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Retama Park Picks & Predictions — July 25, 2026

July 25, 202612 racesAll Retama Park picks

It's a hot Saturday afternoon at Retama Park — partly cloudy skies and 91°F on the thermometer — and the quarter horses are ready to run. Twelve races are on the board today, ranging from maiden claimers at the lightning-quick 250-yard distance all the way up to the marquee events of the card: a Derby at 400 yards and a Futurity at 350 yards that figure to draw the sharpest attention from bettors and horsemen alike.

The heat is nothing new for San Antonio in late July, but it's worth keeping an eye on how the dirt plays as the afternoon wears on. Fast, firm conditions tend to favor horses with clean gate speed in these short sprints — and there's plenty of that on display today. With a mix of claimers, allowance races, and stakes-level action, there's something for every kind of player on this card.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:30 PM EDT

Claiming · 350 yd · Dirt

A seven-horse 350-yard claiming sprint with a clear TrackWiz ratings gap at the top — but Bonos Memories brings a jaw-dropping 40% career win rate that keeps this from being a chalk-it-and-move-on situation.

win6Train HoppinML 5/2

Train Hoppin heads this field with the top TrackWiz rating at 87.81, and trainer Joe Chapa doubles up in this race, which often signals stable confidence in a specific horse. At 5/2 on the morning line, the price is fair for the top-rated runner, and Ruben Delarosa, Jr. in the irons gives this a professional jockey/trainer combo worth respecting. In a short 350-yard dash, gate speed and early quickness are everything — and Train Hoppin's profile suggests it has the edge there.

place2Valiant Annee GlML 4/1

Valiant Annee Gl carries a 79.48 TrackWiz rating and a 15% career win rate, both of which hold up well against this field. Posted at 4/1, there's legitimate value if Train Hoppin gets into trouble at the break — in a field of seven going just 350 yards, fractions of a second at the gate can reshuffle the entire order.

show5San FranciscoML 7/2

San Francisco rates third in the field at 77.58 and draws post 5 at 7/2 on the morning line — a fair price for a horse with solid underlying numbers. Trainer Raul Rodriguez, Jr. has San Francisco in a spot where the pace scenario could set up for a clean, unobstructed run to the wire, making this a solid exotics anchor for trifecta coverage.

Race 2

11:56 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 400 yd · Dirt

Ten maidens going 400 yards on the dirt, and this field is as raw as they come — every horse in here is still looking for win number one, which makes the TrackWiz ratings separation between the top few and the rest of the pack the most reliable signal we have.

win4Fabulous ChanelML 2/1

Fabulous Chanel tops this maiden claiming field with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — the highest in the race by a comfortable margin — and the morning line of 2/1 reflects that the market agrees. Trainer Brittany N. Tellez puts Ruben Delarosa, Jr. aboard, a capable jockey who knows how to get a young horse out of the gate cleanly. In a 400-yard dash where every length counts, having the top-rated horse with a competent pilot is exactly the kind of situation you want to lead your ticket.

place10FortunistaML 9/2

Fortunista (No. 10) checks in with a 66.92 rating and draws a 9/2 morning line that offers legitimate place-ticket value. Trainer Adan Guzman places jockey H. Javier Hernandez up, and with a wide post — which in quarter horse racing can sometimes be a disadvantage — the place slot feels like the right expectation rather than reaching for the win.

show3Say When CowboyML 10/1

Say When Cowboy sits third in the ratings at 61.47 and is priced at 10/1 on the morning line, making this a genuine overlay situation if you're building exotics. Trainer Joseph D. Manucy pairs with top jockey Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr., and that combo gives this longshot-priced runner more upside than the odds suggest — worth including in trifecta and superfecta tickets for show coverage.

