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Penn National Picks & Predictions — August 13, 2026

August 13, 20267 racesAll Penn National picks

Results are in — see the official Penn National chart and payouts (our top pick won 1 of 7)→

Happy Thursday at Penn National. Seven races are on the slate today under partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 83°F — about as good as a mid-August Pennsylvania afternoon gets. The turf course figures to play a starring role with two grass routes on the card, and the dirt looks fast and fair for the five dirt tests.

It's a workmanlike card that rewards sharp handicapping. You've got a starter allowance to kick things off, a pair of turf routes in the early going, and a trio of six-furlong dashes to close out the afternoon — plenty of pace questions and pace angles to dig into. Three races are fully open to all TrackWiz readers, with the full-card breakdown locked in for subscribers.

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Race 1

9:45 PM EDT

Starter Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

A tight three-way battle shapes up in this mile starter allowance on dirt, with two horses posting nearly identical TrackWiz ratings at the top and a legitimate pace challenger in between.

win1DelrayML 9/5

Delray gets the nod here on the strength of a 87.91 TrackWiz rating — the highest in the field — backed by a 26% career win rate that speaks to a horse who knows how to close the deal. Martin Chuan takes the reins for the consistently sharp Jamie Ness barn, a pairing worth noting at any level. At 9/5 on the morning line, Delray is deservedly favored, and at a mile on Penn's dirt, that rating edge should hold up late in the race.

place5Tootaloo KangarooML 5/2

Tootaloo Kangaroo sits within a razor-thin margin of Delray at 87.81 TrackWiz rating, and a 31% career win percentage is the best in this field — this horse competes. The 5/2 morning line is fair value for a horse with this kind of résumé, and if pace heats up between the top two, Tootaloo Kangaroo has the class profile to collect a check regardless.

show4BraquetML 3/1

Braquet owns a solid 72.85 rating and a 21% career win clip — numbers that put him clearly ahead of the rest of the pack outside the top two. Ricardo Chiappe has a steady hand and at 3/1, Braquet offers real exotic appeal as the third wheel in a trifecta key.

Race 2

10:14 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

Wide-open maiden claiming chaos on the turf — every horse in the field is still looking for their first win, and our analysis finds one standout whose speed and rating tower over a deeply competitive group.

win6Beau HillML 7/2

Beau Hill is the clear top selection in a race where no one has ever broken their maiden, posting a 86.35 TrackWiz rating that laps the field by a significant margin. The 55 average speed figure ties for best in the race, and at 7/2 on the morning line, Edwin Gonzalez has a live mount under trainer Paulina Sinnefia. In maiden fields where form is hard to project, you want the horse with the best underlying numbers — that's Beau Hill.

place8Lady of LordsML 5/2

Lady of Lords comes in with the second-highest rating in the race at 56.97 and draws the services of Angel R. Rodriguez for trainer Brandon L. Kulp. Her 5/2 morning line suggests the market agrees she's a factor, and her 52 average speed is competitive for this class level on the Penn turf.

show9Mended HeartML 5/1

Mended Heart checks in with a 53.33 rating and a 53 average speed figure, placing her in the middle tier of this field but squarely ahead of the bottom half. Trainer Kevin C. Boniface puts Matilda Burnham up, and at 5/1 there's enough value to include her in any maiden trifecta ticket on a surface where surprises are always possible.

Race 3

10:43 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/2 mi · Turf

Fridayswithmurray looks like a class standout in this 1½-mile turf claiming route, but the distance is a genuine question mark for the whole field and a pair of closers could make things interesting in the stretch.

win6FridayswithmurrayML 2/1

Fridayswithmurray sits atop the TrackWiz leaderboard at 88.54 — the top mark in a 10-horse field — and Jamie Ness sends out Martin Chuan, a trainer-jockey combo that consistently shows up in the money at Penn. The 2/1 morning line makes this the heavy public choice, and rightly so: the rating gap between Fridayswithmurray and the next-closest contenders (Tallahatchiebridge at 69.85, Zapata at 69.12) is substantial. At a distance as long as 1½ miles on turf, pace control and tactical positioning matter, and Chuan should put this horse in a smart spot.

place1TallahatchiebridgeML 6/1

Tallahatchiebridge is the sneaky logical alternative at 6/1 with a 69.85 rating and a 54 average speed figure for trainer Bruce M. Kravets. David Cora picks up the mount, and at a marathon 1½ miles, a horse with a steady speed profile and some turf experience could be lurking for the place spot if the favorite hits any trouble.

show3ZapataML 9/2

Zapata runs nearly identically to Tallahatchiebridge on our metrics — 69.12 rating, 55 average speed (tops in the race), and a 16% career win rate under trainer Fenneka T. Bentley. Ricardo Chiappe is a capable pilot, and that raw speed figure suggests Zapata could factor late in a long route where horses who can sustain their pace earn checks.

Our three free races give you a solid cross-section of today's card. On the dirt, Delray opens the show in the starter allowance going a flat mile — a 9/5 morning line that our model backs up with an 87.91 rating. Over on the grass, Beau Hill gets the call in Race 2's maiden claiming route at 7/2, and the marquee of the free trio is Fridayswithmurray in Race 3 — our highest-rated free pick at 88.54 in a 1½-mile turf claiming route. That's a long way around Penn's oval and pace scenario will matter enormously; our analysis likes what Fridayswithmurray brings to a route of this distance.

