Daily Picks

Penn National Picks & Predictions — August 18, 2026

August 18, 20267 racesAll Penn National picks

This card ran on August 18, 2026.

Results & payouts →Latest Penn National picks →

Best bets at Penn National, August 18, 2026

Race 14Majestic RainML 9/55:45 PM EDT

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 5 races are for members.

A free account opens race 2 too. Premium opens all 7, with AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet, which splits one bet across the horses you like.

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

Join Free See plans · from $9.99

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

It's a clear Tuesday afternoon at Penn National with temperatures sitting at a comfortable 81°F — ideal racing conditions across all surfaces. Seven races are on the board today, split between dirt and turf, with a nice mix of maiden special weights, allowance company, and claiming action to keep things interesting from first post to last.

The turf course gets a good workout today, featuring back-to-back grass sprints and routes in Races 2 and 3. That makes surface reads and pace scenarios especially important this afternoon. TrackWiz analysis has been digging into the splits, and there are a few spots where the morning line looks a little generous — always music to the ears of value hunters.

Three races are available free today, giving everyone a solid starting point. If you want the full-card edge — pace projections, exotic tickets, and our premium picks for Races 4 through 7 — that's what subscribers are here for.

Best Bets

Race 1

5:45 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden special weight opener where one horse stands out on ratings by a wide margin — Majestic Rain's 88.83 TrackWiz rating is 30-plus points clear of the next challenger in a wide-open rookie field.

win4Majestic RainML 9/5

Majestic Rain opens as the 9/5 morning-line favorite and it's not hard to see why — that 88.83 TrackWiz rating towers over everyone else in this maiden field. Trained by Michael Zalalas and ridden by Inoel Beato, this one comes in with an average speed figure of 52, which is in line with the competition, but the overall rating gap suggests more underlying upside. In a short six-furlong sprint where pace will matter, expect Beato to get a forward position and let the rating advantage do the rest.

place2BenevolentML 5/2

Benevolent (No. 2) is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 and carries the second-best TrackWiz rating in the field at 57.5. Jean Gregor Briceno gets the call for trainer Samuel G. Davis, and while there's no average speed on record, the overall profile grades out above most rivals. In a maiden race where chaos is the norm, Benevolent's rating edge over the lower half of the field makes a place finish a reasonable expectation.

show1Keltic FuryML 7/2

Keltic Fury (No. 1) sits third in the ratings at 55.83 and goes with Angel Cruz aboard for trainer Kelly Lynn Deiter. The 7/2 morning line reflects a bit of public respect, and an average speed of 52 keeps pace with the bulk of the field. As an exotic hedge in a thin maiden field, Keltic Fury's spot in the top three on the ratings sheet makes the show spot an affordable inclusion.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

6:14 PM EDT

Allowance · 5 fur · Turf

A packed 12-horse allowance turf sprint that splits cleanly into two tiers — Pageant Princess and Whiskey Lullaby sit well above the rest on TrackWiz ratings — but the deep field makes pace unpredictable and exotics very much in play.

win4Pageant PrincessML 5/2

Pageant Princess (No. 4) owns the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.81 and backs it up with a 25% career win rate — the best among the contenders. Angel R. Rodriguez gets the mount for trainer Brandon L. Kulp, a combination worth noting in a turf sprint where tactical positioning off the gate is crucial. At 5 furlongs on the grass, her average speed figure of 56 ties for the top mark in the field, and our analysis sees her as the clear class of this group.

place1Whiskey LullabyML 7/2

Whiskey Lullaby (No. 1) is no throwaway at 7/2 — an 80.93 rating and a 20% career win rate make her a legitimate top-three contender. Trainer Lydee Shea sends her out with Emilio Flores up, and at 56 average speed on a turf surface she's clearly comfortable on, this filly can track the pace and pick up pieces late. She's our place pick because she's live enough to win but faces a tough ask against Pageant Princess's superior overall profile.

show3Honorable ChillML 6/1

Honorable Chill (No. 3) at 6/1 is a solid show-tier play with a 71.16 TrackWiz rating and an average speed of 56 that matches the top horses in the field. Trained by Bernard G. Dunham with Andrew Wolfsont in the irons, this one has a 12% career win rate that understates a horse who has shown consistent competitiveness. In a 12-horse field with pace likely to get complicated, a closer type like this can pick up a piece at a workable price.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Our three free races today cover a lot of ground — literally. Race 1 is a 6-furlong dirt maiden where Majestic Rain (9/5 morning line, TrackWiz rating 88.83) looks like the class of a thin field. Race 2 flips to a 5-furlong turf sprint in allowance company, where Pageant Princess (5/2, 87.81) projects as the one to beat in what should be a quick-tempo affair. Then Race 3 gives us our best longshot angle of the free card: Roxton at 6/1 going a flat mile on the turf, with a rating of 82.71 that quietly stacks up well against the field.