Race 3

12:22 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 250 yd · Dirt

Ten first-time-win seekers sprinting 250 yards — the shortest trip on the card — where it's essentially a coin flip at the break, but TrackWiz analysis shows a clear two-horse standout at the top separating from the rest of an evenly matched field.

win4Iceman WattersML 5/2

Iceman Watters rates at 87.81, the field's top number, and goes postward at 5/2 — which is right where you'd expect the top-rated runner in a 10-horse maiden field to be priced. Trainer Arnold Lewis sends out Oliver E. Martinez, who gets a live mount here with the best underlying profile in the race. At 250 yards, there's almost no margin for error — you need to break alertly and run straight, and Iceman Watters' rating profile suggests this horse is built for exactly that kind of quick-burst effort.

place2Mr King TonyML 3/1

Mr King Tony draws post 2 and rates a solid 76.70, second-best in the field, with Angel A. Fierro up for trainer Sergio Luis Lira. Inside post positions at short sprint distances can be an advantage when a horse breaks clean, and the 3/1 morning line suggests the market respects this runner. If Iceman Watters gets any sort of trouble, Mr King Tony has the profile to capitalize immediately.

show9Estrella HechiceraML 9/2

Estrella Hechicera slots third in the ratings at 69.04 and is offered at 9/2 on the morning line — fair value for a horse rated clearly ahead of the rest of the field. Trainer Rodolfo Sanchez sends out Noe Villatoro, and with six horses in this field rating below 50, Estrella Hechicera has a significant edge over the back half of the lineup, making it a safe show-ticket inclusion.

TrackWiz is unlocking the first three races on the card for all readers today. In Race 1 (350 yards, Claiming), Train Hoppin comes in at 5/2 on the morning line with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating — solid enough to command respect in a claiming sprint where gate breaks often decide everything. Race 2 shifts to 400 yards for a Maiden Claiming affair, and Fabulous Chanel tops our ratings at 88.54 with a 2/1 morning line — that's a horse worth watching closely, as the rating suggests she has a legitimate edge over this field. Race 3 drops back to the shortest distance of the day at 250 yards, where Iceman Watters (5/2, 87.81 rating) is our top pick in another Maiden Claiming tilt.

One thread connecting these three free picks: all three distances are pure reaction-time races where breaking cleanly from the gate matters as much as raw speed. On a warm, fast afternoon like this, expect consistent fractions and little margin for error. These early races set the tone — use them to get a feel for which side of the track is playing fastest before you start building your exotic tickets.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

12:48 AM EDT

Claiming · 250 yd · Dirt

A wide-open 250-yard claiming sprint with ten horses and a legitimate three-way battle at the top of the TrackWiz ratings — the favorite on the morning line is NOT the top-rated horse, which creates an interesting value dynamic.

win7Justice MelodyML 5/1

Justice Melody (No. 7) rates 82.23 — tops in this field — yet is priced at 5/1 on the morning line while No Limits Eagle goes off at 5/2. That kind of ratings-to-odds discrepancy is exactly the value angle TrackWiz analysis hunts for. Trainer Janessa Lee Muniz hands the reins to Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr., one of the busiest and most reliable jockeys on this circuit, and a 11% career win rate gives this horse legitimate experience to draw on.

place1No Limits EagleML 5/2

No Limits Eagle owns a 16% career win rate — tied for the field's best among horses with recorded wins — and rates 79.62, just behind our top pick. Trainer Joseph D. Manucy has J.R. Ramirez, Jr. aboard, and the 5/2 morning line makes this the public choice. As a place horse, No Limits Eagle makes a lot of sense: top jockey, proven win rate, and enough class to hit the board even if Justice Melody gets to the front first.

show5Mf Heir Force WonML 4/1

Mf Heir Force Won carries a 72.14 rating and a 16% career win rate — matching No Limits Eagle's career percentage — at 4/1. Trainer Jorge Rivas Correa places Luis Angel Maldonado up, and with the show slot available in a ten-horse field, this horse's solid ratings number and win history make it a logical trifecta piece. Don't sleep on the value here at 4/1 in the exotics.

