Daily Picks

Retama Park Picks & Predictions — August 6, 2026

Thursday, August 6, 20269 racesRetama Park

It's a blazing Thursday afternoon at Retama Park — 92°F under clear skies, and the quarter horse sprints are going to fly. Nine races are on the card today, dominated by short-format dirt sprints ranging from 250 yards all the way out to the 870-yard routes, giving bettors a nice mix of raw speed contests and class-sorting route challenges.

The heat is a real factor here. Fast, dry conditions typically favor horses with clean early speed — and at a track where most races are decided in under 18 seconds, gate sharpness is everything. TrackWiz analysis shows the bias today leans toward horses that break cleanly and can sustain through the first jump without burning out.

Three races are free to all readers today, including a pair of trials and a maiden route that give you a solid foundation before the premium card kicks in. Let's dig in.

Best Bets

Race 1

11:45 PM EDT

Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

A Trial sprint at 350 yards where two horses carry clear class separation — but the morning line favorite has the numbers to back it up, making this a question of who fills the minors.

win7Jvm Hot VictoriaML 2/1

Jvm Hot Victoria is the standout in this field by a comfortable margin, posting a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 — more than eight points clear of the next rival. That 2/1 morning line reflects legitimate respect from the morning line maker, and a 60% career win rate is elite for any quarter-horse runner at this level. Trainer Wendy Alejandra Garcia sends her out with Rosendo E. Pina Garcia in the irons, a pairing that looks sharp for a Trial format where gate speed and natural ability rule everything. Hard to find a reason to beat her on paper.

place3Cholula HML 9/2

Cholula H lands as our place pick with a solid 79.83 rating and a 9/2 morning line that offers real value if she runs to her number. Jose R. Herbert takes the mount for trainer Gilberto Gonzalez, and while her career win percentage isn't on record, her profile grades out as the second-best horse in the field by our model. In a Trial where hitting the board is the goal for connections, she should be competitive for a spot.

show2A Political RiskML 5/1

A Political Risk checks in at 70.10 on our ratings scale — a meaningful gap above the rest of the lower-tier entrants — and Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. is a capable pilot who gives her every chance. At 5/1 on the morning line, she represents a nice inclusion in exacta and trifecta tickets as a show/third-slot horse. Oscar Nunez sends her out ready, and in a Trial where only the top finishers advance, she should be competitive for third money.

Race 2

12:15 AM EDT

Futurity Trial · 350 yd · Dirt

This Futurity Trial features a tight duel at the top between two well-rated runners, with the rest of the field offering a steep drop-off — pace and gate break could decide the winner at 350 yards.

win6Tc AbaneroML 3/1

Tc Abanero tops our ratings at 87.08 and backs that up with a 33% career win rate — a strong number for a horse that's clearly been competitive at this level and higher. Nestor Duran gets the call from trainer Zackery N. Rios, and the 3/1 morning line feels fair given how much daylight there is between this horse and the bulk of the field. In a 350-yard Futurity Trial, it's nearly all gate and early burst, and Tc Abanero's profile suggests she has exactly that. Best bet of the race.

place7Miss ChilitosML 5/2

Miss Chilitos is the chief danger at 84.68 and will likely make this a genuine two-horse battle to the wire. Her 25% career win rate shows she's hit the board plenty, and Oliver E. Martinez riding for the active Jose Ivan Martinez barn is a combo worth noting — Martinez has multiple runners on the card today, suggesting a well-prepared stable. At 5/2 on the morning line, she's not a value play exactly, but she earns her spot in exacta coverage.

show2Flying G LitosML 9/2

Flying G Litos is our show pick at 9/2 and checks in with a 75.50 TrackWiz rating — a noticeable step above the rest of the field outside the top two. The 20% career win rate with Jose R. Herbert up for trainer Arnold Lewis gives this one some professional polish. She's a natural fit for trifecta construction and worth including on tickets at a price that's more than fair for a Futurity Trial slot.

