Retama Park Picks & Predictions — July 31, 2026

Shez a Smokeshoww is the clear second-choice in our TrackWiz analysis with a 62.20 rating — a meaningful step ahead of the third-best horse — and goes at a fair 7/2 on the morning line. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh puts Rosendo E. Pina Garcia aboard, a combination that has options on the card today. In a race where the winner's circle is up for grabs, this filly's ratings profile makes her the natural place contender.

Checkout Shala grades out at 47.95 — third-best in the field — and offers some value at 9/2 for show purposes given the wide-open nature of the bottom half of this field. Trainer John Boegner keeps a presence throughout today's card, and Jose M. Gonzales-Corral takes the mount. In a 400-yard maiden sprint with ten runners, the chaos of the start can create scramble scenarios that put mid-tier horses in the money.

Gold Heart Six checks in at 82.61 — second-best in the field by a healthy margin — and goes at 9/2, making it a legitimate value on the place side. Trainer J. W. Plunkett sends out Eliazar T. Vera, and in a race where most of the field sits in the 28–55 rating range, this horse is clearly in a class of its own as the second contender. Don't let the 9/2 price fool you — this horse belongs on every ticket.

Obonato posts a 55.83 rating, the third-best figure in this field, and draws a fair 7/2 on the morning line from trainer John A. Stinebaugh. Jockey Ali Rivera takes the mount, and while this barn is deep on today's card, this particular horse has the numbers to back up a show inclusion. In a sprint as short as 300 yards, gate speed rules and having a third horse with a strong ratings edge over the rest of the field is a plus.

Cowboys Love Ladys pairs a 55.83 rating with the hot jockey-trainer combo of Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. and Oscar Nunez — a barn that has shown up loaded on this card. Going at 7/2, the price is right for a place ticket on a horse whose ratings profile puts it solidly in the top tier of this wide-open field. In an ultra-short sprint, this one should be competitive from the gate.

Koppers Cliff rates at 55.00, tied for third-best in the field, and goes at 4/1 with trainer Angel Sanchez and jockey Luis L. Vivanco. Vivanco has been getting calls throughout this program, which speaks to his current form at Retama. As a show play in a ten-horse field at 250 yards — where chaos is part of the deal — Koppers Cliff at 4/1 is a reasonable hedge with a legitimate ratings foundation.

The King Karver rates at 56.26 — second-best in this field — and offers a solid 9/2 price for place purposes. Trainer John Boegner gets another runner on the board through jockey Jose M. Gonzales-Corral, and the Boegner barn has been competitive all afternoon. If the top pick gets shuffled back in a ten-horse break, this one has the numbers to be running past horses late.

Geared Down checks in at 51.67 and goes at 6/1, making it an appealing show option for trifecta players who want some upside in the bottom slot. Trainer Samantha A. Pena sends Aniceto Gomez, who has been steady throughout this card. In a 400-yard maiden sprint with ten horses all leaving the gate together, the show payoff on a 6/1 shot could be worth chasing.

Absolutes Cartel is the public's morning-line second choice at 5/2 with a 57.50 rating, and trainer Mario J. Loza sends out Nestor Duran. There's a gap between Talego Stone's rating and Absolutes Cartel's, but in a 300-yard maiden race where every horse breaks simultaneously, that gap can close in a heartbeat. This one makes for a natural place play, and at 5/2, the ticket is straightforward.

One Pyc Fancy rates at 54.17 and goes at 9/2, slotting neatly into the third-best ratings position in a nine-horse field. Trainer Marc E. Jungers keeps Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr. in the irons — another active combo throughout today's program. For trifecta builders, One Pyc Fancy is a sensible show inclusion that has the ratings to justify the spot without breaking the bank.

Flaxen is essentially a dead heat with our win pick at 64.30 on the TrackWiz scale — less than a tenth of a point separates these two — and goes at a generous 10/1 on the morning line. Trainer J. Ryan Basham puts Rigoberto Camarillo Ortega aboard, and this one is flying under the radar despite having the second-best rating in the field. That 10/1 price on a horse with legitimate top-tier ratings is exactly the kind of value play that makes maiden sprints worth handicapping carefully.

Soaring Lark 123 rates at 57.50 — third-best in the field — and is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 despite sitting below both of our top picks on the ratings sheet. Trainer Noe R. Sanchez sends Arturo Alvarez to ride, and the public clearly has this one in their wheelhouse. For show purposes, the ratings foundation is there, and this horse rounds out a solid trifecta bottom.

Klass Action rates at 72.18 and carries a 20% career win rate — both solid numbers for the place slot in an allowance field. Trainer Marc E. Jungers doubles up in this race, which means the barn is doubly invested in the outcome — a confidence signal worth noting. At 5/2, the place price won't wow you, but Klass Action has the profile of a horse that consistently hits the board, and the Jungers connection is hard to dismiss.

Flying Lil Sashay offers the most intriguing secondary angle at 7/2 with a 66.93 rating and a 30% career win rate — third-best in the field on both metrics. Trainer Mario J. Loza puts Nestor Duran in the irons, and a horse that wins 30% of the time is no slouch in allowance company. For trifecta players, this one makes a compelling show inclusion at a price that offers real upside.

Texis Cash Jess rates at 54.95 and goes at 8/1 on the morning line — a meaningful price for a horse sitting in a clear second tier in this field. Trainer Carlos A. Fierro puts Luis L. Vivanco in the irons, and Vivanco has been getting live mounts all night. In a ten-horse maiden sprint, the pace can get messy, and a horse with this kind of ratings buffer over the lower portion of the field has a genuine shot to run into the exacta.

Adieu rates at 54.17 — very close to our place pick — and draws 9/2 on the morning line with trainer Alfred A. Aparicio and jockey Eliazar T. Vera. Vera has been steady throughout tonight's card and brings experience to a horse making its way in maiden company. For players looking to construct trifectas in this closing race, Adieu sits in a logical third position based on ratings and offers a fair price to balance out a ticket.