Unlock the other 8 races on today's card, plus AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet ticket construction.

The winner is in our top 4 picks 75% of the time, across 17 tracks.

Daily Picks

Prairie Meadows Picks & Predictions — August 23, 2026

August 23, 202611 racesAll Prairie Meadows picks

Results are in — see the official Prairie Meadows chart and payouts (our top pick won 4 of 11)→

Prairie Meadows is open for business on a pleasant Sunday afternoon — partly cloudy skies and 79°F temps mean a comfortable day at the track with no weather interference to worry about. Eleven races are on the slate, split between a quick-fire opening block of Quarter Horse sprints and a meatier Thoroughbred card that stretches all the way out to a mile.

What makes today's card worth circling? You've got two horses — Reuleaux in Race 6 and Always Spiteful in Race 7 — both installed as 4/5 morning-line chalk, and both carrying TrackWiz ratings of 90. Back-to-back headliners at identical odds? That's a sequencing situation that creates some interesting multi-race ticket possibilities. More on that in the premium breakdown.

The early card kicks off with three short-format Quarter Horse races at 300–350 yards — pure raw speed, blink-and-you-miss-it stuff — before the card pivots to Thoroughbred action at five furlongs and beyond. Whether you're here for the sprints, the routes, or the exotic wagering angles, there's something to work with all afternoon.

Best Bets

Race 1

9:00 PM EDT

Allowance · 350 yd · Dirt

Three horses separate from the pack in this 350-yard allowance opener, but the Jason Olmstead barn has a split allegiance that could muddy the waters at the gate.

win2Edberg VerdeML 2/1

Edberg Verde tops our TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 and draws the morning-line favoritism at 2/1 for a reason — this horse projects as the class of the field at the quarter-pole distance. Trainer Jason Olmstead sends out three horses today, and the connections clearly believe Verde is their best shot, putting Gonzalo R. Valles Jr. in the irons. The 14% career win rate is modest, but in the brutally short 350-yard format, raw ability tends to cut through, and the rating edge here is meaningful.

place1Nothin Like YouML 3/1

Nothin Like You is the one horse in this field who combines a strong TrackWiz rating (84.31) with a genuine win pedigree — a 33% career win rate is legitimate production. Miguel Josue Ramirez gets the call for trainer John D. Hammes, and at 3/1 on the morning line, this horse represents a fair-priced backup in case Edberg Verde stumbles out of the gate.

show7Relentless RocketML 5/2

Relentless Rocket brings a 42% career win rate — the best in the field — and a solid 80.2 TrackWiz rating to round out our exotic coverage. Trainer Olmstead's third entry could benefit from a clean trip on the outside in post 7, and Ramiro Haro Garcia is a capable rider for this short sprint. At 5/2, the price isn't generous for a show bet, but the win percentage makes Rocket a legitimate threat to land in the exacta.

Race 2

9:25 PM EDT

Claiming · 350 yd · Dirt

A wide-open claiming sprint with no dominant figure — the top TrackWiz rating belongs to a 4/1 shot, and a massive longshot with a 25% career win rate lurks in the middle of the gate.

win4La India de CapoML 4/1

La India de Capo leads the field with a 70.62 TrackWiz rating and is reasonably priced at 4/1 on the morning line. Trainer Haley N. Hobbs deploys Fernando Fonseca-Soto, and the 11% career win rate in the claiming ranks suggests a horse that competes consistently without breaking through — this could be the spot. In a field this evenly matched at 350 yards, the ratings edge is enough to make La India de Capo our top choice.

place7Big Red FredML 15/1

Big Red Fred is the value angle of the card in Race 2 — a TrackWiz rating of 69.58 that nearly matches our win pick, but listed at 15/1 on the morning line. The 25% career win rate is the best among any horse in this field and suggests serious upside. Gonzalo R. Valles Jr. is a familiar face in the irons, and if this horse breaks alertly from post 7, the price on the board could be a gift.

show3Lethal DML 9/2

Lethal D checks in at 60.63 on our ratings — third-best in the field — and comes in at a sensible 9/2 on the morning line. Trainer Jose Manuel Barron puts Martin Lazalde up for a horse that shares the same 11% career win rate as our top pick, suggesting competitive form. In exotics, Lethal D is a reasonable third-leg inclusion given the depth of the rating over most of this field.

