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Presque Isle Downs Picks & Predictions — August 24, 2026

August 24, 20268 racesAll Presque Isle Downs picks

This card ran on August 24, 2026.

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Best bets at Presque Isle Downs, August 24, 2026

Race 12Queen Anna TML 9/23:30 PM EDT

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Rain is falling at Presque Isle Downs this Monday, August 24th, and that changes everything. With temperatures sitting at 63°F and a wet surface in play, pace dynamics shift, closers can get a boost, and horses with proven wet-track form move up the board fast. Eight races are on the slate today — a full workday for anyone who takes their handicapping seriously.

The card leans heavily on dirt sprints and middle-distance routes, with a mix of claiming races, an allowance, a maiden special weight, and a starter optional claimer to keep things interesting. That variety means different types of horses are in their element at different points of the afternoon — which is exactly where sharp bettors find their edges.

TrackWiz has combed through the full card. Three races are unlocked for everyone, and if the free picks are any indication of the quality of analysis today, the premium side is well worth your attention.

Best Bets

Race 1

3:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The top TrackWiz ratings are clustered at the head of the market, but the morning line favorite isn't the horse our model likes best — Queen Anna T and Sugar Treat separate themselves from the field on pure numbers.

win2Queen Anna TML 9/2

Queen Anna T tops the field with an 83.7 TrackWiz rating — the highest in the race — and backs it up with a 30% career win rate that gives this 9/2 morning line real value. Trainer Michael C. Pappada sends her out with Victor Severino aboard, a connection worth tracking at Presque Isle. Over 6 furlongs on the dirt, she profiles as a horse who can sit just off the pace and pounce in the stretch. Don't let the odds fool you — this is the class of the field on our numbers.

place3Sugar TreatML 6/1

Sugar Treat at 6/1 is a sneaky-good play for the exotics. She carries an 82.71 rating — just a tick below Queen Anna T — and her 21% career win rate is respectable in this claiming company. Trainer Randall R. Russell and jockey David Delgado could be a live combo at a price, and her average speed figure of 56 ties for best in the race.

show1Garnet and GoldML 3/1

Garnet and Gold is the morning line favorite at 3/1, and while our rating (73.29) has her third-best in the field, Adam Rice's 35% career win rate for this horse is the highest in the race. She's a logical hedge for tickets — if the top two run into trouble, Garnet and Gold has the class and consistency to clean up.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

3:57 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A fascinating pace puzzle over a mile of Presque Isle dirt — the horse with the highest rating is NOT the shortest-priced horse in the field, setting up a potential overlay situation worth exploring.

win2Yoheda Money MakerML 3/1

Yoheda Money Maker leads all comers with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and gets the nod despite only an 11% career win rate — that number suggests she's been competitive at tougher levels, which could make this a soft spot. Trainer Julie Pierson puts Carlos Barbosa in the irons, and at 3/1 on the morning line, there's genuine value here relative to her model score. At a mile on the dirt, horses who have been tested at distance are at a premium, and Yoheda Money Maker fits that profile.

place1Duck HunterML 9/2

Duck Hunter (84.9 rating, 9/2) is right on the heels of the top pick numerically and brings a 20% career win rate to the table. Trainer Adam Rice won with this horse before, and Huber Villa-Gomez is a capable pilot. If the pace sets up with early pressure, Duck Hunter looks like the kind of closer who eats up ground in the lane — a strong place bet at a fair price.

show6UnderappreciatedML 2/1

Underappreciated is the morning line co-favorite at 2/1, and while her 69.03 rating lags behind the top two, she posts a 22% career win rate and her connections clearly believe she's ready to fire. She makes plenty of sense as a show play or to anchor the bottom of exactas — she's unlikely to go overlooked at the windows, but she's a safer ticket builder than a win bet.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

We're kicking the day off with three free best bets to get you oriented. Queen Anna T opens the card in Race 1 — a 6-furlong dirt sprint where the rain-affected surface could play right into her hands at a morning line of 9/2. That's the kind of underlay that builds tickets. In Race 2, Yoheda Money Maker steps into the mile going as the 3/1 morning line choice, backed by a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 — one of the stronger figures you'll see on the free portion of any card. Then Race 3 brings us Nuts and Bolts in an allowance going a mile and 70 yards, rated 87.81 and posted at 5/2. Allowance horses with that kind of rating at a price deserve respect.

The wet track is the thread connecting these picks. Surface questions tend to thin the competitive field by shaking out horses whose connections quietly prefer firm ground — and that creates value for the ones who can handle the slop. Keep an eye on how the first couple of races play out; early running patterns on a rainy day at Presque Isle will tell you a lot about what the surface is doing before you commit to later-race tickets.