Race 5

1:14 AM EDT

Claiming · 350 yd · Dirt

The 350-yard claiming field in Race 5 features an eye-popping anomaly — Zooming Chilitos shows a 100% career win rate — but TrackWiz ratings tell a different story at the top, setting up an interesting overlay situation for sharp bettors.

win7Eagle ZoomingML 5/2

Eagle Zooming tops the TrackWiz ratings at 71.98 and goes at 5/2 on the morning line, representing the field's best analytical profile for a 350-yard dash. Trainer Joseph D. Manucy gets J.R. Ramirez, Jr. aboard — a high-activity jockey who is well-suited for short-sprint tracks where gate instincts matter most. At 6% career wins, this is a horse still building its record, but the current ratings edge is what drives the selection.

place1Corona for ChampML 5/1

Corona for Champ rates 71.91 — essentially a dead heat with Eagle Zooming at the top of the ratings — and posts at 5/1, which is where the value starts to emerge. Trainer Mario J. Loza puts Gilberto Linares up, and a 11% career win rate gives this runner legitimate credentials. If the pace scenario tightens up between the top two, Corona for Champ has the profile to slide in for place honors.

show4Time for ChilitosML 10/1

Time for Chilitos comes in at 64.11 — third-best in the field — and the 10/1 morning line is a legitimately attractive price for a horse rated this clearly above the lower half of the lineup. Trainer Jose Ivan Martinez has this runner in a spot where the pace could set up perfectly if the top horses tangle, and at double-digit odds, Time for Chilitos is worth including in exacta and trifecta coverage.

Race 6

1:40 AM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 550 yd · Dirt

Seven maiden claimers stretch out to 550 yards — the longest trip on tonight's card outside of Race 8 — and one horse separates itself significantly from the field in the TrackWiz ratings, making this a straightforward best-bet situation despite the maiden conditions.

win1Jm RoseML 5/2

Jm Rose rates 87.81, a full 22 points clear of the second-best horse in the field — that's a dominant margin in any ratings model. Trainer Joe Chapa, who doubles up tonight with another live runner in Race 1, puts Ruben Delarosa, Jr. in the saddle, and that's a sharp jockey/trainer duo at this level. The 5/2 morning line is actually fair considering this is a maiden race — and at 550 yards, a horse with genuine class separation can put rivals away in the final stretch.

place3Rg Jes a Freakn CashML 3/1

Rg Jes a Freakn Cash rates 65.84, second in the field, and draws a 3/1 morning line under trainer Janessa Lee Muniz with Randy Edison Jr. up. At 550 yards, pace endurance matters more than in the shorter dashes, and a second-place rating in this field is more than enough to justify a place-ticket investment. This runner profiles as the logical main threat to Jm Rose.

show5Eye of PatrickML 7/2

Eye of Patrick slots in at 60.24 on the ratings and goes at 7/2 with J.R. Ramirez, Jr. aboard for trainer Bobby Needham, Jr. — solid connections at a solid price. In a seven-horse maiden field going longer than usual, the show position opens up considerably, and Eye of Patrick's ratings profile gives it a clear edge over the bottom half of this lineup. A useful trifecta fill at a fair price.

Race 7

2:06 AM EDT

Maiden · 330 yd · Dirt

A wide-open ten-horse maiden field at 330 yards where the top-rated horse is NOT the morning line favorite — Eyesa Got It rates highest but Big Sky Cowboy is the public's choice at 5/2, creating a classic value situation for analytical handicappers.

win1Eyesa Got ItML 7/2

Eyesa Got It rates 86.35 — the field's best number — yet is priced at 7/2 while the morning line favorite goes off shorter. That's the kind of discrepancy that TrackWiz analysis is built to find. Trainer Jesse E. Ramos puts Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr. up, and in a 330-yard sprint where the best-rated horse often simply runs by the field, getting the top number at a price above the favorite is exactly the overlay angle handicappers dream about.

place9Big Sky CowboyML 5/2

Big Sky Cowboy rates 69.65 and carries the public's confidence at 5/2 on the morning line with trainer Bradley C. Bolen sending out Jose Amador Alvarez. The place slot fits well here — this runner has the second-best ratings number in the field and morning line support, and in a wide-open maiden sprint, finding the board is a realistic outcome even if Eyesa Got It runs them all down.

show7Mr Bordertown BuzzML 4/1

Mr Bordertown Buzz checks in at 67.83 — third in the ratings — and posts at 4/1 with Ruben Delarosa, Jr. riding for trainer Antwain Ernest Franklin. Delarosa is one of the more active jockeys on this card tonight, and putting him on the third-best-rated horse in a maiden sprint at 4/1 represents solid show-ticket value. Worth including on your trifecta tickets as the third wheel.

