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Retama Park Picks & Predictions — July 18, 2026

July 18, 20268 racesAll Retama Park picks

This card ran on July 18, 2026.

Best bets at Retama Park, July 18, 2026

Race 16RazzledazzlemeML 5/28:00 PM EDT

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It's a full eight-race Saturday card at Retama Park, and the Texas quarter-horse sprints are flying under partly cloudy skies with temperatures pushing 89°F. The heat is a factor worth noting — horses that have shown they can handle warm, fast conditions in their past performances get a quiet edge today, and the dirt should be playing firm and quick.

Every race on the card is a short-course sprint, ranging from 250 yards all the way out to 400 yards in Race 6 — which, by Retama standards, is practically a marathon. The early races are loaded with maiden runners, so we're dealing with a lot of unknowns, which is exactly why having a solid ratings model in your corner matters. Our TrackWiz ratings have identified confident top picks in all eight races.

Three races are free for all readers today, and we've got five premium races locked behind the paywall for subscribers. Let's get into it.

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Race 1

8:00 PM EDT

Maiden · 250 yd · Dirt

A wide-open 250-yard maiden sprint where TrackWiz ratings separate the contenders sharply from the pretenders — three horses clustered at the top and a significant drop-off to the rest of the field.

win6RazzledazzlemeML 5/2

Razzledazzleme tops the TrackWiz rating chart in this field with an 87.81, edging out Di Fdd Dancer by more than four points — a meaningful gap in a short field. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. gets the call and he's one of the more active riders on this circuit, giving the horse a pilot with local familiarity. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price isn't generous, but in a maiden sprint at 250 yards there's little room for pace strategy — it's purely about raw ability, and our ratings like this one best.

place3Di Fdd DancerML 7/2

Di Fdd Dancer checks in with an 83.28 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field and just 4.5 points off the top — making her a legitimate threat to run into the placings. Trainer Jose Ivan Martinez teams up with jockey Olvin Josue Martinez, a familiar pairing that suggests good communication in the barn. At 7/2 on the morning line, she offers a touch of value for exotic players looking to fill out an exacta underneath or over the top.

show9Monster CartelML 5/1

Monster Cartel rates out at 82.70, just a sliver behind Di Fdd Dancer, and in a 250-yard sprint where fractions of a second separate the entire field, that closeness in ratings matters. The 5/1 morning line gives Monster Cartel solid exotic value as a show or trifecta fill. In a race this short, post position and break can be everything — keep this one on your ticket as a hedge.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

8:26 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

Maiden claiming company at 300 yards with a clear top two in the TrackWiz ratings — Momentym and Leaving a Dynasty — and a big drop-off to the rest, setting up a likely pace duel between the class standouts.

win5MomentymML 7/2

Momentym leads all horses in this field with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating, a commanding number against maiden claiming rivals going 300 yards. Oliver E. Martinez takes the mount for trainer Jose U. Lopez, and the 7/2 morning line represents fair value for a horse that grades out this far above the field. In a straight sprint like this, the horse that breaks cleanest often wins — and Momentym's profile suggests the raw ability to be first off the gate.

place1Leaving a DynastyML 5/1

Leaving a Dynasty posts an 81.71 TrackWiz rating, second-best in the field and a legitimate bridesmaid threat if Momentym gets the jump. Trainer Oscar Nunez and jockey Gilberto Linares are a workmanlike combination on the Retama circuit. At 5/1 on the morning line, the place payoff on Leaving a Dynasty could offer real value in an exacta or straight place bet if the favorite slips up.

show3Zipporah StoneML 3/1

Zipporah Stone at 3/1 morning line is actually the public's second choice but rates third in our model at 56.67 — a 25-point gap to Leaving a Dynasty that's worth noting. Still, that public support suggests connections are confident, and trainer Wendy Alejandra Garcia has her in the right spot here in maiden claiming company. She's a reasonable show play and exacta fill for those wanting to spread the bottom of their tickets.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

The free card kicks off strong. Razzledazzleme opens the day in Race 1 — a 250-yard maiden sprint — carrying a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 and a morning line of 5/2 that looks fair without screaming overlay. The short 250-yard distance rewards pure gate speed above almost everything else, so reaction time and early kick are the story. Over in Race 2, Momentym draws our top rating (86.35) in a maiden claiming sprint at 300 yards — the slight step up in distance opens the door a touch, but our model still likes the profile here at 7/2 on the morning line.

