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Penn National Picks & Predictions — August 27, 2026

August 27, 20267 racesAll Penn National picks

Penn National is open for business on a pleasant Thursday evening, with partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 78°F keeping conditions about as ideal as you can ask for this time of year. Seven races are on the slate, split across dirt and turf, giving us a nice mix of surfaces to work with.

What makes tonight's card interesting is the range of conditions — we've got maiden claimers to kick things off, a couple of allowance optional claiming spots that draw classier stock, and a pair of turf routes that should benefit from the dry, mild weather. The turf course figures to be running true, which matters a lot when you're trying to project pace scenarios and surface preferences.

TrackWiz has broken down all seven races, with our top ratings spread across horses that range from morning-line favorites to a few prices worth targeting. Three races are open to everyone, and the full card is waiting for subscribers ready to go deep.

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Race 1

9:45 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming sprint on dirt where one horse owns a massive ratings edge — but a maiden field is always full of unknowns, and the morning line tells a slightly different story than our numbers.

win5Walkers BeachML 2/1

Walkers Beach (No. 5) is the clear standout here by TrackWiz ratings, posting an 88.54 — more than 25 points clear of the second-ranked horse in this field. Trainer T. Bernard Houghton saddles two horses today and Walkers Beach is the preferred half, drawing the 2/1 morning line to reflect the buzz. The average speed figure of 54 is modest but competitive enough in this maiden claiming company, and with Inoel Beato up, the connections clearly mean business.

place1KatischuoML 5/1

Katischuo (No. 1) grabs our place spot on the strength of a 63.23 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field by a comfortable margin — and a slightly advantageous rail draw in a six-furlong sprint. The 5/1 morning line suggests the public isn't all-in, which means place money could offer real value if Walkers Beach runs to form. Trainer Lydee Shea has this horse ready to compete, and Emilio Flores is a capable hand to guide a first-time type.

show3Coach MichaelML 3/1

Coach Michael (No. 3) rounds out our exotics with the third-highest rating at 56.67 and the best average speed figure in the field at 55. The 3/1 morning line makes him the public's second choice, and trainer T. Bernard Houghton — who also runs Walkers Beach — knows this level well. If there's any pace pressure up front, Coach Michael's speed could keep him in the picture for a share.

Race 2

10:14 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Turf

An eleven-horse maiden claiming field going a mile and seventy yards on the turf — a chaotic mix of speed figures and zero career wins across most of the field, with one horse towering above the rest on our ratings.

win5Garage BeersML 5/2

Garage Beers (No. 5) is the overwhelming TrackWiz top pick at 87.81, paired with the field's best average speed figure of 55 — a meaningful edge at this level. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price is fair for a horse this well-regarded by our model. Trainer Elisha Perez puts Angel Cruz in the irons, a capable pairing for a route on the turf, and the longer distance of 1 mile 70 yards should suit a horse that profiles as a grinder.

place10Battle LouML 6/1

Battle Lou (No. 10) is an interesting play at 6/1 on the morning line with a TrackWiz rating of 71.46 — second-best in the field and a full 16 points ahead of the third-ranked horse. Despite no career wins, that rating reflects consistent underlying form, and Eliseo Ruiz has been quietly effective at Penn National. The outside post is a minor concern going a route, but turf sprints around one turn can neutralize the draw disadvantage.

show9GorditoML 5/1

Gordito (No. 9) earns the show slot with a 64.08 rating and an average speed figure of 53, matching several horses in the field but doing it with enough consistency to land here. Trainer Gina Perri keeps this horse competitive, and Jorge F. Hernandez gets the call. In a wide-open eleven-horse turf maiden, having a 5/1 price in the exotic mix makes Gordito a sensible hedge for the trifecta.

