket here is sensible, and he's worth including in exacta and trifecta coverage behind Chain Reaction.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 8

9:08 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A two-turn dirt route with a tight cluster at the top of the ratings and two horses sitting at 3/1 on the morning line — this shapes up as a genuine battle between the top-rated horse and the second choice, with the 2/1 morning-line favorite curiously sitting third on our numbers.

win6Maggie KML 3/1

Maggie K carries the field's best rating at 87.08 and matches the top numbers we've seen all card, yet goes at 3/1 morning line — meaning the market hasn't fully priced in her edge. Manuel Aguilar takes the mount for trainer Jose F. Bobadilla, and while a 6% career win rate is modest, the overall rating profile at this distance says she's ready to make a move. The 1 mile and 70 yards suits a horse who can sustain a run, and Maggie K's numbers suggest she has the form to go with it.

place3Briscoe CountyML 2/1

Briscoe County is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 with an 84.37 rating — second-best in the race — and Jomar Torres picks up the mount for trainer Kathleen A. Demasi. A 14% career win rate isn't flashy, but this horse has clearly shown up in competitive spots before. If Maggie K sets the pace and gets caught late, Briscoe County has the tactical profile to be right there at the wire.

show1Forget TomorrowML 3/1

Forget Tomorrow at 3/1 brings a 79.46 rating — third-best — and Angel Cruz is an aggressive, tactical rider who can navigate a two-turn dirt route for trainer Richard P. Sillaman. The 7% career win rate is admittedly low, but the rating speaks louder here, and in a race where the top three are tightly bunched, Forget Tomorrow can easily hit the board at a price that makes the show and trifecta math work in your favor.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

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Bottom line: it's a clean, playable card at Penn National today with legitimate value scattered across eight races. Bermuda Triangle and Mucho Mojo anchor the free side, Nilambar is your longshot flier, and Chain Reaction is the horse to beat on the whole card. Subscribers get the full story — pace matchups, exotic tickets, and every angle we've uncovered — over at TrackWiz premium. Good luck today, and as always, bet smart.

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