Retama Park Picks & Predictions — July 9, 2026

Rude Boi (No. 4) checks in at 67.64 on our model — a significant gap below the top pick but well clear of the rest of the field. Trainer Abraham Rangel puts Alejandro Medina up at 9/2 morning-line odds, which feels like fair value for a horse that figures to be fighting for second. The 350-yard trip plays into the hands of horses with natural speed, and Rude Boi's rating suggests this one has the raw ability to get a piece.

An Dee Special (No. 5) sits at 51.72 — third-best in the field — and Diego Contreras picks up the mount for trainer Rodolfo Gutierrez Hernandez. At 4/1 on the morning line, there's mild overlay potential if the top two run to expectation and An Dee Special finds clear space to run. In maiden claiming fields where pedigree and prep quality can vary widely, having the third-rated horse at a reasonable price in your trifecta makes sense.

July Watters (No. 2) is the morning-line favorite at 3/1 with a 73.33 rating, making her the natural framing horse for exacta tickets. Trainer Wendy Alejandra Garcia sends this one out with Rosendo E. Pina Garcia aboard — a barn-rider combination that gets results at this level. Even if Mr Perry Cuervo gets the job done on top, July Watters should have enough class to hold for second in a field where only three horses rate above 70.

Threat Levl Midnight (No. 8) lands at 72.14 in our model — third-best in the field — and draws a 5/1 morning-line price that makes this horse a genuine show-value play in exotics. Angel A. Fierro is one of the busier jockeys on this card, and trainer Alfred A. Aparicio knows how to spot a horse in a race it can handle. The clustering of July Watters and Threat Levl Midnight in the low-70s range suggests the place and show could go in either order, so using both in your tickets is smart.

Rr Chrome (No. 3) checks in at 72.99 on our model and is the morning-line second choice at 3/1, which aligns with TrackWiz's view that this horse is a legitimate board contender. Trainer Martin Rodriguez, who also has a horse in Race 1, sends out Alejandro Medina on what figures to be the natural pace-pressure horse in this sprint. If Deal With This Eagle stumbles or gets a troubled break, Rr Chrome has the rating to capitalize.

Holy Monday (No. 10) rates at 70.62 — third in the field — and comes in at 4/1 morning odds with Noe Villatoro taking the mount for trainer Adan Guzman. The price is right for a horse that's in the same general tier as Rr Chrome but hasn't grabbed as much market attention. In trifecta construction for a race with a dominant top pick, having the third-best-rated horse at 4/1 in your show slot is exactly the kind of value move that pays off over a card.

Built for Power (No. 6) arrives with a 25% career win rate — by far the best in the field — and a 79.7 TrackWiz rating that slots comfortably in the second tier. J.R. Ramirez, Jr. takes this one for trainer Shae L. Cox, who also has Too Broke to Quit in this same race, suggesting the barn is active and confident. A horse that wins one in four career starts at the allowance level over this kind of distance is not one you want to leave off your tickets.

Hezamonzter (No. 7) carries a 73.24 rating and opens at 3/1 on the morning line — arguably the most accessible overlay in the race given where the ratings cluster. Trainer Marc E. Jungers puts Luis L. Vivanco aboard, and Vivanco has been aboard multiple horses across today's card, suggesting he's comfortable with the conditions. At 870 yards in an allowance, pace management matters, and Hezamonzter's profile suggests a horse that can settle and close effectively.

Bm Candi Royale (No. 10) posts an 82.6 rating and a 16% career win rate — a legitimate allowance horse by any measure. Trainer Brittany N. Tellez puts Claudio Ponce Aguilar up at 9/2, and this horse's combination of strong rating and solid winning history suggests consistent competitiveness. If Omac Donald gets the win, Bm Candi Royale has the class to hold the place ahead of the rest of this field.

Docs Magic Card (No. 6) owns a 50% career win rate — an extraordinary figure that explains the 2/1 morning-line favoritism — but the TrackWiz rating of 58.33 tells a more nuanced story, suggesting the horse may be facing tougher competition today than it has historically beaten. Luis L. Vivanco gets the mount for trainer Leonardo Rivera-Antopia, and there's no doubting this horse's ability to finish in the money. At short odds, though, the show slot is the safest way to include this horse without taking on the risk of it hitting a tougher group than usual.

Gold Heart Six (No. 6) checks in at 55.0 — right behind Cowboy Cumbia — and draws a 4/1 morning line that makes this horse the most natural place ticket in the field. Trainer J. W. Plunkett sends Eliazar T. Vera aboard, and Vera has experience navigating short sprints at this level throughout today's card. In a race this tight on ratings, Gold Heart Six sitting one spot below the top pick at a reasonable price is exactly the profile you want in your exacta box.

Ee Disco Quickie (No. 2) rates third in the field at 53.33 and opens at 5/1 — the best-priced horse in the top three on our ratings. Trainer Telma Janet Loya has Nestor Duran up, a combination that keeps things straightforward. The 300-yard distance rewards horses that break clean and run straight, and Ee Disco Quickie's rating places it firmly in the mix for show — making it an attractive trifecta leg at a price that beats the top two on the board.