Race 3

10:43 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Turf

A twelve-horse starter optional claiming mile on the turf with a pronounced standout at the top of our ratings, but several horses carrying respectable career win percentages that could make this more competitive than the morning line implies.

win6Black FlyML 2/1

Black Fly (No. 6) comes in as our top-rated horse at 88.54 — the highest number in any race on today's card — and the 2/1 morning line is no surprise given that edge. A career win rate of 10% at this level isn't flashy, but it says this horse knows how to compete, and trainer Brandon L. Kulp is a steady hand at Penn National. Angel R. Rodriguez takes the mount, and the one-mile turf trip should be right in Black Fly's wheelhouse.

place1V InspiredML 7/2

V Inspired (No. 1) is a legitimate threat to hit the board with a 12% career win rate — one of the better marks in this field — and a TrackWiz rating of 58.68 that puts him clearly in the second tier. Trainer Todd J. Wyatt gives him a 7/2 morning line shot, and Jomar Torres is a familiar face at this oval. The rail draw on the turf can be tricky if the field doesn't fan out, but a horse with V Inspired's win percentage knows how to navigate traffic.

show5RobertaML 4/1

Roberta (No. 5) brings a 14% career win rate to the table — tied for second-best in this field — and a TrackWiz rating of 58.28 that tucks in just behind V Inspired. Trainer William Dowling sends her out at 4/1, and Angel Cruz, who also rides in Race 2, is comfortable in these spots. For exotic players, a horse that wins nearly 1-in-7 career starts at a reasonable price is worth including in trifecta coverage.

Our three free picks tonight give you a solid foundation to build a card around. Walkers Beach opens the night as our top-rated horse in Race 1 — an 88.54 TrackWiz rating at 2/1 morning line on the dirt sprint is exactly the kind of spot we like to attack early. On the turf side, Garage Beers draws our eye in Race 2's maiden claimer going a route, and Black Fly brings strong credentials into Race 3's Starter Optional Claiming mile on the grass.

The common thread across these three? All three figures to benefit from a clean, dry track and honest pace setups. Turf routes at Penn National tend to favor horses that rate just off the early pace and pounce in the stretch — keep that in mind as you watch the early fractions in Races 2 and 3.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

11:12 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A short field of five in an allowance optional claiming sprint, but don't let the small size fool you — this is a legitimate battle between a ratings standout and the morning-line favorite who carries the highest career win percentage in the bunch.

win1OneofthegoodguysML 7/2

Oneofthegoodguys (No. 1) is our top pick at 86.35 on the TrackWiz ratings scale, posting a 17% career win rate and an average speed figure of 55 — matching the best in the field. He's offered at 7/2 despite our model preferring him to the 8/5 favorite, which means there's real overlay value if you buy the rating. Trainer Cody Beattie puts Inoel Beato up, and Beato has the rail to work from in a six-furlong sprint — that's a clean setup.

place4CountthebraveML 9/2

Countthebrave (No. 4) is the sneaky value here at 9/2 on the morning line, with a 76.61 TrackWiz rating that makes him the second-ranked horse and a legitimate place contender. His 21% career win rate is solid, and he's been running against similar or stronger company. Trainer Julio Rodriguez keeps him sharp, and in a field this small, four of the five horses could make a case for hitting the board.

show5Rebel InvasionML 5/2

Rebel Invasion (No. 5) closes out our ticket at 5/2 on the morning line, backed by a 25% career win rate — the best in this field by a wide margin — and an average speed figure of 55. Trainer George R. Albright places horses well, and Wilfredo Corujo is one of the more active jockeys on the Penn National circuit. The pace in a five-horse sprint could stack up quickly, and a closer like Rebel Invasion may find room late.

Race 5

11:41 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A coin-flip allowance optional claiming mile on dirt — two horses separated by just four rating points sit atop a short, competitive five-horse field, and the morning line actually inverts what our numbers say.

win5Didn't It RainML 3/1

Didn't It Rain (No. 5) tops our TrackWiz ratings at 87.08, a hair ahead of the morning-line favorite Disco Rules, with a 23% career win rate and an average speed figure of 53. The 3/1 price represents genuine value when our model has this horse at the top of the sheet — the crowd may be anchoring on program position or recent public play rather than underlying form. Trainer Timothy C. Kreiser has a strong book at Penn National, and Martin Chuan is a capable finisher's pilot in a one-mile trip.

place1Disco RulesML 8/5

Disco Rules (No. 1) gets the place nod and is the most likely threat to our top pick — a 83.12 rating and 21% career win rate are legitimate credentials, and the 8/5 morning line tells you the public thinks so too. Trainer Flint W. Stites conditions this horse well, and Wilfredo Corujo in the irons from the inside post gives Disco Rules every opportunity to set or stalk the pace. If Didn't It Rain stumbles, this horse is poised to capitalize.

