Daily Picks

Presque Isle Downs Picks & Predictions — June 24, 2026

Wednesday, June 24, 20268 racesPresque Isle Downs

It's a gorgeous Wednesday at Presque Isle Downs — clear skies, 72°F, and conditions that set up a fast, honest racetrack. Eight races on the dirt today, spanning claiming events, a maiden special weight, and a pair of starter optional claiming bouts that should draw some interesting horses looking to find their level.

With no weather concerns in the picture, pace scenarios should play out cleanly and early speed will get every opportunity to hold. That makes reading the fractions — and knowing who wants to be where on the track — especially important today. Our TrackWiz ratings flagged several spots where the morning line looks beatable, so stay sharp.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The morning line favorite isn't the TrackWiz top-rated horse in this 5.5-furlong opener — Silver Ore carries the top rating and offers mid-range odds, setting up a pace scenario where the field could play right into her hands.

win6Silver OreML 7/2

Silver Ore tops our ratings at 86.35 in a field where no other horse cracks 78, which is a meaningful separation in a claiming sprint. Trainer Murray L. Rojas saddles his own horse with Martina Rojas in the irons — a tight connections angle that often signals confidence. She's sent off at 7/2 on the morning line, which is fair value given how clearly she grades above the field on TrackWiz's model. At 5.5 furlongs on the Presque Isle dirt, she gets a compact sprint that should suit.

place2Pancho Slips AwayML 5/2

Pancho Slips Away draws the second-highest rating in the field at 77.81 and owns a slight edge in average speed figures over much of this group. The 5/2 morning line reflects public respect, but it's the combination of his rating and Gaddiel A. Martinez in the saddle that makes him a logical place target. He's a horse to lean on in exactas beneath Silver Ore.

show1ShannoniaML 8/1

Shannonia is the show value play here at 8/1 on the morning line — that's generous for a horse holding a 62.1 TrackWiz rating, which ranks third in the field. Carlos Barbosa is a capable rider who can steal a piece from a pace-pressing position, and a 14% career win rate gives Shannonia legitimate strike-rate credibility. She's worth including in trifecta combinations at a price.

Race 2

7:57 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

A tight three-way battle shapes up at the top of this 6.5-furlong claiming sprint, with Rock N Reward and Angel of Harlem separated by less than a quarter point in TrackWiz ratings — expect a genuine pace duel to the wire.

win2Rock N RewardML 4/1

Rock N Reward edges the field with an 85.18 TrackWiz rating and brings a strong 23% career win rate into this spot, which is among the best in the field. Trainer Leland Hayes has him primed at 4/1 on the morning line — a price that actually represents value given how close his numbers sit to the top. Jockey Antonio A. Gallardo is a professional who won't panic in a pace battle, and at 6.5 furlongs he's got the stamina to grind it out.

place1Angel of HarlemML 9/2

Angel of Harlem is no slouch here — she rates 84.9 and owns the field's best career win percentage at 25%, a number that screams consistent competitiveness. Trainer Kimberly DePasquale also sends out I'm Heading East in the same race, which can sometimes indicate she likes her other runner's chances, but Angel of Harlem's raw numbers justify her presence at the top of the ticket. Martina Rojas gets the mount and rides with purpose on this Presque Isle oval.

show6XercesML 3/1

Xerces comes back at 3/1 on the morning line with a 76.28 rating and a respectable 22% career win rate — he grades as the third-best horse here and appears undervalued given his compact odds don't reflect a horse that regularly hits the board. Edwin Gonzalez has been busy on this card and knows the track well. Solid show bet and a legitimate exacta underneath play.

Race 3

8:24 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Patriot Bluechip comes into this 6-furlong claimer as a sneaky overlay — posted at 8/1 on the morning line despite owning the top TrackWiz rating, creating legitimate value in a wide-open field where the short price horses don't clearly dominate.

win5Patriot BluechipML 8/1

Patriot Bluechip owns a 79.79 TrackWiz rating — the highest in the field — and has a 20% career win rate that speaks to genuine talent in the claiming ranks. The 8/1 morning line feels disconnected from his actual performance profile, and that kind of price-to-rating mismatch is exactly the overlay spot TrackWiz analysis targets. Ricardo Feliciano takes the assignment for trainer John Guciardo, and this combination has Presque Isle familiarity working in their favor. If he fires his best at 6 furlongs, this looks like a standout value bet on the card.

place3Ready Set CairoML 7/2

Ready Set Cairo rates a solid 75.67 and brings a 16% career win rate to the table — better strike-rate than some horses posted at shorter odds in this field. Kevin Rice trains, and his horses tend to be fit when they show up at a sprint distance like this. The 7/2 morning line makes him a reasonable place play, especially if the pace scenario puts him in a good stalker position.

show2Ryu MoML 5/2

Ryu Mo sits at 73.19 on our model and is posted as the 5/2 second choice on the morning line — public support is real, and while his 11% career win rate is modest, the speed figures are competitive in this company. Israel O. Rodriguez gets the call, and he's a reliable hand who can work a trip. He's the horse to beat for public money and fits well in show and trifecta slots.