Race 3 rounds out the free picks with The Lost Princess matching that 87.81 rating at 5/2 in another 300-yard maiden claimer. Two horses sharing the top rating on the free card is worth noting — in these short sprints, fractions of a second separate the field, and both Razzledazzleme and The Lost Princess are signaling they're the class of their respective fields. The connecting thread across the free races: trust early speed, trust the gate, and don't overthink it on a card built around maiden sprinters in the Texas heat.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

8:52 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 300 yd · Dirt

Three horses separate themselves from the pack in this 300-yard maiden claimer, but the spread between first and third in the TrackWiz ratings is tight enough that post position and a clean break could shuffle the order at the wire.

win3The Lost PrincessML 5/2

The Lost Princess comes in with the field's top TrackWiz rating of 87.81, tied for one of the higher marks we'll see across the entire card today. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. hops aboard for trainer Alejandro Trujillo — Urieta is one of the busiest and most accomplished riders at Retama right now, which is a meaningful edge in a maiden sprint. The 5/2 morning line makes her the crowd's top choice, and our analysis backs that up — this is the most talented horse in the field based on ratings.

place5Macho Man LetticiaML 5/1

Macho Man Letticia grades out at 77.13, more than 10 points behind The Lost Princess but a full 12 points clear of the next contender — that gap at the bottom of the top tier is where our place confidence comes from. Trainer Jose Dolores Camacho sends out Eliazar T. Vera, and the 5/1 morning line offers genuine value for a horse that should comfortably outrun the bottom half of this field. In a 300-yard dash, the place spot is often decided in the first few strides — Macho Man Letticia looks quick enough to hold it.

show1Rolands CartelML 9/2

Rolands Cartel at 9/2 morning line is the third piece of our TrackWiz top three, rating out at 74.99 for trainer Angel Almaguer and jockey J.R. Ramirez, Jr. While there's a modest gap to Macho Man Letticia above, Rolands Cartel is a full 10 points clear of Marshall Hogan in fourth. That cushion in the ratings makes this horse a sensible show bet and trifecta anchor — use accordingly.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 4

9:29 PM EDT

Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

This 330-yard claimer features real experience in the entries — multiple horses with double-digit career win percentages — and Cie Hombre looks like a class standout, but Dm Sophie Cartel's 20% career win rate makes this more competitive than the morning line suggests.

win3Cie HombreML 7/2

Cie Hombre paces all horses with an 86.35 TrackWiz rating and owns a solid 12% career win rate, a respectable figure in the claiming ranks. Claudio Ponce Aguilar gets the mount for trainer Daniel T. Uballe, Sr., and the 7/2 morning line is fair for a horse this far clear of most rivals on our model. In a 330-yard claiming sprint, experience matters — and Cie Hombre brings both the class and the consistency to win this.

place5Dm Sophie CartelML 4/1

Dm Sophie Cartel is the one horse in this field that jumps out from a career win percentage standpoint — 20% is the highest figure in the race, and that kind of conversion rate in the claiming ranks speaks to genuine ability and soundness. Luis L. Vivanco rides for trainer Kie Mushinski, and the 4/1 morning line is competitive. Our model puts this horse second at 74.79, and if Cie Hombre gets into any trouble off the break, Dm Sophie Cartel has the experience to capitalize.

show7Toxic DynastyML 9/2

Toxic Dynasty checks in at a 54.90 TrackWiz rating with a 10% career win rate — respectable numbers in this spot. Noe Villatoro takes the mount for trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III, a barn that also sends out Why Sippin On Monday in this same race, which is worth noting as a sign of confidence in multiple entries. At 9/2, Toxic Dynasty fits neatly as a show play or bottom-of-the-trifecta fill in what should be a fairly contested pace scenario.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 5

9:55 PM EDT

Maiden · 300 yd · Dirt

Maiden sprint at 300 yards with two horses standing well clear of the field in the TrackWiz ratings — this looks like a two-horse race at the top with a competitive battle for the show spot among the next tier.

win8Jess So FlyML 5/2

Jess So Fly posts an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — the highest mark in this field and matching the top score seen across multiple races today. Noe Villatoro gets the call for trainer Adan Guzman, and at 5/2 on the morning line, the public agrees this is the one to beat. In a maiden sprint at 300 yards, an 87.81 rating with this kind of consistency in our model is about as confident a win selection as you'll find on this card.

place7Maxis Round UpML 7/2

Maxis Round Up rates out at 81.17 — a full 14 points behind Jess So Fly but more than 13 points ahead of the third-rated horse in the field, Race Queen. Luis L. Vivanco pilots this one for trainer Miguel Angel Medina, a combination worth watching at Retama. The 7/2 morning line is reasonable, and if Jess So Fly gets a tough trip or breaks poorly, Maxis Round Up has the profile to steal the win — at minimum, the place looks very secure.

show1Race QueenML 9/2

Race Queen rates third in the field at 67.45, a notable drop from the top two but a solid gap above the remaining seven entrants. Gilberto Linares rides for trainer Mario J. Loza, and the 9/2 morning line slots this horse in right around fair value for the show position. In maiden sprints, the show slot often goes to the most consistent pedigree in the field — Race Queen's ratings profile supports that role here.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 6

10:31 PM EDT

Maiden · 400 yd · Dirt

Stretching out to 400 yards in maiden company brings a slightly different test, and Cowboy Bob 123 pops as a rating standout at nearly 85 — but Decisive Eagle's 3/1 morning line suggests the public sees a genuine two-horse fight at the top.