Race 8

2:32 AM EDT

Allowance · 550 yd · Dirt

The allowance field at 550 yards brings out a more seasoned group, and while a couple of horses bring eye-catching career win percentages, TrackWiz analysis points to one horse with a dominant ratings edge over a wide-open supporting cast.

win5Pull a CorkML 7/2

Pull a Cork rates 86.35 — the field's top number by a meaningful margin — and lands a very reasonable 7/2 on the morning line with Francisco Calderon in the irons for trainer Esteban Rubio. A 10% career win rate in allowance company is respectable, and at 550 yards, class and stamina matter more than in the shorter dashes. This is a horse whose profile fits the distance and the condition of the race.

place7Ivory in the WindML 9/2

Ivory in the Wind rates 66.67 and brings a 20% career win rate — one of the better figures in this field — at 9/2 on the morning line. Trainer Isidro Mancillas-Lopez sends out Alejandro Landeros Zuniga, and the combination of a solid win rate and strong ratings in a distance where pace endurance is rewarded makes Ivory in the Wind a logical place-ticket play. This horse has consistently converted its chances.

show3Tactical FeatureML 5/1

Tactical Feature rates 60.24, third in the field, and goes at 5/1 with Eliazar T. Vera aboard for trainer Arnold Lewis — who has multiple runners tonight and knows this circuit well. The 550-yard trip rewards horses that run through the finish line, and Tactical Feature's ratings profile keeps it ahead of the majority of this field. A solid third-wheel option for trifecta coverage.

Race 9

2:58 AM EDT

Allowance · 400 yd · Dirt

Ten allowance runners going 400 yards, and one horse runs away with the ratings at the top — Who Wants Too Fancy separates from this field by a wide margin, setting up as a potential single on multi-race wagers.

win2Who Wants Too FancyML 3/1

Who Wants Too Fancy rates 87.08 — the highest in the field and a significant gap over the second-rated horse at 65.67. The 3/1 morning line is very fair for that kind of ratings dominance, and trainer Jorge Rivas Correa puts H. Javier Hernandez up, an active and capable jockey on this circuit. A 7% career win rate may look modest, but in allowance company, the current form and ratings profile are what matter most, and those numbers scream value.

place3Chile PiquinML 9/2

Chile Piquin rates 65.67 and goes at 9/2 on the morning line with Jose R. Herbert in the saddle for trainer Zackery N. Rios. This horse is solidly positioned as the second-best analytical option in the field, and at a price that offers genuine place-ticket value, Chile Piquin is worth including on exacta and trifecta tickets below the top pick.

show6Cholula Sinn FeinML 5/1

Cholula Sinn Fein rates 64.51 — virtually deadlocked with Chile Piquin at third in the field — and posts at 5/1 with Arturo Alvarez up for trainer Angel Sanchez. A 14% career win rate is one of the better marks in this field, and at 5/1, there's real value in using this horse for show coverage or as a third wheel in your trifecta underneath the two top picks.

Race 10

3:24 AM EDT

Derby · 400 yd · Dirt

Tonight's Derby at 400 yards features the best overall class of the card, with several horses bringing elite career win percentages — Royalist is the public choice, but Ring a Ling Ding and The Valiant Flame could easily complicate the exacta.

win5RoyalistML 2/1

Royalist tops the TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 — the field's best number — and carries a 36% career win rate, which is exceptional in any form of racing. Trainer Ben Olaveson puts Luis L. Vivanco aboard, and the 2/1 morning line reflects the public's awareness of this horse's credentials. In a Derby where class and consistency matter above all, Royalist checks every box our analysis looks for.

place4Ring a Ling DingML 9/2

Ring a Ling Ding rates 84.9 — very close behind Royalist — and brings a remarkable 41% career win rate, the best in the field among horses with substantial starts. Trainer Richard D. Sedillo sends out Nestor Duran, and at 9/2 on the morning line, this is a horse that could easily win this race on career numbers alone. The place slot feels almost conservative — this is a legitimate contender to beat the favorite.

show8The Valiant FlameML 5/1

The Valiant Flame rates 78.91 and delivers an eye-opening 37% career win rate for trainer Brian Stroud with Jose R. Herbert up at 5/1. In a Derby field where experience and winning habits matter, a 37% career win rate is exactly the kind of stat that earns a spot in your exacta and trifecta coverage. Don't let the 5/1 price fool you — this horse has proven it knows how to win.