We're giving you a free look at the first three races, and there's already plenty to chew on. Silver Ore opens the card in a 5½-furlong dirt claiming sprint and packs a TrackWiz rating of 86.35 — that's real number for this level, and at 7/2 on the morning line there's legitimate value attached. Race 2 stretches to 6½ furlongs and Rock N Reward earns an 85.18, making that horse worth watching as the field sorts out early pace. Then Race 3 surfaces one of the more interesting angles of the free trio — Patriot Bluechip sits at 8/1 on the morning line but carries a 79.79 rating that suggests the price is generous. Don't sleep on the value in that spot.

All three free races are on a consistent dirt surface under ideal conditions, so expect times to run true. If there's a track bias developing during the early card, it'll start showing itself here — pay attention to whether front-runners are holding or getting swallowed late.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

8:51 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

Maiden Special Weight first-timers and lightly raced runners make this a projection race — Warrior's Mission separates himself significantly on TrackWiz ratings, but maiden sprints can always surprise with first-out runners finding their footing.

win8Warrior's MissionML 3/1

Warrior's Mission posts an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — a full 27-plus points clear of the next-best horse in this field, which is a massive gap in a maiden race. Jeff W. Zook trains him and Antonio A. Gallardo is a confident rider who won't overcook the fractions in a 6-furlong maiden sprint. He's posted at 3/1 on the morning line, which is a fair price for a horse this decisively clear of the field on model ratings. In a race where everyone has yet to break their maiden, dominant ratings separation like this is as close to a strong opinion as you can have.

place7Mr. ImpatientML 9/2

Mr. Impatient from the Kevin Rice barn checks in with a 59.79 rating — third in the field — and Carlos Barbosa takes the mount. Rice regularly produces competitive first-timers and maidens at Presque Isle, and the 9/2 morning line gives Mr. Impatient fair value as a place contender. He's the logical backup if Warrior's Mission gets into trouble.

show6Big RunML 2/1

Big Run is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 and rates 58.33 — nearly identical to Mr. Impatient — but the public is betting him down, which tells a story. Edwin Gonzalez rides for Timothy E. Hamm, and Big Run's average speed figure of 56 is the best in the field, which is a number worth respecting even in a wide-open maiden. He's a solid show anchor and a horse to watch in exotic combinations.

Race 5

9:18 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Three horses are packed within a single rating point at the top of this 6-furlong claiming field — Courageous Ari, Ohoopee, and New Issue form a competitive trio that should produce a contested pace and a close finish.

win3Courageous AriML 9/2

Courageous Ari tops our model at 84.9 despite going off at 9/2 on the morning line, making her the clearest overlay in this three-horse cluster. Carol A. Skawinski trains, and David Delgado gets the call — a competent pairing for a horse whose rating edges out the field. A 10% career win rate may not scream dominance, but in a sprint where pace pressure is expected, a closer profile can benefit and Courageous Ari has the numbers to pounce late.

place5OhoopeeML 3/1

Ohoopee brings the field's best career win rate at 33% — one in three starts ends in a win, which is elite at this level — and her 84.79 rating is essentially even with the top pick. Trainer Linda Rice is a respected name and Gaddiel A. Martinez is one of the busiest and sharpest jockeys on this card. The 3/1 morning line is honest, and she's the horse most likely to make this a two-horse photo.

show1New IssueML 4/1

New Issue rates 83.79 for trainer Ron G. Potts, posting an 18% career win rate that's respectable in this field. Antonio A. Gallardo is aboard, a jockey who rides with tactical intelligence and can save ground along the rail. At 4/1, New Issue is priced as though the public isn't fully respecting the rating — include him in trifectas and multi-race wagers as a legitimate threat.

