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Presque Isle Downs Picks & Predictions — August 26, 2026

August 26, 20268 racesAll Presque Isle Downs picks

Results are in — see the official Presque Isle Downs chart and payouts (our top pick won 2 of 8)→

It's a cloudy Wednesday at Presque Isle Downs with temperatures sitting at a comfortable 76°F — the kind of mild late-summer afternoon that keeps the track surface honest and the speed figures reliable. Eight races are on tap, all contested on the main dirt oval, giving us a clean, focused card to dig into.

The card leans heavily on sprints and route races at the claiming and maiden levels, which is exactly where sharp handicapping pays off. Conditions are consistent across the board, so today is really about finding the horses whose form fits the distance and price point — and a few of them stand out in a big way.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:30 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

A wide-open maiden special weight sprint where TrackWiz numbers reveal a massive ratings gap between the top pick and the rest of the field — but first-time starters add plenty of unknown variables.

win2SealandML 7/2

Sealand earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 86.35 — a significant edge over everyone else in the field. Trainer S. Matthew Kintz sends him out with jockey Gaddiel A. Martinez, a reliable combination in maiden company at Presque Isle. With an average speed figure of 54 in his work, he's shown enough to project as the one to beat at 7/2 on the morning line, which represents fair value given his ratings advantage.

place5Big Red TobyML 3/1

Big Red Toby draws the most interesting profile as one of two horses in this field without a recorded average speed figure — which can mean a lightly-raced horse with upside that's hard to quantify. Trainer Randall R. Russell spots him at 3/1 on the morning line with Huber Villa-Gomez aboard, and that confidence is worth noting. If he shows any early ability, he's capable of finishing in the money at a price.

show3Shy BoyML 9/2

Shy Boy posts a solid 54–55 average speed figure range — the best of any horse with recorded figures outside of Sealand — giving him a legit shot to hit the board. Jeff W. Zook trains him, and Zook also has Warrior's Mission in this race, suggesting he's sent in a competitive duo. At 9/2, he's a reasonable inclusion in exactas and trifectas as a third horse.

Race 2

7:57 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

This six-furlong dirt claimer has a clear class standout on TrackWiz ratings, but a couple of live longshots could disrupt the exotics with several runners posting similar speed figures.

win5BucchiniML 3/1

Bucchini is the dominant figure in this field with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 — the highest in the race by a wide margin — and backs it up with a 15% career win rate and an average speed figure of 55. Trainer John Guciardo has him in a spot where the class edge is real, and with Antonio A. Gallardo in the irons, he's in capable hands. At 3/1 on the morning line, he's not a standout overlay, but the ratings separation makes him hard to leave off the ticket.

place7Triple SecretML 7/2

Triple Secret is the clear second choice in our analysis with a 72.02 TrackWiz rating and a 14% career win percentage — respectable numbers for a claimer at this level. Gaddiel A. Martinez picks up the mount for trainer Randall R. Russell, a barn that knows how to place horses competitively at Presque Isle. If Bucchini gets pressured on the front end, Triple Secret has the profile to swoop in for a piece at 7/2.

show1Cherokee ChatterML 6/1

Cherokee Chatter brings a 12% career win rate and an average speed figure of 55 for trainer Cathy Carr Rozantz — noteworthy because Rozantz also runs Equinamous in this field, which suggests the connections know the conditions well. At 6/1 morning line odds, Cherokee Chatter is the value play in the exotics, and Martina Rojas has been a steady presence at this meet. Worth including in your trifecta tickets as a board horse.

Race 3

8:24 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

Going long at a mile and 70 yards in maiden special weight company, this race pits a dominant ratings leader against a morning-line favorite from a blue-chip barn — expect the pace to be honest and the stretch to tell the story.

win4Call Me BabeML 5/2

Call Me Babe owns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 87.81 and goes with Scott Spieth under trainer Michelle C. Brafford at a manageable 5/2 morning line. Her average speed figure of 54 is competitive for maiden company at this distance, and the ratings edge over this field is substantial — more than 30 points clear of most rivals. The mile-and-a-sixteenth trip on dirt suits horses with a stamina profile, and our numbers say she's the one to beat.

place6Isadora DuncanML 9/5

Isadora Duncan draws plenty of attention as the morning-line favorite at 9/5 under the William I. Mott barn — one of the more respected outfits in the game — and Taylor Kingsley gets the call. Her TrackWiz rating of 57.94 trails Call Me Babe by a notable margin, but the pedigree of the operation means she could be sitting on a big effort. She's the type who could go gate-to-wire if the pace sets up right and is worth keying beneath our top pick.

show5Deceiving DivaML 3/1

Deceiving Diva checks in at 56.67 on our ratings and is one of two horses in the field without a recorded average speed figure, leaving her upside genuinely open. Trainer Kinnon LaRose sends her out at 3/1 with Antonio A. Gallardo, a jockey who can rate horses over route distances. She's a sneaky inclusion in trifecta tickets if the top two are fighting it out and she comes through late.