Race 11

3:50 AM EDT

Futurity · 350 yd · Dirt

The Futurity is the night's marquee event — young horses, high stakes, and a field loaded with eye-popping win percentages, including two horses at 100% career records, setting up a fascinating battle between the undefeated and the highly rated.

win1Cowboys FlyingML 9/5

Cowboys Flying rates 88.83 — the best number on the entire card tonight — and carries a 100% career win rate. Trainer Ramiro Barajas Villarreal, who also saddles Whoopie Cowgirl in this race, doubles up with obvious confidence in Cowboys Flying as the stable's primary runner. At 9/5, this is a short price, but when you're dealing with a perfect record and the top TrackWiz rating in the field, the favorite deserves to be favored. Nestor Duran gets the call and is well-suited to a 350-yard dash.

place4Whoopie CowgirlML 4/1

Whoopie Cowgirl rates 77.70 — second-best in the field — and brings a 60% career win rate, which is extraordinary even by Futurity standards. Trainer Ramiro Barajas Villarreal doubles up here alongside Cowboys Flying, which tells you the barn is confident this horse can also hit the board. Francisco Calderon rides, and at 4/1, there's genuine value in a horse with a 60% win rate that the same trainer is running against their top pick.

show8Apollitical CowboyML 9/2

Apollitical Cowboy rates 75.74 and carries a 40% career win rate at 9/2 on the morning line with Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. aboard for trainer Isidro Hinojosa. Three horses in this field bring better ratings, but Apollitical Cowboy's 40% career win rate shows this is a horse that consistently converts — and in a ten-horse Futurity field, finding the board at 9/2 is a realistic and valuable outcome for trifecta players.

Race 12

4:16 AM EDT

Allowance · 400 yd · Dirt

The final allowance race of the night at 400 yards features a tight battle at the top of the ratings between two horses separated by just 0.21 points — Chiliz Cartel and Apollitical Lelo are essentially co-favorites on analytics, but the morning line diverges in a way that creates a clear value angle.

win9Chiliz CartelML 4/1

Chiliz Cartel rates 85.62 — the field's top number, albeit barely — and goes at 4/1 on the morning line, while the horse rated virtually identical to it is priced at 5/2. That price discrepancy is the value story here. Trainer Jose Luis Sanchez III puts Claudio Ponce Aguilar up, and a 22% career win rate in allowance company is a solid credential. When the top-rated horse is priced higher than its near-equal competitor, that's where TrackWiz analysis finds its edge.

place7Apollitical LeloML 5/2

Apollitical Lelo rates 85.41 — just 0.21 points behind Chiliz Cartel — and carries a 30% career win rate, the field's best by a wide margin among the top-rated horses. Trainer Juan Isidro Cantu puts Gilberto Linares aboard at 5/2, making this the morning line choice, and the 30% win rate backs that public confidence up with real data. This is a legitimate win contender priced to be the favorite — include it on top of your exactas.

show3Mr HocksML 7/2

Mr Hocks rates 74.35 — a notable step below the top two but well ahead of the rest — and brings a 20% career win rate at 7/2 for trainer Sergio Luis Lira with H. Javier Hernandez up. Hernandez is one of the card's most active jockeys tonight, and putting him on the third-best-rated horse in an allowance field at 7/2 gives you a solid show-position anchor for trifecta coverage at a more than fair price.

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Between the heat, the short sprints, and two stakes-level races anchoring the back half of the card, today at Retama Park has all the ingredients for a fun betting day. Train Hoppin, Fabulous Chanel, and Iceman Watters headline our free picks — but the real prizes are deeper in the card. Get the full breakdown, including our Derby and Futurity analysis, with a TrackWiz subscription at /pricing.

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