Daily Picks

Retama Park Picks & Predictions — June 26, 2026

Friday, June 26, 20269 racesRetama Park

It's a hot Friday afternoon at Retama Park — 89°F and clear skies baking the south Texas dirt — and we've got a full 9-race card of Quarter Horse action to break down for you. Short sprints dominate today's program, with distances ranging from a lightning-quick 250 yards all the way out to 550 yards in the lone Claiming event. If you blink, you might miss a finish.

The card leans heavily on Maiden company — seven of nine races feature first-time winners or horses still looking for that breakthrough — which means pace scenarios tend to be honest and raw speed almost always wins. One Allowance race bookends each half of the card, giving us a pair of more established horses to anchor our analysis. With the track playing fast under clear conditions, expect gate-to-wire efforts and watch for horses drawn to the inside to have a slight tactical edge.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:45 PM EDT

Allowance · 330 yd · Dirt

A clear ratings hierarchy emerges in this 330-yard allowance opener, but the morning line tells a different story — value hunters will find the gap between odds and form worth exploring.

win5Rosario TijerasML 4/1

Rosario Tijeras is the standout on our ratings board with an 85.62 — a significant margin over the rest of the field — and backs it up with a career win rate of 21%, the best in this race by a wide margin. Trainer Esteban Rubio also saddles Shakira Rocks in this same race, which speaks to his confidence in conditions here at Retama. At 4/1 on the morning line, there's still some meat on the bone for a horse whose profile clearly tops this allowance field. Jockey Nestor Duran takes the call, and the connections look properly aimed.

place2Just an EagleML 5/2

Just an Eagle carries the second-highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 71.12 and draws the rail-friendly program number 2 for the short 330-yard dash — every foot of ground matters at this distance. The 5/2 morning line makes this the public's second choice, and honestly the rating supports that. Trainer Joseph D. Manucy has a live one here, and Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr. in the irons is a solid pickup.

show8PasatiempoML 3/1

Pasatiempo checks in third on the ratings at 65.31 and represents the Janessa Lee Muniz barn, which gives this runner a professional foundation. At 3/1 on the morning line, Pasatiempo is attractively priced relative to the field and makes solid sense underneath in exactas and trifectas — especially in a nine-horse field where chaos at the break can shuffle the order quickly.

Race 2

12:15 AM EDT

Maiden · 400 yd · Dirt

A wide-open maiden sprint at 400 yards with a full field of first-time starters — expect the morning line to shift as horses with trial times filter through, and watch for any late betting action.

win9County TimeML 9/5

County Time lands atop our TrackWiz ratings at 58.67 — the highest mark in this maiden field — and is installed as the 9/5 morning line favorite, suggesting the market agrees. In a field where everyone is 0-for-their-career, raw ratings and trial ability separate the contenders, and County Time has the edge. Trainer Jose Ivan Martinez puts Oliver E. Martinez in the irons, a consistent combination worth respecting. This is a measured play at short odds, but the profile justifies it.

place8BetrueagleML 7/2

Betrueagle is right behind the top pick with a 55.83 TrackWiz rating and draws favorable at 7/2 on the morning line. Trainer Brittany N. Tellez saddles this runner, and Claudio Ponce Aguilar gets the mount — both reliable names at Retama. If County Time handles the top spot, Betrueagle looks like the most natural underneath horse in the exotics.

show5Back CheckML 4/1

Back Check slots in third on our ratings at 55.00 with a 4/1 morning line and the services of Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr., who is no stranger to the winner's circle at this venue. Trainer Marc E. Jungers has shown the ability to get maiden runners ready to fire first out. Back Check rounds out a logical top three in what is otherwise a wide-open heat.