The partly cloudy conditions and mild heat should keep the turf playing to true form today — no water-logged or firm-rail concerns to cloud the picture. If you're building a multi-race sequence around the early card, these three races are your foundation.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

11:12 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

This is a TrackWiz premium race — a compact five-horse claiming field on dirt where the top pick is loaded but the price horses underneath offer real value for exacta and trifecta play.

win2DocsgotallthecandyML 2/1

Docsgotallthecandy tops our TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 — matching the highest score on today's card — and trainer Eli Betancourt sends out Sebastian Orellana, a jockey who knows this track well. The 2/1 morning line is deserved given the rating dominance, and a 52 average speed figure at 1 mile 70 yards on dirt is right in the wheelhouse. The 10% career win rate is modest, but the underlying numbers scream that the best efforts are coming at the right time.

place1Boys of SummerML 4/1

Boys of Summer is the second-strongest horse in the field by our metrics (79.11 rating) and gives trainer Miguel Penaloza a second look in the same race alongside Parlay for Destiny. Dexter Haddock takes the mount at 4/1, and while the 9% career win rate is on the lower end, the rating gap between Boys of Summer and Fighting Words below him is meaningful. He's a natural fit under the win pick in the exacta.

show5Cove Bay BoyML 5/2

Cove Bay Boy checks in with a 72.24 TrackWiz rating and a 13% career win rate — the best win percentage among the non-top-two horses — under trainer George R. Albright. Leonardo Corujo aboard at 5/2 makes this a logical show play, and the 53 average speed figure gives him the physical tools to earn a check in a race where the top two may be fighting it out up front.

Race 5

11:41 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A six-horse sprint at six furlongs where the speed figures are bunched but our top selection has a clear rating edge despite an unusually low career win percentage — the pace setup could be the key to the outcome.

win2MigratoryML 3/1

Migratory owns the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.08 and posts a 52 average speed figure, but the 4% career win rate raises a flag worth acknowledging — this horse has been competitive without closing deals. That said, Edwin Gonzalez is a dependable hand for trainer Michael V. Simone, and at 3/1 the rating edge is real enough to make Migratory the top selection in a sprint where pedigree and positioning often sort things out quickly.

place3Willy WillyML 2/1

Willy Willy is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 with a 79.68 rating and the best career win rate in the field at 16% — Elisha Perez's runner knows how to win. The 54 average speed figure is second-best in the race, and Leonardo Corujo should have this horse near the pace in a short six-furlong sprint. If Migratory struggles to convert, Willy Willy is right there.

show1MenckeML 4/1

Mencke at 4/1 brings a 63.12 rating and a 12% career win percentage under trainer Bruce M. Kravets — the same barn that has multiple runners on today's card. The 51 average speed figure is the lowest of the contenders, but in a pace duel scenario, a horse that saves ground and fires late can pick up a show check. Yabriel O. Ramos takes the mount and keeps Mencke in the exotic mix.

Race 6

12:10 AM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Five mares line up in this six-furlong starter optional claiming sprint, and one of them — currently a slight overlay on the morning line — has a commanding rating edge and a sharp trainer-jockey connection.

win5Cloud in the WindML 7/2

Cloud in the Wind tops our TrackWiz analysis at 86.35 despite going off at 7/2 on the morning line — that's a small overlay worth exploiting in a short field. David Cora pairs with trainer Bruce M. Kravets, who has been active on today's card, and a 23% career win rate confirms this is a mare who has been to the winner's circle before. The 54 average speed figure is solid for this level, and in a sprint where gate speed matters, expect Cora to get her into a good position early.

place4SheherhersML 5/2

Sheherhers posts a 77.53 rating — second in the field — and her 55 average speed figure is actually the best in the race, suggesting she has the raw ability to sustain pace in a short sprint. Maicol J. Inirio is up for trainer Flint W. Stites, and at 5/2, the public respects this one too. If Cloud in the Wind draws all the early pressure, Sheherhers could be lurking for the place.

show3VicountessML 4/1

Vicountess rounds out the top three at 71.05 rating and brings a 25% career win rate — one of the strongest résumés in the field by that measure. Yabriel O. Ramos rides for trainer Bruce M. Kravets, giving Kravets a two-horse stable entry in this race. At 4/1, the show price should be generous, and the 54 average speed keeps her in range of the top two throughout.

Race 7

12:39 AM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Uncle Money is one of the most dominant horses on the entire card — an elite career win rate backs up a top-of-field TrackWiz rating — but two value plays underneath make this race worth targeting in exotics.

win5Uncle MoneyML 5/2

Uncle Money is a standout at 87.81 TrackWiz rating and a jaw-dropping 53% career win percentage — that is not a typo, and it's the kind of number that makes you circle the race. Edwin Gonzalez rides for trainer Timothy C. Kreiser, who also has Heaven Street in the field, and that barn confidence in running two horses in the same race is telling. The 56 average speed figure is tied for best in the race, and at 5/2, this is not a horse you fade in a six-furlong sprint.

place7No No JoeML 9/2

No No Joe sits at 9/2 with a 72.3 rating and a 25% career win rate — numbers that profile him as a legit secondary threat in this field. Leonardo Corujo handles the mount for trainer Cody Beattie, and the 56 average speed (matching Uncle Money's best figure) suggests this horse can match up on raw ability if the pace scenario plays into his hands. A natural fit underneath Uncle Money in the exacta.

show3Heaven StreetML 6/1

Heaven Street is the other Kreiser entry at 6/1, bringing a 59.31 rating and an impressive 27% career win rate — the second-highest in the field. Martin Chuan rides and at that morning-line price, there's genuine show value here for a horse who wins at a strong clip. Being in the same barn as the top pick gives Heaven Street tactical flexibility in terms of pace, which could allow Chuan to find a clean trip along the rail.

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Penn National serves up a well-rounded Thursday card, and TrackWiz has you covered from the starter allowance opener right through the final sprint. Lead with Fridayswithmurray as the top-rated selection of the free races, keep an eye on the turf earlier in the day, and let our premium analysis guide you through the dirt-sprint closing sequence. Good luck out there — may your tickets cash clean.

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