Race 3

9:50 PM EDT

Maiden · 300 yd · Dirt

Maiden 300-yard dash with a clear ratings standout — Reds Lil Runner has a significant advantage on paper, but maiden races can always produce surprises when no horse has broken their maiden yet.

win8Reds Lil RunnerML 5/2

Reds Lil Runner is the most dominant ratings figure on today's card in a maiden race, checking in at 83.39 — a full 18 points clear of the next horse. Trainer Tony Dean Jones sends out Armando Alvidrez, and the 5/2 morning line looks like it will hold up given how clearly this horse stands apart. In a 300-yard maiden sprint where reaction time and raw speed dominate, a rating gap this wide is hard to dismiss.

place3Kan I Get an AmenML 4/1

Kan I Get an Amen comes in rated 65.13, the second-best figure in the field, and is posted at 4/1 — respectable value behind the probable favorite. Fernando Fonseca-Soto takes the mount for trainer Tony Dean Jones, the same barn as our win pick, which gives this one a natural pace harmony angle. If Reds Lil Runner has any gate issues, Kan I Get an Amen is well-positioned to capitalize.

show7Th Mama TriedML 2/1

Th Mama Tried is the morning-line second choice at 2/1 despite a TrackWiz rating of 58.33 that slots third in the field. Trainer Manuel Mojica Campos has Alfredo Triana Jr. in the saddle — a capable rider for this format. At 2/1, the price is tight for a show play, but Mama Tried's market support makes this horse a logical exotic piece if you're trying to structure a trifecta.

Our three complimentary races today span the full early card and give a solid taste of what's running. In Race 1, Edberg Verde sits at 2/1 on the morning line and carries an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — that's a strong number for an Allowance sprint at 350 yards and makes this horse a legitimate top-of-card play. Race 2 shifts to Claiming company over the same trip, where La India de Capo at 4/1 represents the kind of morning-line value we always want to flag for casual bettors — solid rating (70.62) in softer company. Round out the free card with Race 3, a 300-yard Maiden sprint where Reds Lil Runner (83.39 rating, 5/2 ML) looks like the class of a wide-open field.

The common thread across these three Quarter Horse races: dry, firm conditions favor horses that break cleanly, since there's simply no time to recover from a slow gate at these distances. All three of our free picks have the profile to get out in a hurry. If you're building a same-race parlay or a small exacta, these are your anchors for the early portion of the card.

Send me tomorrow's free Prairie Meadows card before post time.

Free picks in your inbox each morning. No card required, unsubscribe anytime.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

10:15 PM EDT

Allowance · 300 yd · Dirt

Vic Moretti looks like a class standout in this 300-yard allowance, but keep an eye on the value lurking in the double-digit morning lines of the Olmstead barn's second entry.

win7Vic MorettiML 2/1

Vic Moretti leads the field at 87.86 on our TrackWiz ratings and carries the morning-line favoritism at 2/1, making this one of the clearest top-choice situations on the card. Trainer Jason Olmstead — who has multiple horses running today at Prairie Meadows — deploys Ramiro Haro Garcia, a jockey who has been a regular presence for this barn. A 20% career win rate is steady for the allowance level, and with the rating advantage this pronounced, Vic Moretti projects as the one to beat.

place2DivinittyML 12/1

Divinitty is a fascinating value angle here — a 73.96 TrackWiz rating that ranks second in the field, but listed at 12/1 on the morning line as the Olmstead barn's second entry. Trainer Jason Olmstead puts son Ryder Olmstead in the irons, and with a 16% career win rate, this horse is a live longshot that the market may be underestimating. In a 300-yard race, gate position and break speed matter enormously, and Divinitty's strong rating suggests physical tools that could outrun her odds.