show4Dancing On My OwnML 5/1

Dancing On My Own (No. 4) rounds out the exotics at 5/1 with a 62.31 rating and a 20% career win rate — respectable numbers in a short field where every horse is within striking distance. Trainer Felissa Dunn sends Dexter Haddock out on a horse that has averaged a 52 speed figure, slightly behind the top two, but a mile on dirt can produce surprising results depending on how the pace unfolds. At 5/1, this is worth a small show ticket or trifecta inclusion.

Race 6

12:10 AM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Three horses rated in the 80s crowd the top of this six-horse claiming mile on dirt — it's a rare situation where the show pick is nearly as strong as the win pick, and the pace scenario could get contentious.

win1Bravo KittenML 2/1

Bravo Kitten (No. 1) leads our ratings at 86.29 and gets the morning-line favoritism at 2/1, trained by Brandon L. Kulp — the same conditioner who saddled Black Fly in Race 3. A 9% career win rate may look modest, but the TrackWiz rating reflects current form over raw results, and Angel R. Rodriguez brings local knowledge to the rail post. One mile on dirt suits a horse who can sit just off a pace scenario that figures to be honest in this field.

place6LachicafortequilaML 9/2

Lachicafortequila (No. 6) is the value play here — a 84.90 rating just behind our top pick, a 15% career win rate, and a 9/2 morning line that underestimates how close this horse is to the top. Also trained by Brandon L. Kulp, who doubles up confidently today, and Jomar Torres takes the mount. If there's any trouble at the rail, the outside post could actually work in Lachicafortequila's favor as the race stretches out.

show3Special AffairML 5/1

Special Affair (No. 3) is fascinating at 5/1 — an 81.35 rating puts her in a very tight group with the top two horses, and she's the only one in that cluster hitting a 54 average speed figure. Trainer Kevin J. Fields also has Richie's Valentine in this race, but Special Affair is clearly the barn's live runner given the Wilfredo Corujo booking. In a race where all three top-rated horses are within five points of each other, show exotics across the trio make a lot of sense.

Race 7

12:39 AM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A six-horse starter optional claiming sprint on dirt to close the card — Uncle Money dominates the ratings and brings an eye-catching 50% career win rate, but can he justify short odds in a field where Strawberry Treat and Magicnthemoonlight offer legitimate upside?

win1Uncle MoneyML 5/2

Uncle Money (No. 1) is the standout with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and a 50% career win rate — by far the most impressive win percentage on today's card across any race. That's not a fluke number; it tells you this horse competes in spots he can dominate, and trainer Timothy C. Kreiser places horses expertly. The field-best average speed figure of 56 adds another layer of confidence, and at 5/2 on the morning line, the value is reasonable for a closer's play to go to win.

place4Strawberry TreatML 4/1

Strawberry Treat (No. 4) earns the place spot with a 66.65 rating and an average speed figure of 55 — matching the second-best in the field. A 19% career win rate says she competes when conditions are right, and Inoel Beato is a trusted pilot who also rode in Race 4 today, showing the connections confidence in his hands. Trainer Michael Zalalas sends her out at 4/1, a fair price for a horse with this kind of upside in a sprint.

show5MagicnthemoonlightML 5/1

Magicnthemoonlight (No. 5) rounds out the ticket with a 63.56 rating and the same 55 average speed as Strawberry Treat, making the two difficult to separate on raw numbers. The 5/1 morning line offers a touch more value than her main rival, and trainer Ruperto A. Perez — who also ran horses earlier on the card — is active and placing runners confidently tonight. In a six-horse field closing out the card, trifecta boxes involving the top three ratings make for a clean, efficient ticket.

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Tonight at Penn National, start with Walkers Beach in Race 1, keep Garage Beers and Black Fly on your radar on the turf, and let the comfortable 78°F evening do the rest. It's a manageable seven-race card with real plays at multiple price points. For the full breakdown — pace projections, exotic tickets, and our complete ratings on Races 4 through 7 — TrackWiz subscribers have everything they need. Good luck out there.

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