Race 6

9:45 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A ten-horse Starter Optional Claiming field going a mile and 70 yards creates a complex pace scenario — the top three TrackWiz-rated horses are all clustered above 82 and posted at varying odds, offering real exotic ticket possibilities.

win9Starship EmpireML 3/1

Starship Empire leads our model at 85.67 and carries the field's best career win rate at 31% — nearly one in three starts results in a victory, which is exceptional consistency for any claimer. Ron G. Potts trains and Antonio A. Gallardo rides, a combination that's been active on this card and clearly comfortable at Presque Isle. The 3/1 morning line is the shortest price of our top three picks, but the combination of top rating and elite win rate makes him a justified chalk. At a route distance, his stamina to go a mile-plus is the final piece that ties the case together.

place2Burnin TurfML 4/1

Burnin Turf rates 85.62 — just a whisker behind Starship Empire — and owns a 28% career win rate that trails only our top pick in this field. Trainer Rory M. Barron deploys Addiel J. Ayala, and the 4/1 morning line looks like a legitimate value play for a horse this close to the top on the model. In a longer route race where pace can unfold in multiple ways, Burnin Turf is the horse most likely to pounce if Starship Empire faces any trouble.

show10Meant to Be LuckyML 5/2

Meant to Be Lucky posts a 82.14 rating and a strong 24% career win rate, and at 5/2 on the morning line he's attracting meaningful public support. Walber Alencar rides for W. John Bourke, and the 5/2 price suggests bettors see a live horse here — our model agrees, placing him third in the field. He rounds out the top three in a race where the talent cluster at the top is unusually tight.

Race 7

10:12 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

The morning-line favorite in this Starter Optional Claiming sprint doesn't match the top TrackWiz rating — Calvary Kat at 5/1 sits a full ten points above the 5/2 chalk, creating a prime overlay scenario in a field of closely matched closers and pressers.

win8Calvary KatML 5/1

Calvary Kat owns an 84.17 TrackWiz rating — the clear top mark in this field — and a 21% career win rate that's among the best in the group. The Rojas family connection is worth noting: trainer Murray L. Rojas puts Martina Rojas aboard, the same winning combination that topped our Race 1 analysis tonight. At 5/1 on the morning line, Calvary Kat is an overlay with a capital O — a horse this far ahead on the model should be shorter, and that gap is where the value lives in a 6.5-furlong Starter Optional Claiming sprint.

place6Shin JidaiML 4/1

Shin Jidai rates 75.69 and goes at 4/1 on the morning line — Israel O. Rodriguez takes the mount for trainer Juan Arriagada, a combination that also appears in Race 6 and knows the oval well. A 9% career win rate is modest, but the speed figures at this distance are competitive and the rating puts him clearly in the top half of the field. He's the ideal place anchor beneath Calvary Kat in an exacta.

show4Wherever We AreML 7/2

Wherever We Are rates 74.67 and brings a 15% career win rate to the table — third-highest rating in the field and a solid profile for a 7/2 morning-line horse. Addiel J. Ayala rides for J. Michael Rogers, and at a distance where the pace scenario is uncertain, a stalker-type can sneak into the show spot while the front-runners duel. A sensible trifecta component at a fair price.

Race 8

10:39 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The nightcap is a Maiden Claiming sprint where Dont Blame Court's 87.08 rating towers over a field full of first-timers and winless runners — the question is whether the talent gap holds up under race conditions, or if a live longshot spoils the party.

win5Dont Blame CourtML 3/1

Dont Blame Court is our top-rated horse in Race 8 at 87.08 — matching the identical figure Warrior's Mission posted in Race 4 — and that kind of dominant rating separation in a maiden field is hard to ignore. Trainer Lance Stokes sends him out with Antonio A. Gallardo in the irons, and Gallardo has had a full night of Presque Isle work to know the track surface and pace tendencies. Posted at 3/1 on the morning line, this is the clearest single-horse opinion on the back half of the card. His average speed of 54 is competitive, and the combination of top rating and a reliable jockey makes him the best bet of the late races.

place7Hot GamerML 8/1

Hot Gamer checks in with a 64.14 TrackWiz rating — second best in this field by a meaningful margin — and Gaddiel A. Martinez gets the mount for trainer S. Matthew Kintz. Martinez has been one of the most active jockeys on tonight's card, and that track familiarity matters late in a night program. At 8/1 on the morning line, Hot Gamer is a strong place value play and a serious exacta partner beneath the top pick.

show3Burn It AllML 8/1

Burn It All rates 57.15 and goes at 8/1 — the Spieth family combination of trainer Aldana Spieth and jockey Scott Spieth is another tight connections angle worth noting. His average speed of 55 is one of the better figures in this field, and in a maiden claiming sprint where the front end can collapse late, a horse with that kind of raw speed has a realistic path to a share of the purse. He's a logical show play and a useful trifecta piece at a generous price.

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Bottom line: Presque Isle gives us a clean, fast card today with legitimate value scattered across all eight races. Silver Ore, Rock N Reward, and Patriot Bluechip are your free best bets to kick off the afternoon. For the full picture — including Warrior's Mission in the MSW, pace projections, and our exotic wager strategy — subscribers have everything they need waiting in the premium breakdown. Good luck out there, and let's find some winners.

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