show8BeauxreguardML 5/1

Beauxreguard rates third in the field at 72.58 and is priced at a fair 5/1 on the morning line. Cristian R. Esqueda takes the mount for trainer Edward A. Cobos, and the 25% career win rate shows this horse knows how to get to the winner's circle. For trifecta construction in this short-field allowance, Beauxreguard is a logical third piece at a price that provides some overlay.

Race 5

10:41 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

The 5-furlong claiming sprint flips the morning line on its head — the 7/2 shot carries the top TrackWiz rating while the 2/1 morning-line chalk grades out significantly lower.

win1Elusive d'OroML 7/2

Elusive d'Oro is our top selection with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating — the best in this field by a comfortable margin — yet goes postward at 7/2 behind the morning-line favorite. Trainer Jon G. Arnett puts Alfredo Triana Jr. aboard, and at a 12% career win rate in claiming company, this horse appears to be finding the right level. When the market underestimates the ratings leader this significantly, that's where TrackWiz analysis finds real value.

place5Mystery ManML 5/1

Mystery Man checks in at 66.44 on our ratings — second in the field — and carries a 24% career win rate that suggests consistent competitiveness. Trainer Schuyler Condon has two horses in this race, and Elvin Gonzalez gets the call on this one rather than the morning-line choice, which is worth noting. At 5/1, there's genuine place value here for a horse whose ratings profile says it belongs near the front of the photo.

show3Mr NegativityML 5/2

Mr Negativity slots third in ratings at 61.9 and is the 5/2 second choice on the morning line, reflecting public confidence that our numbers partially support. Ken S. Tohill rides for Kelli Martinez, and the 16% career win rate puts this horse in the middle of the pack historically. For show or trifecta purposes, Mr Negativity provides a middle-price bridge between our top pick and the longshots.

Race 6

11:07 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

Reuleaux enters as one of the most heavily supported horses on the card at 4/5, and the TrackWiz ratings back up that market enthusiasm with the top number in this maiden special weight field.

win5ReuleauxML 4/5

Reuleaux carries a 90.0 TrackWiz rating — a ceiling score on our system — and is installed as a heavy 4/5 morning-line favorite in this 6-furlong maiden special weight. Alex Birzer gets the mount for trainer Lynn Chleborad, who has three horses in this race, and the fact that the stable's top jockey aligns with this horse speaks volumes. An average speed figure of 54 also edges out the 53 shared by most rivals, suggesting a horse that has shown meaningful ability on the work tab.

place1Pretty IreneML 7/2

Pretty Irene is our second choice at 81.71 — a strong rating in her own right that just falls short of the heavy favorite's ceiling. Trainer Kelli Martinez puts Israel Hernandez aboard, and an average speed of 53 matches the middle of the pack. At 7/2, Pretty Irene offers legitimate place value if Reuleaux handles any pace pressure, and the rating gap between these two and the rest of the field suggests the exacta could come from this pairing.

show6Lel DittyML 3/1

Lel Ditty rates third at 80.12 and carries an average speed of 54 that matches the favorite — the best in the field alongside Reuleaux. Trainer Jennifer Tooley has Orlando Mojica in the irons, and at 3/1, this horse is priced well enough to consider for both win tickets and trifecta framing. A one-point speed edge over most rivals in a maiden field is meaningful, and Lel Ditty has the profile to outrun a 3/1 price if the pace shapes up favorably.

