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Presque Isle Downs Picks & Predictions — August 31, 2026

August 31, 20268 racesAll Presque Isle Downs picks

Results are in — see the official Presque Isle Downs chart and payouts (our top pick won 4 of 8)→

Happy Labor Day Eve, racing fans. Presque Isle Downs wraps up August with a full 8-race dirt card under partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 79°F — near-ideal conditions for speed figures to hold up and front-runners to get every advantage the track will give them.

All eight races are on the dirt today, which means pace scenario is king. With no surface switches to worry about, the card has a clean, readable feel — the kind of day where sharp angles and solid TrackWiz ratings can really pay off. We've got claimers, an allowance optional claiming race, a pair of maiden events, and a straight allowance to close things out.

Three races are open to all readers, with full analysis on the remaining five available to TrackWiz subscribers. Whether you're playing a few races or grinding the full card, there's plenty to dig into today.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A compact six-horse claiming sprint where three contenders are bunched tightly in the ratings, making pace scenario and jockey execution key differentiators in this 5½-furlong opener.

win2Showdown KingML 5/2

Showdown King earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 87.81 — a clear separation from the rest of the pack. Rosario Montanez gets the call, and the 5/2 morning line price suggests the public agrees this is the horse to beat. A 20% career win rate is respectable in claiming company, and that combination of raw rating and consistent form makes him the most reliable win single on the card to open the day.

place4Mrs. ManicottiML 3/1

Mrs. Manicotti brings the same 20% career win rate as the top pick but checks in with an 84.75 TrackWiz rating — close enough to cause trouble. Trainer Kimberly DePasquale has her pointed here, and at 3/1 on the morning line, she's a logical place horse who can sit just off the pace and pounce if Showdown King shows any vulnerability.

show3Wrote in StoneML 9/2

Wrote in Stone rounds out the top three with an 80.22 rating and a 17% career win rate — nothing flashy, but a solid enough profile to hold down the show spot in a six-horse field. At 9/2, Walber Alencar has the mount, and if the pace heats up between the top two, this one is positioned to benefit and fill out your exotics cheaply.

Race 2

7:57 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A route-distance claiming test at a mile and 70 yards where one horse separates himself on the numbers, but the field has enough pace variety to make the exacta interesting.

win6Starship BelmontML 3/1

Starship Belmont is the class of this field on TrackWiz numbers, posting an 87.08 rating that's nearly eight points clear of the next rival. He also carries the field's best average speed figure at 54, which matters over this longer route distance. Gaddiel Martinez gets the mount at a fair 3/1 morning line — this looks like a prime spot for trainer Brandon Kulp to cash.

place3Dominant StrangerML 5/2

Dominant Stranger drew the 5/2 morning line favorite tab, which makes him intriguing as a place underlayer. His 79.55 TrackWiz rating is second-best in the field, and Villa-Gomez is one of the more active jockeys on this card. The concern is a career win rate of just 8%, suggesting he hits the board more than he wins — which actually makes place the perfect bet for him.

show4Inanna's QuestML 4/1

Inanna's Quest sits at 4/1 on the morning line with a 57.61 rating that's a step below the top two but workable in a field this size. Trainer Katy Cheeks sends her out with Antonio Gallardo aboard, and the 13% career win rate points to a horse that shows up well enough to hit the board. Use her underneath in exactas and trifectas to boost your payout.

Race 3

8:24 PM EDT

Allowance Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

An allowance optional claiming route at six furlongs where a standout on the numbers faces a handful of lightly raced rivals with sneaky win percentages — the pace could be fast early with multiple speed types in the gate.

win3Greatest JoyML 3/1

Greatest Joy is the pick here, posting an 87.08 TrackWiz rating that's the top number in the field and backed by a 33% career win rate — among the best strike rates on the card today. Trainer Kevin Rice conditions this one, with Gaddiel Martinez taking the reins at a fair 3/1 price. The 55 average speed figure also leads the field, giving her a meaningful edge in a sprint at this level.

place5BarometricML 7/2

Barometric comes in at 7/2 with an impressive 33% career win rate to match and a 65.01 TrackWiz rating that's third in the field. Trainer Timothy Hamm is no stranger to hitting the board at Presque Isle, and Hector Diaz Jr. gives this one a live rider. If Greatest Joy gets caught up in an early pace battle, Barometric could be the fresh closer to inherit the place or better.

show2Chestnut QueenML 8/1

Chestnut Queen is the value show play here at 8/1 with a 56.14 rating and a solid 25% career win rate. That win percentage is deceptively strong for a horse that opened at morning line odds this long — Martina Rojas gets the call, and at those odds she'll fatten up any trifecta ticket nicely. Don't overlook the Hamm barn connection either, as he also saddles Barometric in the same race.