Our TrackWiz analysis highlights three free best bets to kick off the day. In Race 1, Sealand draws our attention in the maiden special weight sprint at 7/2 on the morning line — a price that looks workable if this one runs to its rating of 86. Race 2 brings Bucchini in a 6-furlong claiming sprint, posted at 3/1 and topping our model at 87. The pace scenario in that race should set up well for a presser, and Bucchini fits the profile. Then in Race 3, Call Me Babe stretches out to 1 mile and 70 yards in another maiden special weight, carrying our highest free-race rating at 87.81 and listed at 5/2 — a runner we think has genuine upside at today's distance.

All three free races are on dirt and cover a range of distances, but the connecting thread is straightforward: each of these top picks projects as the most versatile, pace-adaptable horse in their respective fields. On a consistent surface with no weather extremes to factor in, trusting your speed figures and class reads is the play.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

8:51 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A competitive maiden claimer going a flat mile on dirt, where three horses are bunched tightly at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — making this a pace-dependent puzzle with a narrow edge at the top.

win2SnowstormML 3/1

Snowstorm edges out the field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and posts a 53 average speed figure in a field where consistency at that number matters over a route. Trainer Ronald W. Rogers sends him out at 3/1 on the morning line with Alex Gonzalez in the irons — a combination worth tracking at Presque Isle. In a race where the top three horses are separated by just a few rating points, Snowstorm's slight numerical edge earns him our top spot.

place1Trophy HusbandML 2/1

Trophy Husband is right on Snowstorm's heels at 85.23 on the TrackWiz scale and goes as the morning-line favorite at 2/1, which makes sense given his profile. Israel O. Rodriguez rides for trainer Juan Arriagada, and with matching average speed figures of 53, there's a legitimate case this horse hits the board or wins outright. In a race this tight, the 2/1 chalk might have the goods even if we're giving Snowstorm the edge on ratings.

show4Mr. ImpatientML 4/1

Mr. Impatient rates third in our rankings at 80.99 — only a few ticks behind the top two — and goes at 4/1 morning line odds, which represents fair value for a horse this close to the pace scenario leaders. Trainer Kevin Rice has him in reasonable company with Walber Alencar up, and in a field where the top three are separated by fewer than seven points, he's a logical third in your exacta boxes. Don't leave him out of the trifecta.

Race 5

9:18 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

An allowance optional claiming route with a definitive TrackWiz ratings leader, but the morning-line favorite and a horse with an eye-catching career win percentage set up what could be a genuine pace battle in the stretch.

win3Ms BrightsideML 3/1

Ms Brightside tops this field with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — matching the highest figure we've seen across multiple races on the card — and Scott Spieth rides for the Aldana Spieth barn, keeping it in the family and suggesting full confidence in the effort. Her 11% career win rate and 54 average speed figure are solid for allowance company, and at 3/1 on the morning line she's the most defensible pick in the race. Our analysis sees the class edge as real here.

place5Border ControlML 4/1

Border Control stands out with the highest career win percentage in this field at 33% — a number that genuinely jumps off the page — and also posts the best average speed figure at 56, which is a tick above the rest of this group. Gaddiel A. Martinez handles the mount for trainer Kevin Rice, and at 4/1 morning line he offers real value behind our top pick. If he gets a clean setup over this route distance, he's more than capable of closing into a place spot.

show4Make the Boys WinkML 8/5

Make the Boys Wink goes as the morning-line favorite at 8/5 under Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr. for trainer Timothy E. Hamm, which demands respect even if our ratings place him third in the field. His 54 average speed figure is consistent with the leaders, and at the route distance he may have tactical advantages in terms of positioning. As the public's top choice, he's likely to be overbet to win — but he's a legitimate show contender worth including in your exotics.