The common thread across these three? Each of our top picks has the pace profile to either control the race or pounce late depending on how the early fractions develop — and on a clear, fast-surface day like today, that kind of versatility is exactly what you want. Roxton in particular is a name to keep in mind for exacta and trifecta wheels if you're looking to maximize value on the turf mile.

Free with an account

Open the next race free

A free account opens the first 2 races at every track, and every race at our Track of the Day. No credit card needed.

Create a free account Sign in

Full Card Analysis

Race 3

6:43 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A full 12-horse turf claiming mile with a genuinely tight battle at the top — Roxton and I'm Due are separated by less than a point on TrackWiz ratings, setting up a duel that could benefit a sneaky closer underneath.

win4RoxtonML 6/1

Roxton (No. 4) edges out the field with an 82.71 TrackWiz rating and goes at a generous 6/1 morning line — that's real value for the top-rated horse in the race. Noel Herman rides for trainer Richard Vega, and while the 11% career win rate is modest, it's squarely in line with the claiming-turf crowd here. With a mile on the grass giving closers a chance to organize, Roxton's profile at that price makes him our clear top choice.

place1I'm DueML 5/2

I'm Due (No. 1) is the morning-line favorite at 5/2 with an 82.05 rating that's essentially a dead heat with Roxton at the top. Angel Cruz takes over the ride for trainer Jose A. Gallegos, and a 9% career win rate in what appears to be a well-traveled career at this level means this horse knows the job. The inside post could be a gift or a trap on a turf mile, but the raw ability to finish in the top two is clearly there.

show2AtomicoML 8/1

Atomico (No. 2) at 8/1 on a 76.24 TrackWiz rating is quietly one of the better-rated horses in this field and fits perfectly as a show-ticket hedge. Yabriel O. Ramos gets the mount for trainer Robert A. Wolfe Jr., and a 9% career win rate in claiming turf company suggests a horse that competes but needs things to set up. At a mile, pace often strings out the field, and Atomico's rating puts him squarely in the mix for a minor share of the purse.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 12 runners

Race 4

7:12 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A compact five-horse dirt claiming route with Makabim sitting on top of the ratings and drawing a contentious stretch run from Uninvited Guest and Mighty Minion — small fields can mean single-digit payouts, but the exacta sequence here has real appeal.

win5MakabimML 5/2

Makabim (No. 5) tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 and carries a 14% career win rate into a five-horse field where the competition thins out quickly. Inoel Beato gets the call for trainer Cody Beattie, and at 5/2 on the morning line this horse is appropriately priced as the favorite — not a laydown, but clearly the class of the field. At a mile and 70 yards on the dirt, a horse who rates this well should be involved at every call.

place3Uninvited GuestML 9/5

Uninvited Guest (No. 3) opens as the second choice at 9/5 with an 81.33 rating and has Martin Chuan in the irons for trainer Timothy C. Kreiser. A 9% career win rate is modest, but in a five-horse field where the pace scenario could compress, being second-best on the ratings sheet often translates to a check. The short field also means less traffic trouble, which suits a horse who needs a clean run.

show4Mighty MinionML 7/2

Mighty Minion (No. 4) grades third on our ratings at 72.43 and goes at 7/2 on the morning line with Angel R. Quinones up for trainer Jose F. Bobadilla. An 11% career win rate is respectable in this company, and with only five horses going a route distance, pace scenarios are straightforward enough that this one should always be in striking range. Include Mighty Minion in exactas and trifectas — the short field makes the combination tickets affordable.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 5

7:41 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A five-horse starter optional claiming mile on the dirt where Shallus holds a commanding ratings edge, but the public may overlook Sams After Party and Arthur's Court at double-digit or near-double-digit prices — the trifecta could be very interesting.

win4ShallusML 5/2

Shallus (No. 4) tops the field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 — a price that gives you the top-rated horse at a slight discount to the favorite. Yabriel O. Ramos has the mount for trainer Scott A. Lake, who knows how to place horses in these starter optional conditions. A 6% career win rate might raise eyebrows, but our overall rating reflects form cycles and back figures that put this horse clearly ahead of the group today.