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Race 3

4:24 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A standout allowance contender rises well above the rest of the field on our ratings — this shapes up as a race with a clear top selection, though the pace scenario over 1 mile 70 yards will determine how wide the gaps really are.

win3Nuts and BoltsML 5/2

Nuts and Bolts is a force in this allowance field with an elite 87.81 TrackWiz rating and a jaw-dropping 50% career win rate — best in the field by a wide margin. Trainer Darien Rodriguez sends out Antonio A. Gallardo, and at 5/2 on the morning line, this is about as close to a confident play as you'll find on a Monday card. The extra distance (1 mile 70 yards) actually helps horses with a sustained cruising speed, and her figures say she has plenty.

place5Little MarthaML 7/2

Little Martha checks in at a solid 71.53 rating and a 23% career win rate — both respectable figures in allowance company. Trainer Murray L. Rojas and jockey Martina Rojas make for an intriguing family connection, and at 7/2 on the morning line, she offers fair value as a place bet. She figures to be involved in the stretch run even if Nuts and Bolts is too good.

show6La PandaML 2/1

La Panda at 2/1 has a 32% career win rate that stands out, and a 62.07 rating puts her squarely in the mix for a piece. Trainer Adam Rice is a name to respect at Presque Isle, and Gaddiel A. Martinez is a dependable pilot. Though her average speed figure of 52 is the lowest among the picks, the win percentage hints at a horse who tends to show up when pointed at a race — worth including in show position on exotic tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 4

4:51 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Maiden Special Weight sprints are always tough — nobody has won before and several horses are first-time starters with no speed figures to lean on. Trainer connections and morning line movement will be key clues in this 5.5-furlong debut showcase.

win4Lucky Lucky GinginML 5/2

Lucky Lucky Gingin tops our ratings at 57.5 in a field where the margins are thin, and trainer Michael J. Trombetta is the kind of conditioner who knows how to prepare a debut runner. Carlos Barbosa gets the call at 5/2 on the morning line — that's the kind of public confidence that often reflects inside information on a first-time starter. Without published speed figures, the strong rating and connections make her the play.

place3Fun Time LindsayML 7/2

Fun Time Lindsay is the one horse in the top picks who has a published average speed figure of 54, giving her a tangible edge in terms of measurable performance. Trainer Timothy E. Hamm and jockey Martina Rojas team up at 7/2 — Hamm also saddles Lil' Sway in this race, but the morning line tells you Fun Time Lindsay is the stable's main hope. Previous experience on the track could be a meaningful advantage sprinting 5.5 furlongs.

show5Chef's KissML 4/1

Chef's Kiss draws in at 4/1 with a 55.0 rating, splitting the difference between the top two picks. Trainer Juan Arriagada and Israel O. Rodriguez form a solid pairing, and in a race this unpredictable, having a third legitimate option makes sense for show parlays. No speed figures are publicly available, which adds uncertainty, but the morning line suggests the connections are quietly confident.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 5

5:18 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Buck's Howl dominates the field on our ratings in this 6-furlong claiming sprint, but the pace scenario is worth watching — several horses carry similar average speed figures and early position could be contested.

win4Buck's HowlML 5/2

Buck's Howl is the class of this field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating, the highest score of any horse in the race by a wide margin, and a 25% career win rate that backs it up. Trainer Juan Arriagada hands the reins to Israel O. Rodriguez — a respected pilot at this circuit — and the 5/2 morning line feels fair for the level of separation our model shows. In a 6-furlong dirt sprint, a horse with this kind of raw figure doesn't need a perfect trip to win.

place5Golden CookieML 6/1

Golden Cookie at 6/1 is a value play worth noting — her 64.27 rating is second-best in the field and her connections with trainer Krista Nicole Hetrick and jockey Victor Severino suggest a horse that could pop at a price. An 8% career win rate is modest, but in claiming company at this distance, a horse with strong recent figures can outrun that number on any given day. She makes sense as the place leg of exactas and doubles.

show3Patriot BluechipML 4/1

Patriot Bluechip brings a 54.17 rating to the table and a 14% career win rate — middle of the pack but solid enough in a field that drops off sharply after the top two. Trainer John Guciardo and Antonio A. Gallardo are a capable combination. At 4/1 on the morning line, she's a reasonable show anchor for trifecta coverage if Buck's Howl handles the top two positions.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 6