Race 3

12:42 AM EDT

Maiden · 300 yd · Dirt

This 300-yard maiden affair features a genuinely intriguing pace scenario — the top-rated horses break from mid- to outer posts, so the first jump off the gate could be the whole story in less than six seconds of racing.

win9Mr NandinML 3/1

Mr Nandin carries the field's top TrackWiz rating at 87.08 and is the 3/1 morning line choice, making him both the class of the field on paper and a fair value given those credentials. Trainer Fernando Chavez puts Claudio Ponce Aguilar aboard — a rider who knows how to get a horse out of the gate cleanly, which is everything in a 300-yard sprint. In a maiden race full of unknowns, leaning on the strongest ratings profile is the smart play, and Mr Nandin's number stands well above the competition.

place8Dm Sophie CartelML 9/2

Dm Sophie Cartel is the most interesting horse in this race with an 80.56 rating and a 9/2 morning line that offers real value relative to her form profile. Trainer Kie Mushinski saddles this runner, and Luis L. Vivanco gets the call. The gap between her rating and her price is a classic spot where the TrackWiz ratings uncover an undervalued contender — she should be included in all exotics.

show4Big Sky CowboyML 7/2

Big Sky Cowboy checks in at 73.28 on our ratings and is the 7/2 morning line second choice — a compact trio at the top that makes the trifecta particularly appealing here. Trainer Bradley C. Bolen puts Jose R. Herbert in the saddle, a combination that has shown up ready to compete. If the top two connect, Big Sky Cowboy is the natural shot to complete the exacta or trifecta.

We're opening up three races to all TrackWiz readers today: Race 1, Race 2, and Race 3. Our top-rated free pick is Mr Nandin in Race 3 — an 87-rated effort at just 300 yards in Maiden company, and he's sitting at a very playable 3/1 on the morning line. If the speed figures hold on a fast track, he could go off shorter by post time, so this is one to grab early. Rosario Tijeras opens the card in Race 1 Allowance action with a solid 85-plus TrackWiz rating and the kind of class edge that Allowance conditions often reward in short-format racing.

The Maiden dash at 400 yards in Race 2 is trickier — County Time draws our top nod but carries a lower confidence rating, which is a signal that the field is more wide-open than the 9/5 morning line suggests. Don't be afraid to spread in your exacta here.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

1:09 AM EDT

Claiming · 550 yd · Dirt

The lone claiming race on the card stretches out to 550 yards — the longest distance of the night — and features a pair of horses at the top of our ratings that profile as a cut above the field.

win7T N a Money WagonML 5/2

T N a Money Wagon leads all runners with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and is the 5/2 morning line favorite, which feels like fair odds for a horse who's clearly the class of this field. The 550-yard distance is a grind compared to the sprint-heavy card, and horses with the ability to sustain speed to the wire have a huge edge — the ratings suggest this is one of them. Trainer Brittany N. Tellez and jockey H. Javier Hernandez combine for what looks like a live betting entry tonight. This is our strongest play of the night in a claiming context.

place8Pull a CorkML 3/1

Pull a Cork is the only horse within striking distance of T N a Money Wagon on the ratings at 80.24, and at 3/1 on the morning line, trainer Esteban Rubio has this one primed to run. Jockey Nestor Duran gets the mount, and he's been a consistent presence in Retama winners' circles. The exacta connecting T N a Money Wagon and Pull a Cork is the most natural play on the card.

show1Tactical FeatureML 9/2

Tactical Feature rounds out our TrackWiz top three at 66.7, though the gap to the top two is notable. What makes this runner interesting as a show play is the career win percentage — 6% may not look impressive at first glance, but in a competitive claiming field at this distance, hitting the board consistently matters. Trainer Arnold Lewis and Oliver E. Martinez represent a workmanlike combination here.