place2Sams After PartyML 5/1

Sams After Party (No. 2) is the second-best rated horse in the field at 79.18 and opens at 5/1 — making this one of the better value plays on today's card in terms of rating-to-price ratio. Eliseo Ruiz gets the call for trainer Hugo O. Padilla, and an average speed figure of 54 matches Brighty at the top of that metric for the field. A dirt mile suits a horse who can rate behind the speed, and Sams After Party has the figure to close into the place spot.

show5Arthur's CourtML 7/2

Arthur's Court (No. 5) owns the best career win rate in the race at 16% and brings a 69.41 TrackWiz rating that puts him squarely in third-best territory. Angel Cruz takes over the ride for trainer Jose A. Gallegos — the same barn sending out I'm Due in Race 3 — which suggests a stable in solid form tonight. At 7/2 in a five-horse field, Arthur's Court is a natural show-ticket inclusion and makes sense in the trifecta underneath the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 6

8:10 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Gold Lady goes off as the morning-line favorite at 2/1 but TrackWiz analysis says the value is elsewhere — Bonita Lassie rates higher and offers better price, setting up a potential upset of the chalk in this five-horse dirt sprint.

win4Bonita LassieML 4/1

Bonita Lassie (No. 4) leads all horses with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating while opening at 4/1 on the morning line — a clear overlay if the public loads up on Gold Lady at 2/1. Yabriel O. Ramos rides for trainer Bruce M. Kravets, and an 18% career win rate is strong in claiming company at this level. With an average speed of 54 in a six-furlong dirt sprint where pace will be honest, Bonita Lassie should be running at them in the stretch.

place2LachicafortequilaML 5/2

Lachicafortequila (No. 2) carries an 81.10 TrackWiz rating and opens at 5/2 with Angel R. Rodriguez aboard for trainer Brandon L. Kulp — a trainer who also saddles Decree and Declare in Race 7, showing a hot barn in action tonight. A 16% career win rate in claiming sprints is solid, and while an average speed of 52 is a tick below the top horses, the overall profile suggests a horse that competes deep into the lane on the dirt.

show3Gold LadyML 2/1

Gold Lady (No. 3) at 2/1 is the morning-line choice but sits third on our TrackWiz ratings at 71.17 — a horse the crowd may be overvaluing. That said, a 23% career win rate is legitimately elite for this level, and Martin Chuan is a reliable pilot for trainer Timothy C. Kreiser. We're putting Gold Lady third in our sequence because the ratings suggest she isn't the standout the odds will imply — but that win rate keeps her very much in the trifecta.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

Race 7

8:39 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Decree and Declare opens as the 9/5 morning-line favorite, but Mega Changer actually rates a hair higher on TrackWiz analysis — this five-horse starter optional claiming sprint is tight at the top and the exacta could go either way.

win4Mega ChangerML 9/2

Mega Changer (No. 4) sits atop the TrackWiz ratings at 84.90, edging Decree and Declare by the slimmest of margins, yet opens at 9/2 on the morning line — that's the kind of overlay that makes our analysis worth following. Edwin Gonzalez rides for trainer Paulina Sinnefia, and a 16% career win rate is respectable in starter optional claiming sprints. At six furlongs on the Penn National dirt, average speed of 54 is right there with the best horses in the field, and a fair pace scenario should suit this one perfectly.

place3Decree and DeclareML 9/5

Decree and Declare (No. 3) is essentially co-top-rated at 84.61 and carries the morning-line favoritism at 9/5 for trainer Brandon L. Kulp — who also saddles Lachicafortequila in Race 6, making this a big night for the Kulp barn. A 22% career win rate is outstanding for this level and Angel R. Rodriguez is a strong tactical rider in sprints. The case for Decree and Declare winning is completely legitimate — we've just got the margins thin enough to call Mega Changer first on ratings.

show2Hey AlexaML 5/2

Hey Alexa (No. 2) at 5/2 brings a 73.75 TrackWiz rating and a 20% career win rate, making her a legitimate threat to hit the board. Jean Gregor Briceno rides for Anthony Aguirre Jr., and an average speed of 54 matches the top horses in this short field. She grades clearly third behind the top two on ratings but well ahead of the rest, making her a must-use in trifecta tickets underneath Mega Changer and Decree and Declare.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 5 runners

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

Bottom line for Penn National on August 18: Majestic Rain is the most confident play on the free card, Pageant Princess anchors a turf sprint worth leaning on, and Roxton is the longshot angle we're excited about at 6/1. The premium card has some legitimate pace puzzles — the kind where our analysis earns its keep. Full-card subscribers get everything they need to attack this card from top to bottom. See you at the windows.

← All Penn National picks & predictions