Our three free previews cover Races 1 through 3, and they give you a strong early foundation. Showdown King (Race 1, 5 furlongs and a half, morning line 5/2) leads the way with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — the top mark among all free-race selections today. Over in Race 2, Starship Belmont stretches out to a mile and 70 yards in a claiming route, while Race 3 steps up in class to an Allowance Optional Claiming level where Greatest Joy headlines at 3/1 on the morning line.

One angle to keep in mind across the early races: on a mild, dry afternoon like this, Presque Isle's dirt tends to be consistent from rail to wide — pace shapes should play out honestly, and closers won't be buried. That gives us confidence in horses that can establish position early without burning up in the fractions.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

8:51 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 6 fur · Dirt

Maiden special weight action over six furlongs brings a wide-open affair — nobody in this field has ever won a race, and with two horses showing no workout-based speed figures, reading the angles carefully is everything.

win1Florentine LadyML 9/2

Florentine Lady leads all comers in the TrackWiz ratings at 72.38 — that's a meaningful gap in a maiden field where the ceiling is genuinely uncertain. She posts a 53 average speed figure, and trainer Randall Russell has her in solid hands with Gaddiel Martinez aboard. At 9/2 on the morning line, she's not a chalk play, which gives this opinion some real value.

place4MayhemML 8/1

Mayhem is an intriguing value angle at 8/1 on the morning line despite posting a 59.14 TrackWiz rating — actually the second-best number in the field. Trainer Timothy Hamm, who also runs in Race 3, has a knack for placing horses well at this circuit. The 54 average speed figure adds credibility, and at those odds she's a strong play in exacta slots underneath Florentine Lady.

show3Ready MunnyML 2/1

Ready Munny drew the 2/1 morning line chalk, making her the public's pick to beat — but our ratings tell a slightly different story, placing her third in the field at 58.33. Still, a 55 average speed figure is the best in the race, and Jane Elliott gets the mount for trainer Dermot Littlefield. She's a safe show play but the price may be too short to get excited about in win singles.

Race 5

9:18 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

An eight-horse maiden claiming sprint where the top TrackWiz rating is held by a horse well below his expected morning line price, setting up a potential pace scenario that could benefit closers if early speed gets pressured.

win5Frenchman JamesML 3/1

Frenchman James has the best of this field by a healthy margin, carrying an 87.08 TrackWiz rating that stands alone in a wide-open maiden claimer. Rosario Montanez picks up the mount for trainer Michael Pappada — a barn that showed up with a top-rated horse back in Race 1 as well. The 54 average speed figure and a 3/1 morning line that undervalues his rating edge make him the straightforward win play here.

place3Alabama SleeperML 5/2

Alabama Sleeper drew the 5/2 morning line despite coming in second in the TrackWiz ratings at 76.56 — the public clearly respects this one. Gaddiel Martinez rides for trainer Randall Russell, who also conditions our Race 4 win pick Florentine Lady, so the barn is live on this card. A 53 average speed figure matches the top tier of this field, and she's a legitimate threat to run second or better.

show2StillbillyML 4/1

Stillbilly checks in with a 72.42 TrackWiz rating — third-best in the field — and at 4/1 is decent value for exotic plays. Trainer William Martin sends her out with Antonio Gallardo, one of the busier riders on today's card. In a maiden claimer where anything can happen, this is exactly the type of horse you want anchoring the show leg of a trifecta at a price.