Race 6

9:45 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Trainer Randall R. Russell doubles up in this six-furlong dirt claimer with two of the top-rated horses in the field, making for an unusual dynamic — and a value play lurks at 6/1 with legitimate closing ability.

win2She's LitML 5/2

She's Lit tops the TrackWiz ratings in this race at 87.81 and goes at 5/2 morning line odds with Gaddiel A. Martinez aboard — one of the more consistent jockeys we've seen across today's card. The Randall R. Russell barn has a pair of horses in this spot, but She's Lit clearly earns the top ratings position with a 54 average speed figure and an 11% career win rate. At the sprint distance, if she gets a clean trip off the pace, this looks like a good spot to fire.

place3Gus's GalML 6/1

Gus's Gal is the sneaky value in this race at 6/1 on the morning line despite holding an 81.46 TrackWiz rating — second best in the field and only a handful of points behind our top pick. Trainer Michael C. Pappada gives her to Martina Rojas, and her 10% career win rate is respectable for claiming company. If She's Lit gets tested on the front end, Gus's Gal could be poised to grab the place spot at a generous price.

show5JayanaML 7/2

Jayana hits the board as our show pick despite a career win rate of just 3% — what separates her is the 7/2 morning line odds that suggest the connections believe she's live in this spot. Trainer John Fennessy has a solid track record of placing claimers, and Mike Allen knows the Presque Isle strip well. Her 54 average speed figure keeps her in range of the top two, and in a field where the pace could be contentious, a closer profile can find daylight late.

Race 7

10:12 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A meaty eight-horse claimer going a mile and 70 yards where the top two TrackWiz-rated horses carry legitimate credentials — but keep an eye on a live 10/1 shot with career numbers that demand a second look.

win8Drunk On SakeML 5/2

Drunk On Sake earns our top spot with an 85.77 TrackWiz rating and a 20% career win percentage that stands out in a field of claimers. Israel O. Rodriguez rides for trainer Scooter Davis, and with a 53 average speed figure consistent with the front group, he's equipped to run a competitive race over the route. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price is fair for a horse with this win record — he's our best bet of the race.

place4Hard MissionML 6/1

Hard Mission comes in at 82.71 on our ratings and brings a 16% career win rate for trainer Juan Arriagada — the same barn that has Trophy Husband in Race 4, giving them a productive day if both hit. Antonio A. Gallardo picks up the mount at a generous 6/1 morning line price, making Hard Mission a strong value play beneath our top pick. He's the horse we want in exactas and trifectas, especially if the top-rated runner gets any trouble in traffic.

show6Burnin TurfML 10/1

Burnin Turf is the longshot angle on this ticket at 10/1 morning line odds, but his 26% career win rate is the highest in the entire field — a striking number that suggests he can find the winner's circle when conditions align. Scott Spieth gets the mount for trainer Keith C. Dickey, and his 54 average speed figure keeps him competitive on raw ability. With a win percentage that outclasses his odds, he's a prime trifecta inclusion and a small win bet if you're playing the board.

Race 8

10:39 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

Closing out the card with a nine-horse claiming route at a mile and a sixteenth — a race where the top TrackWiz pick goes at an underlay morning line, leaving room for a lively supporting cast to disrupt the chalk.

win7Speaker's LobbyML 9/2

Speaker's Lobby tops the field with an 84.90 TrackWiz rating and goes to post at 9/2 morning line odds — arguably an overlay given those numbers — with Gaddiel A. Martinez picking up the mount for trainer S. Matthew Kintz, who also saddled our Race 1 top pick today. His 10% career win rate and 53 average speed figure place him right in line with the competitive pace group, and over a route distance where trips matter, Martinez's experience is a genuine asset. This is our best play to close the card.

place1Twist 'n TwirlML 7/2

Twist 'n Twirl rates second in our rankings at 76.88 and goes off at 7/2 on the morning line — suggesting the public agrees he's in the mix. The wrinkle is a 3% career win rate, which is low, but for a place bet in a nine-horse field at this price, his TrackWiz score makes him defensible underneath Speaker's Lobby. Trainer Tim Girten puts Antonio A. Gallardo on board, a jockey who's been busy across today's card with productive results.

show4Youreawizard HarryML 4/1

Youreawizard Harry slots in third on our TrackWiz ratings at 58.22 and brings a 8% career win rate with Carlos Barbosa up for trainer Kevin Rice — a stable that's active throughout this card. His 52 average speed figure is a tick below the top two, but in a nine-horse field with varied pace profiles, he's a logical closer if the front end collapses. At 4/1, he's reasonable in the show position for exacta and trifecta players looking to round out their tickets.

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Today's card at Presque Isle is an approachable eight-race dirt card with some solid betting opportunities right out of the gate. Sealand, Bucchini, and Call Me Babe are your free best bets — all three are well-positioned on pace and priced to offer real value. For the complete Race 4–8 breakdown, pace maps, and exotic ticket construction, full-card analysis is available to TrackWiz subscribers at /pricing. Good luck out there — race smart.

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