Retama Park Picks & Predictions — July 17, 2026

Chantelle Lace (7) is right on Jv Talkin Cowgirl's heels with a 56.67 rating and heads to the gate at 3/1. J.R. Ramirez, Jr. is a reliable rider in these tight sprints, and trainer John Boegner has a knack for preparing first-timers. The slim margin separating the top two horses here means Chantelle Lace is very much capable of reversing the order.

Pucker Up Darlin (2) rates third in the field at 55.00 and shows a 4/1 morning line with Luis L. Vivanco in the irons for trainer Ben Olaveson. The top three horses in this race are separated by just 2.5 rating points — a razor-thin gap — which means including Pucker Up Darlin in your trifectas is sound construction. Don't leave her off the ticket.

Ja Makin Me Bolt (10) is the most intriguing secondary piece in this race — a 63.44 rating at 10/1 on the morning line represents genuine overlay potential. Trainer Francisco Perez, Jr. sends this one out with Alfredo Garza up, and the outside post in a sprint this short is less of a disadvantage than it looks. At double-digit odds, Ja Makin Me Bolt gives your exacta real juice.

Valiant Vindicator (8) checks in at 57.50 on the ratings and carries a 5/2 morning line — a horse the market seems to like slightly more than our model does, which is worth noting. Trainer Oscar Birdow deploys Edgar U. Mata in the saddle, a capable combination. Valiant Vindicator's rating still ranks third in the field, making her a reasonable trifecta anchor in the third slot.

Cold Hearted Cowgirl (5) is clearly the second-best horse in this field with a 69.78 rating and offers some value at 9/2 on the morning line. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. is one of the stronger riders on this circuit, and trainer Brian Stroud puts a well-prepared horse in the gate. If Karlees Kool Wagon stumbles out of the gate — unlikely but always possible in a 250 — Cold Hearted Cowgirl is the most likely beneficiary.

Shesa Dynasty Cartel (3) rates third at 57.50 with a 5/2 morning line that makes her the public's second choice — an interesting divergence from the model, which places her a full 12 points behind Cold Hearted Cowgirl. J.R. Ramirez, Jr. is a professional in these sprint spots, and trainer Paul Leal keeps her competitive. She's a solid trifecta piece but may be overbet relative to her actual standing in the field.

Betrueagle (1) is the second-rated horse in the field at 83.50 and shows a 33% career win rate that mirrors the top pick — but comes in at a more attractive 5/1 morning line. Trainer Brittany N. Tellez has Claudio Ponce Aguilar up, and this is a horse that knows how to compete at this class level. The nearly 4-point gap between Betrueagle and the third-rated horse in the field suggests a clear top two, making this an excellent exacta key.

No Se Primo (8) comes in as a value play at 8/1 on the morning line with a 55.97 rating and a 16% career win rate. Diego Contreras handles the mount for trainer Cleto Martinez, Jr., and No Se Primo's odds represent the kind of price that pays well in trifectas if the top two run their race. Don't expect an upset, but at that price, tossing this one into your tri underneath the top pair is smart bankroll management.

Jess Good as Gold (5) rates second in the field at 68.69 and carries a 5/2 morning line — actually the second choice in the wagering, which tracks with the model. Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr. rides for trainer Marc E. Jungers, and the 14% career win rate shows this horse is competitive enough to factor. At a distance of 400 yards, horses that can sustain speed a bit longer come into play, and Jess Good as Gold fits that profile.

Jr Desirio (4) offers a legitimate angle at 6/1 with a 33% career win rate — the best in this field — despite rating third at 50.14. Trainer Alex Hernandez sends this one out with Eliazar T. Vera up, and that win percentage is a number worth respecting in an allowance spot. The combination of a double-digit career win rate and a 6/1 morning line makes Jr Desirio a genuine value play in the show slot and in the trifecta.

Goldmine Creek (9) rates second in the field at 57.50 and carries the second-lowest morning line at 5/2, indicating the betting public agrees with the model's ordering. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh puts Gilberto Linares in the irons — a jockey who is active throughout tonight's card and clearly comfortable with these short sprints. Goldmine Creek is a natural exacta partner with Madame Secretari.

Pocket Fulla Money (8) checks in at 54.17 on the ratings and draws 9/2 on the morning line with J.R. Ramirez, Jr. up for trainer John Boegner. Boegner also saddles Goldmine Creek in this race, which tells you the barn has multiple live horses here. Pocket Fulla Money is separated from Goldmine Creek by just 3.33 rating points and is the logical third piece in trifecta construction.

Crown Royal Knockout (8) rates second at 74.50 and draws a 5/1 morning line with Luis L. Vivanco up for trainer Paul Leal. There's a 13-point gap between Raptor Stone and Crown Royal Knockout on the ratings, but a 13-point gap at 5/1 is actually worth fading slightly — in a 250-yard sprint, anything can happen out of the gate, and Crown Royal Knockout is the most logical horse to step up if the favorite stumbles.

Cyber Intelligence (5) rates third at 68.97 and goes off at 3/1 — making this horse the market's second choice despite rating third in our model. Jose R. Herbert rides for trainer Gilberto Gonzalez, a barn that has runners throughout this card. The gap between Cyber Intelligence at 68.97 and Crown Royal Knockout at 74.50 is meaningful, but 3/1 is a price that demands respect and makes this a necessary trifecta inclusion.

Uncle Shorty (3) is the morning line favorite at 3/1 and rates just 1.89 points behind Jess Drive at 76.55 — this is as close as a one-two on the ratings sheet gets. Trainer Angel Sanchez also saddles Corona Marys in this race, giving the barn two shots, and Oliver E. Martinez rides for a competitive outfit that clearly has horses ready tonight. Uncle Shorty at 3/1 is the horse that keeps the exacta honest — don't let the win pick talk you out of including this one.

Corona Marys (1) is the most intriguing price on the board in Race 10, carrying a 12/1 morning line despite a 73.96 TrackWiz rating — the third-highest in the field. A 16% career win rate in allowance company is respectable, and trainer Angel Sanchez runs the 1 and the 3 in this race, showing stable confidence across multiple entries. At 12/1, if Corona Marys finds any daylight at the top of the stretch, the return in the show pool — and especially in trifectas — is worth every penny of the bet.