Race 7

11:33 PM EDT

Ratings Handicap · 6 fur · Dirt

Always Spiteful looks like the most complete horse in today's ratings handicap, but the value play in this race may be finding the right horse to fill the second and third spots behind a likely odds-on finisher.

win1Always SpitefulML 4/5

Always Spiteful posts a 90.0 TrackWiz rating — our system's top mark — and backs it up with a staggering 66% career win rate, the kind of number you rarely see in a field this competitive. Trainer Gene Jacquot sends out Alfredo Triana Jr., and the 4/5 morning line simply reflects how much better this horse grades out than its rivals. With an average speed of 56 and a win rate that dominates the field, this is a horse you structure your exotics around, not against.

place3Squeeze the DayML 6/1

Squeeze the Day offers the best value in the supporting cast, rated 65.76 with a solid 36% career win rate and posted at 6/1 on the morning line. Trainer Kevin Eikleberry deploys Elvin Gonzalez, and this horse's win percentage is the second-best in the field — suggesting consistent form. If Always Spiteful wins as expected, Squeeze the Day's price could make a straight exacta pay handsomely.

show4DemidanuML 4/1

Demidanu slots fourth in our ratings at 63.42 but offers a reasonable price at 4/1 for exotics. Trainer F. Dewaine Loy uses Walter De La Cruz, and the 27% career win rate puts Demidanu in the same competitive tier as Squeeze the Day. In a five-horse field where the favorite is heavily supported, the second and third place money is where the value lives, and Demidanu is a logical trifecta piece at a digestible price.

Race 8

11:59 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming battle over 6 furlongs where the highest TrackWiz rating belongs to a 3/1 shot, not the 7/5 morning-line chalk — and that discrepancy is exactly where the opportunity lies.

win2ItstartswithadreamML 3/1

Itstartswithadream leads all horses in Race 8 with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating, yet goes postward at 3/1 despite the morning line installing a shorter-priced favorite. Trainer David D. McShane uses Ken S. Tohill, an experienced hand in these maiden conditions, and an average speed of 54 edges out most of the competition. When our top-rated horse offers value over the chalk, that's the bet — and this is one of the more compelling plays on the evening card.

place6OverqualifiedML 7/5

Overqualified is the 7/5 morning-line choice and rates second in the field at 70.77, making the horse a legitimate contender despite our analysis preferring the top rating. Trainer Tanner Tracy puts Elvin Gonzalez up, and an average speed of 54 ties this horse with our win pick at the top of the form. The name may be ironic for a maiden claimer, but the numbers say Overqualified belongs near the top of the photo regardless.

show3Blues PrancerML 5/2

Blues Prancer checks in at 54.06 on our ratings and is priced at 5/2 on the morning line — a solid middle-ground option for trifecta construction. Trainer Schuyler Condon goes with Jarred Journet, and while the speed figure of 53 is below the top two, it's in line with most of this competitive maiden field. Blues Prancer's price makes this one a logical third piece in tickets targeting the top two in the win and place spots.

Race 9

12:25 AM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Cajun Hottie stands head and shoulders above this 6-furlong claiming field on ratings, but the morning line suggests the public already knows it — finding value underneath is the challenge.

win1Cajun HottieML 9/5

Cajun Hottie tops this field at 88.83 on TrackWiz ratings and is installed as the 9/5 morning-line choice for trainer Jon G. Arnett and jockey Alfredo Triana Jr. — a jockey who has already had a busy day at Prairie Meadows. A 20% career win rate in the claiming ranks is respectable, and the average speed of 55 ties the top group. The rating gap between Cajun Hottie and the rest of this field is significant enough that even at the short price, this horse is the logical single in exotics.

place5Ides of DemarchML 3/1

Ides of Demarch is our second choice, rated 59.29 — the second-best figure in the field — and listed at 3/1 on the morning line. Trainer Kelli Martinez deploys Orlando Mojica, and the 15% career win rate in claiming company suggests a horse that can place consistently. In a race where the favorite should take care of winning, Ides of Demarch at 3/1 is a fair-priced place backup with the ratings to justify it.

show3MspunkinsperegrineML 7/2

Mspunkinsperegrine carries a 45.99 TrackWiz rating and is the 7/2 third choice on the morning line, making this a value-neutral show play. Trainer F. Dewaine Loy goes with Walter De La Cruz, and the 15% career win rate mirrors our place pick's consistency. For trifecta purposes, Mspunkinsperegrine rounds out the ticket at a price that offers modest return on investment if the top two come in as expected.