5:45 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Starship Empire stands out as the clear top selection in this Starter Optional Claiming route, but the presence of the morning line favorite Van at a shorter price sets up an interesting exacta scenario with our ratings pointing in a different direction.

win1Starship EmpireML 5/2

Starship Empire leads the field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and a standout 30% career win rate — both the best figures in the field. Trainer Scooter Davis puts Antonio A. Gallardo up, and at 5/2 on the morning line, there's legitimate overlay potential relative to how far ahead our model has her. Over 1 mile 70 yards of dirt, a horse with a high sustained rating can really take control late in the race.

place2VanML 2/1

Van is the morning line favorite at 2/1 and brings a 76.34 rating with a 20% career win rate — respectable but clearly second-best to Starship Empire by our numbers. Trainer Ron G. Potts and Gaddiel A. Martinez make for a solid battery, and she'll likely get backing from the public. Keying her underneath Starship Empire in exactas is the smart play here.

show3StandpointML 4/1

Standpoint at 4/1 earns a 64.27 rating and a 13% career win rate — modest on the surface, but in a Starter Optional Claiming format, horses who have been pointed at this condition are often more fit than their overall numbers suggest. Trainer Murray L. Rojas saddles Martina Rojas for this one, a familiar tandem at the meet. She's a solid trifecta fill to protect tickets in a race where the top two seem likely to fill the top spots.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 7

6:12 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A full, double-digit field in this 6-furlong claiming sprint creates a chaotic pace picture — Runaway Breeze has the class numbers to cut through the traffic, but with 10 horses going, trip luck will play a real factor.

win4Runaway BreezeML 5/2

Runaway Breeze tops this large field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — the same elite score seen on the best horses in tonight's earlier races. Trainer Justin R. Morrell and Israel O. Rodriguez form a sharp pairing, and at 5/2 on the morning line, the price is fair for the level of separation our model shows. With a 9% career win rate, she's been racing against tougher company, and dropping into this spot could unlock a career-best effort.

place3Lady HamiltonML 4/1

Lady Hamilton checks in at a strong 76.25 rating with a 16% career win rate and draws in at 4/1 — solid value in a big field where she profiles as a horse who can sit just off the pace and sustain her run. Trainer Leland Hayes and Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr. team up in a spot where the #3 post could allow a ground-saving trip. She's our top candidate to fill the place spot behind Runaway Breeze.

show9All About MeML 6/1

All About Me at 6/1 earns a 68.33 rating with a 15% career win rate, and trainer Shelly R. Radosevich gets Antonio A. Gallardo — one of the busier riders on this card — for the assignment. She carries one of the better average speed figures in the field at 55, tying several other horses but with a model score that separates her. In a 10-horse field, exotic players need to cover three or four in the show hole, and she's a prime candidate.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 8

6:39 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

The deepest field of the night goes to post in the finale — 11 horses in a 1-mile-70-yard claiming route, with Starlit Sky standing out on our ratings but the public likely latching onto Sugar Magnolia at a shorter price.

win2Starlit SkyML 4/1

Starlit Sky leads all 11 horses with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — a commanding edge in a wide-open field. Trainer Ron G. Potts puts Israel O. Rodriguez on board, and at 4/1 on the morning line, there's real value here compared to her model score. A 9% career win rate suggests she's been working harder against stronger fields, and this could be a soft enough spot to finally deliver a win.

place5Channel Me InML 3/1

Channel Me In is an interesting play at 3/1 — her 68.88 rating is second-best in the race and she gets Carlos Barbosa, one of the top riders on the Presque Isle circuit. Trainer Justin R. Morrell is no stranger to routing on the dirt, and a 5% career win rate hides the kind of consistency that often shows up in place results. She should be live for the place spot and is a strong exacta partner with Starlit Sky.

show11Missus SekiML 6/1

Missus Seki at 6/1 earns a 57.23 rating with an 11% career win rate — respectable in a field where many horses have single-digit win percentages. Trainer S. Matthew Kintz and Gaddiel A. Martinez form a live combination for the show spot, and her average speed figure of 52 is in line with the field's overall profile at this distance. In an 11-horse field going long, trifecta coverage is essential, and Missus Seki is a fair price to round out tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 11 runners

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Eight races, a rain-soaked surface, and a handful of horses that look tailor-made for the conditions — that's Presque Isle Downs on August 24th. Start with Queen Anna T, Yoheda Money Maker, and Nuts and Bolts in the free races, and let the surface tell its story early. If you want the full picture — pace scenarios, exotic tickets, and every pick through Race 8 — the complete analysis is available to TrackWiz subscribers. Check out our plans and get set before first post.

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