Race 5

1:36 AM EDT

Maiden · 250 yd · Dirt

250 yards is pure explosion — blink and it's over — making this maiden sprint one of the most gate-dependent races of the card, with the favorites clustered so tightly that post position and break could decide everything.

win9Tempted to FlyML 2/1

Tempted to Fly heads our TrackWiz selections with a 58.33 rating and is installed as the 2/1 morning line chalk — the public's top choice in a field of first-time winners. Trainer Jose Ivan Martinez gives the mount to Oliver E. Martinez, a sharp pairing that has shown up ready to run in prior spots on the card. In a 250-yard dash, the horse who breaks cleanest and runs the straightest line typically wins — and the ratings back Tempted to Fly to do exactly that.

place10TroffeeML 3/1

Troffee is the place pick with a 56.67 rating and a 3/1 morning line that gives you decent value for a horse who profiles as a legitimate threat to finish in the money. Trainer Ben Olaveson puts Luis L. Vivanco in the irons, and this combination knows the Retama grounds well. The gap between Troffee and the win pick is narrow enough that a good break could flip the order.

show2Zenith ZtormiML 7/2

Zenith Ztormi slots in at 55.83 on the TrackWiz ratings with a 7/2 morning line, rounding out a tightly grouped top three where any of the three could switch positions on a given night. Trainer Juan Johnny M. Hernandez and Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr. connect here, and this runner is a solid exotic inclusion for the trifecta. In a race this short, the margins are razor-thin — Zenith Ztormi is too close to the top to leave off your tickets.

Race 6

2:03 AM EDT

Maiden · 300 yd · Dirt

A maiden 300-yard sprint that features a genuine top-heavy form situation — the top three on our ratings are bunched together and priced attractively, while the rest of the field faces a steep task catching up.

win4Ember in the Sky 3ML 5/2

Ember in the Sky 3 shares the field's highest TrackWiz rating at 87.81 alongside a competitive morning line of 5/2 — a strong value signal when the top-rated horse isn't being bet down to the felt. Trainer Janessa Lee Muniz puts Ruben Delarosa, Jr. in the irons, a combination that should get this runner to the wire with purpose. In a 300-yard maiden sprint, the horse with the best physical profile going first jump has a major edge, and Ember in the Sky 3 looks the part.

place9Call Me DiamanteML 7/2

Call Me Diamante comes in just behind at 84.29 on our ratings and offers genuine value at 7/2 on the morning line — only a half-point separates these two on paper, making the price gap meaningful. Trainer Richard G. Washington sends this runner out with J.R. Ramirez, Jr. aboard, who has been among the more active and productive riders on this Retama card. If there's any scenario where Ember stumbles at the break, Call Me Diamante has the numbers to capitalize.

show7Ms Easter DebML 4/1

Ms Easter Deb checks in at 78.52 and rounds out a genuinely strong top three in this field. The 4/1 morning line makes this horse an attractive addition to trifectas — she's not a throwaway, she's a legitimate contender who just happens to be third on our board tonight. Trainer Antonio S. Martinez and jockey Alejandro Landeros Zuniga pair up here, and the form profile warrants respect.

Race 7

2:30 AM EDT

Maiden · 400 yd · Dirt

This 400-yard maiden has a mild form reversal brewing — the horse with the highest TrackWiz rating is actually on the morning line at 3/1, not the 2/1 chalk, setting up a potential overlay situation worth exploiting.

win1Ja Makin Me BoltML 3/1

Ja Makin Me Bolt leads our ratings at 59.62 and draws the rail at program number 1 — in a straight sprint, a clean outside run is nice but the gate is everything, and getting out of the one-hole cleanly is a skill. Trainer Francisco Perez, Jr. entrusts the mount to Leonardo V. Reyes, a combination making their case in this field. At 3/1 morning line, Ja Makin Me Bolt is technically priced above the public's favorite but rated higher by our metrics — that's the kind of overlay that TrackWiz analysis is built to surface.

place3Jo PlaymakerML 2/1

Jo Playmaker is the morning line favorite at 2/1 despite checking in second on our ratings at 58.33 — nearly identical to the top pick, which means this race is genuinely a coin flip between these two at the top. Trainer Michael Wakefield gives the call to Nestor Duran, a reliable rider who will have this horse ready to fire in the first stride. The safest play here is to include both Ja Makin Me Bolt and Jo Playmaker on top in exactas.

show2Creame SodaML 5/1

Creame Soda slots in third on our ratings at 53.33 with a 5/1 morning line, giving exotic players a bit of added value on the show end of the trifecta. Trainer Brian Stroud connects with Angel A. Fierro for what looks like a professional setup in a competitive maiden field. If the top two occupy the exacta, Creame Soda at 5/1 closing odds could pay handsomely in trifectas.