Race 10

12:51 AM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

The mile allowance has an interesting twist — our TrackWiz win pick is not the morning-line favorite, and a 15/1 shot rates high enough to warrant serious exotic consideration.

win6Jet PackML 4/1

Jet Pack leads all horses in Race 10 with a 78.52 TrackWiz rating and carries the second-best career win percentage in the field at 37% — a combination that makes this our top selection despite the 4/1 morning line. Trainer Steve Manley puts Ademar Santos in the irons, and an average speed of 54 is consistent with the competitive middle of this eight-horse allowance field. When a horse with a 37% win rate is available at 4/1, you take a long look.

place8My MaybelenneML 15/1

My Maybelenne is the hidden gem of Race 10 — rated 69.58 on our system, which is solid for this field, but offered at 15/1 on the morning line. Trainer Kelli Martinez uses Orlando Mojica, and a 24% career win rate shows this horse has earned its way to the winner's circle before. At 15/1, My Maybelenne is the kind of place ticket that can turn a profitable night if the numbers hold up.

show4Allen's AgendaML 2/1

Allen's Agenda is the 2/1 morning-line favorite despite rating third in our analysis at 68.39 — the market loves the 42% career win rate, which is the highest in the field and genuinely impressive. Trainer Kevin Eikleberry deploys Elvin Gonzalez, and the 55 average speed matches the top tier. Even as a show pick, Allen's Agenda's win history means this horse is always dangerous and provides trifecta insurance.

Race 11

1:17 AM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

The closing mile claiming race features a trio of horses tightly bunched in the upper 70s on our ratings, making the finish unpredictable — and the value may be hiding at a price the morning line doesn't reflect.

win8Klimt's GirlML 9/2

Klimt's Girl leads the field at 80.28 on our TrackWiz ratings and is offered at an attractive 9/2 on the morning line — the market is undervaluing this horse relative to the ratings. Trainer Don Schnell puts Ken S. Tohill in the irons, a jockey who has had multiple rides tonight and knows the track conditions. A 20% career win rate in claiming company and an average speed of 53 suggest a horse who can get a mile and find the line in a competitive field.

place6Night BirdieML 8/1

Night Birdie is a fascinating play at 8/1 on the morning line despite rating second in the field at 79.79 — just a half-point behind our win pick. Trainer Kelli Martinez uses Orlando Mojica, and the 18% career win rate with an average speed of 54 — tied for the second-best in the race — suggests a horse whose odds don't match the talent. Night Birdie is one of the better value bets on the card and is worth a win ticket on top of the place consideration.

show5C'Mon LuckyML 5/2

C'Mon Lucky is the 5/2 morning-line second choice with a 74.74 TrackWiz rating — third in the field — and carries a 25% career win rate that reflects legitimate class. Trainer Kelly R. Von Hemel deploys Walter De La Cruz, and the 53 average speed is consistent with the rest of this tightly-packed claiming field. At 5/2, C'Mon Lucky provides solid trifecta footing if our top two come in, and the win rate makes this horse a legitimate each-way threat as well.

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: Prairie Meadows serves up a well-rounded 11-race card today with legitimate headliners in Races 6 and 7, a pair of intriguing route races to close the day, and three sharp free picks up top to get you started. Edberg Verde, Reds Lil Runner, and La India de Capo are your complimentary best bets — and the full-card analysis, exotic angles, and pace breakdowns are waiting for subscribers. Good luck out there, and let's cash some tickets.

← All Prairie Meadows picks & predictions

You're reading 3 of 11 races free