win8Cowboy Bob 123ML 9/2

Cowboy Bob 123 leads the field with an 84.90 TrackWiz rating and is stepping up to 400 yards in this maiden spot — a distance that can favor horses with a touch more stamina and stride length. Gilberto Linares gets the mount for trainer John A. Stinebaugh, and despite the 9/2 morning line coming in a notch above the favorite, our model actually likes this horse best. The extra distance over prior 300-yard efforts could be exactly what unlocks this one.

place1Decisive EagleML 3/1

Decisive Eagle at 3/1 is the crowd's top choice and holds an 80.86 TrackWiz rating — fourth behind Cowboy Bob 123 in the overall field but strong enough to deserve the morning-line favoritism. Trainer Jose Ivan Martinez and jockey Olvin Josue Martinez team up — the same combination that runs regularly at Retama, which suggests a horse that's been well-prepared. At 400 yards, the race develops slightly more than a shorter sprint, and Decisive Eagle's profile fits the closer profile that could run into a place or even overtake at the wire.

show3Corona SlimML 7/2

Corona Slim at 7/2 is the third wheel in the top tier here, rating out at 55.83 for trainer Angel Sanchez with Arturo Alvarez aboard. That's a meaningful drop from the top two on our model, but in a maiden field this spread out, third-best is often good enough to hit the board. At 7/2 morning line odds, Corona Slim offers trifecta value and is a logical show play for bettors looking to structure a key exacta.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 7

10:57 PM EDT

Maiden · 300 yd · Dirt

A maiden 300-yarder that's tighter at the top than it looks — This Is Marshall and Lil Ferrari Wagon are separated by less than three points in the TrackWiz ratings, setting up what could be a genuine duel with A Flash of Paint lurking as a live third option.

win4This Is MarshallML 6/1

This Is Marshall tops our model for this race at 82.71 but at a 6/1 morning line, the public isn't fully buying it yet — which is exactly the kind of spot where TrackWiz analysis finds value. Gilberto Linares gets the mount for trainer Winston Lewis, and a horse rated this high opening at 6/1 in a maiden sprint deserves serious win consideration. If the break goes cleanly in a 300-yard dash, there may not be time for anyone to catch up.

place2Lil Ferrari WagonML 3/1

Lil Ferrari Wagon sits at a 79.75 TrackWiz rating — just three points behind This Is Marshall — and comes in as the public's morning-line favorite at 3/1, which tells you the local crowd has done its homework on this one. Luis L. Vivanco rides for trainer Brittany N. Tellez, and a 3/1 favorite who rates second on our model is a comfortable place pick for conservative bettors. If this horse has the better break, there's no reason Lil Ferrari Wagon can't flip the order and take the win outright.

show9A Flash of PaintML 9/2

A Flash of Paint at 9/2 checks in at 65.18 on our model — a solid 14-point cushion above the fourth-rated horse in the race. Claudio Ponce Aguilar takes the call for trainer Phillip L. Shumake, and while this one isn't threatening the top two in our ratings, the gap between third and the rest of the field is wide enough to feel comfortable about the show spot. Use A Flash of Paint to complete trifecta tickets — the gap in our ratings to the next tier makes the board spot look like a real probability.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 8

11:30 PM EDT

Allowance · 330 yd · Dirt

The lone allowance race on the card brings experienced horses with legitimate career win percentages, and a genuine value play lurks at double-digit odds in Giocosa — making this the most compelling exotic race of the night.

win2The Fiscal ChickML 3/1

The Fiscal Chick leads our model at 80.25 and carries a 10% career win rate in allowance company — a horse that's been competitive at this level before. Nestor Duran rides for trainer Esteban Rubio, and at 3/1 morning line, this is the public's top pick with our analysis firmly in agreement. In allowance sprints at 330 yards, class and consistency tend to win out — The Fiscal Chick checks both boxes.

place8GiocosaML 10/1

Giocosa is the value play of the night — a 10/1 morning line horse that rates out at 76.88 on our model, third-best in the entire field and just a few points off The Fiscal Chick at the top. Trainer J. Ryan Basham sends out Alejandro Landeros Zuniga, and a 7% career win rate in allowance company means this horse knows how to compete. At double-digit odds, Giocosa is a must-use in exactas and trifectas — this is the kind of overlay that can turn a winning ticket into a genuinely profitable one.

show10El DerechoML 6/1

El Derecho rounds out our top three at 75.87 on the TrackWiz model with a 14% career win rate — one of the stronger career conversion figures in this race. Luis L. Vivanco gets the mount for trainer Ben Olaveson, and that 14% mark tells you this horse doesn't need the perfect setup to hit the board. At 6/1, El Derecho is a legitimate show play and fits neatly in trifecta combinations — don't let the morning line price scare you off what our model sees as a genuine contender.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

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Bottom line for today at Retama: lean on early speed in the short sprints, keep an eye on how the 89°F heat plays into stamina for the 400-yard Race 6, and don't sleep on the value in the 6/1 morning line of This Is Marshall in Race 7. Our top free plays — Razzledazzleme, Momentym, and The Lost Princess — are the starting point, but the full eight-race picture is available to subscribers. Good luck out there, and as always, bet responsibly.

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