Race 6

9:45 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

This 6½-furlong claiming race has a clear standout on paper with a towering TrackWiz rating, but the morning line favorite is installed at nearly even-money odds — sharp bettors will want to find value in the secondary positions.

win3OuthustleML 9/5

Outhustle is the most dominant horse on today's full card, posting an 88.83 TrackWiz rating that leads every race. The career win rate of 50% is extraordinary for a claimer — this horse simply finishes what he starts. Trainer Randall Russell conditions him with Mike Allen taking the mount at a tight 9/5 morning line. Yes, the price is short, but numbers this strong are hard to fade at any distance.

place2Goodie GoomerML 5/2

Goodie Goomer is a logical place play at 5/2, posting a 79.48 TrackWiz rating backed by a 29% career win rate — the second-best strike rate in the field. Trainer Juan Arriagada has him paired with Villa-Gomez, who's been busy and effective on this card. If Outhustle sets or pressures the pace, Goodie Goomer has the tactical speed to track him and hold on for second.

show5VinsanityML 6/1

Vinsanity slides in at 6/1 on the morning line with a 69.38 TrackWiz rating and a 56 average speed figure that matches the top horses in this field. Trainer Juan Arriagada runs both Vinsanity and Goodie Goomer, which tells you the barn has multiple weapons here. At 6/1, he's a strong show play in trifectas — especially if the pace scenario sets up for a late runner.

Race 7

10:12 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi 70 yd · Dirt

A route allowance at a mile and 70 yards where the top-rated horse is posted at 4/1 while a pair of rivals lurk with strong numbers and better morning line prices — this one could deliver a rewarding exacta.

win6Duck HunterML 4/1

Duck Hunter leads the TrackWiz ratings in this allowance field at 85.62 and comes in at 4/1 on the morning line — a price that offers genuine value given how far clear he is of the pack. Trainer Adam Rice puts Villa-Gomez up, and the 54 average speed figure is second-best in the race. An 18% career win rate is solid for allowance company, and over a mile-plus route, pace setup tends to favor horses with this kind of sustained figure.

place2Fly in the MysticML 8/1

Fly in the Mystic is a fascinating place play at 8/1, carrying a 79.79 TrackWiz rating that's second-best in the field. A 55 average speed figure leads the entire race — the highest of any horse in this spot — which suggests he may be a closer who runs out of ground in shorter sprints but thrives over a route. Trainer Wendy Uhacz sends him out with Israel Rodriguez, and at those odds, he's a high-upside place or win alternate.

show5StandpointML 7/2

Standpoint lines up at 7/2 with a 66.42 TrackWiz rating and a 53 average speed figure that's in line with the mid-pack. Trainer Murray Rojas has a familiar feel for this circuit, and Martina Rojas gets the mount. He's not the most exciting horse in the race, but his consistent profile makes him a reliable show anchor in trifecta tickets at a workable price.

Race 8

10:39 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The final race of the night is a full ten-horse claiming sprint at six furlongs — one of the most competitive fields on the card with four horses rated above 80 and a wide spread of morning line prices that screams exotic opportunity.

win2Party At the BeachML 3/1

Party At the Beach tops the TrackWiz ratings in this race at 87.08 and gets Walber Alencar in the irons for trainer John Fennessy — one of the most active barns on this card. A 55 average speed figure ties for second-best in the field, and the 3/1 morning line is a fair price for the top-rated horse. In a ten-horse field, a horse with this kind of numerical edge deserves to be your anchor single on the closer.

place4Judy ChopML 5/2

Judy Chop comes in with an 84.07 TrackWiz rating and the 5/2 morning line chalk — meaning the public likes her even more than our win pick. Trainer Kevin Rice, who's been active all card long, gives her to Gaddiel Martinez. A 55 average speed figure and that tight morning line suggest she'll be battling for the lead, making her an excellent exacta partner with Party At the Beach.

show1Dark DangerML 4/1

Dark Danger opens at 4/1 with an 80.94 TrackWiz rating — third-best in a deep field — and gets Taylor Kingsley for trainer Ryan Walsh. The 6% career win rate is a red flag on the surface, but the raw speed and rating numbers say this horse is capable in the right spot. At 4/1, she's a solid show play who can help close out trifecta tickets in a race with legitimate depth at the top.

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A clean 8-race dirt card, perfect weather, and some genuinely intriguing contenders make Presque Isle Downs a fun spot to be today. Start with Showdown King, Starship Belmont, and Greatest Joy in the free races, then let TrackWiz guide you through the rest — including the day's top-rated play, Outhustle in Race 6. Full card analysis is waiting for subscribers. Good luck, and let's have a big Labor Day weekend.

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