Race 8

2:57 AM EDT

Maiden · 250 yd · Dirt

Penultimate race on the card delivers a clear standout at the top — Cold Hearted Cowgirl carries a dominant ratings advantage in this 250-yard maiden sprint, setting up as a rare single-out play in an otherwise wide-open field.

win10Cold Hearted CowgirlML 2/1

Cold Hearted Cowgirl leads the entire card with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — the highest number of the night — and is installed as the 2/1 morning line favorite with Jose R. Herbert picking up the mount for trainer Brian Stroud. That trainer-jockey combination puts this runner in capable hands for a 250-yard sprint where execution at the break is everything. When a horse this dominant on ratings is also the public's top choice, you back it and move on — this is the race's closest thing to a formality.

place8Mucho FastML 5/2

Mucho Fast is our place pick at 76.95 on the ratings and 5/2 on the morning line — the second-most impressive number in the field and a horse that profiles as the clear runner-up choice. Trainer Raul Rodriguez, Jr. sends this one out with Angel A. Fierro in the saddle, a reliable pairing at this level. The gap between Cold Hearted Cowgirl and Mucho Fast is real, but Mucho Fast is miles ahead of the rest of the field, making this an attractive place play.

show5Tres H BoyML 8/1

Tres H Boy lands on our board at 48.33 with an 8/1 morning line, representing a solid jump in value for the show spot in this race. Trainer Alfredo Triana gives the call to Alejandro Landeros Zuniga, and while there's a sizable ratings gap to the top two, the rest of the field is bunched near the bottom. Tres H Boy's inclusion in trifectas makes sense given the value on offer at 8/1, especially when the top two look so reliable.

Race 9

3:24 AM EDT

Allowance · 300 yd · Dirt

The finale is a 300-yard allowance affair with legitimate intrigue at the top — two horses within a fraction of each other on our ratings board, and a potential longshot show play that could return serious exotics value.

win4Mad IndianML 3/1

Mad Indian tops our ratings at 85.11 and is the 3/1 morning line choice in a competitive allowance field. What stands out beyond the rating is the trainer angle — Wendy Alejandra Garcia saddles this runner with Rosendo E. Pina Garcia in the irons, a tight-knit connection that suggests confidence in this spot. The 5% career win rate might give casual bettors pause, but this is an allowance field where form cycles and class matter more than raw win percentage — and the TrackWiz number says Mad Indian is ready.

place9BailleysML 9/2

Bailleys is almost a co-pick with the win selection, carrying an 84.90 TrackWiz rating and a 9/2 morning line — and here's where the value lives. With a 33% career win rate, Bailleys is statistically the best performer in this field by that measure and is being undervalued by the morning line. Trainer Ben Olaveson sends this one out with Luis L. Vivanco, a combination that has earned respect on this card. Splitting the win and place between Mad Indian and Bailleys in exactas both ways is the smart play here.

show10Real Quick FlirtML 15/1

Real Quick Flirt is our show pick at 56.23 on the ratings and 15/1 on the morning line — a genuine value play that could balloon the trifecta. The 25% career win rate is eye-catching for a 15/1 shot, and trainer Raul E. Galvan sends this runner out with Jose R. Herbert aboard. If the top two handle their business, sneaking Real Quick Flirt into the trifecta at morning line odds could turn a solid card into a big night — and that's exactly the kind of spot TrackWiz analysis is designed to find.

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A fast track, Texas heat, and a card full of short-format sprints where any edge matters — that's what we're working with today at Retama Park. Start with Mr Nandin and Rosario Tijeras in the free races, and if you want the full picture on Cold Hearted Cowgirl, the Race 4 pace setup, and our Pick 4 construction, go premium. Good luck out there — and remember, in a 250-yard sprint, the gate is half the race.

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