Race 3

12:42 AM EDT

Maiden · 870 yd · Dirt

Maiden field at 870 yards with a clear class standout on top, but the place and show picks at longer prices make this race interesting for exotic players.

win4Eagle LeederML 5/2

Eagle Leeder carries the highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 87.81 — a commanding number in a Maiden race where many entrants have blank career records. Luis L. Vivanco hops on for trainer Nestor Santana Jr., and the 5/2 morning line suggests the market agrees this is the one to beat. The 870-yard distance is a test of stamina and early foot, and Eagle Leeder's rating profile says she has the tools to handle it. She's our most confident pick in the first three races.

place2Bok Black DiamondML 5/1

Bok Black Diamond rates second at 64.04 and lands at a generous 5/1 morning line for trainer John Boegner and jockey Victor Manuel Urieta Jr. In an all-maiden field where form is naturally thin, that rating advantage over the rest of the pack is meaningful. She doesn't need to beat Eagle Leeder to hit the board, just to hold off a cluster of lower-rated rivals — and the numbers say she should do exactly that.

show7Asc JettazoomML 8/1

Asc Jettazoom slots in at 63.54 on our scale, virtually neck-and-neck with the place pick, and comes in at 8/1 — that's real value for a show contender in an exotic ticket. Diego Contreras takes the mount for Jose Dolores Camacho, and if the pace gets contested early in this longer sprint, a horse with a solid rating who can settle and close has a live shot. At those odds, including her in trifecta coverage is a no-brainer.

The free portion of today's card opens with two trial sprints at 350 yards — the bread and butter of Retama racing. Jvm Hot Victoria (Race 1, 2/1 morning line, 88.54 TrackWiz rating) is the top-rated horse on the entire card and draws our strongest confidence marker for the day. In trial format, early separation is everything, and her rating suggests she has the edge to get there first. Race 2 brings Tc Abanero (3/1, 87.08) in the Futurity Trial — a deeper field that could offer some early value depending on how the pools shape up.

Race 3 stretches out to 870 yards in a Maiden dirt route, where Eagle Leeder (5/2, 87.81) stands out as the class of a green field. Maiden routes at this distance require a different profile than the sprint specialists — stamina and a clean trip matter more than pure gate speed. Eagle Leeder's rating holds up well against the competition, and the distance looks like a genuine fit.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

1:09 AM EDT

Claiming · 330 yd · Dirt

A deep ten-horse Claiming field at 330 yards where the top pick is a class standout on ratings, but our value play at 12/1 makes this race compelling for exotic bettors hunting a big trifecta score.

win10Super FreakeeML 4/1

Super Freakee enters with an 83.67 TrackWiz rating — the best in this field by a healthy margin — and a 33% career win rate that tells you she knows how to finish first. The 4/1 morning line is fair given the field size, and trainer Jose Ivan Martinez keeps a busy barn that runs horses ready to fire. Olvin Josue Martinez gets the mount from the outside-ish post of program number 10, and in a short 330-yard dash, clean gate clearance is the only thing that can derail her. She's our top pick in Race 4.

place7Til We Run OutofroadML 12/1

Til We Run Outofroad is the value play of this race at 12/1 on the morning line, carrying a 73.96 rating that would rank second in most fields on this card. The 33% career win rate is identical to several others in this field, but the rating separation and morning line price suggest she may be flying under the radar. Diego Contreras for trainer Jose Dolores Camacho is a workmanlike combination, and if Super Freakee draws any trouble at the break, this one could steal a big price in the exacta.

show3Leaving a DynastyML 5/1

Leaving a Dynasty rates at 65.91 and gets the services of Victor Manuel Urieta Jr. — one of the busiest and most capable jockeys on this card — for trainer Oscar Nunez. The 25% career win rate gives her some legitimacy, and at 5/1 she's a logical show inclusion on trifecta tickets. In a 330-yard claiming race, sometimes it's just about who breaks clean and runs straight, and this horse has the profile to deliver at a fair price.

Race 5

1:36 AM EDT

Claiming · 400 yd · Dirt

Two horses separate themselves clearly from a field of modest claimers at 400 yards — this looks like a match race at the top with legitimate value underneath for the show spot.

win7Lota More ThingsML 7/2

Lota More Things has the field's top rating at 86.35 and goes off at 7/2 on the morning line — reasonable value given the quality advantage our model sees. Alejandro Landeros Zuniga gets the call for trainer Isidro Mancillas-Lopez, and while the 11% career win rate isn't eye-popping, it reflects a horse that runs against tougher consistently. At 400 yards, early speed and a clean run matter most, and Lota More Things has the raw numbers to deliver both.

place8El Terco JessML 3/1

El Terco Jess is right there at 81.72 on our scale, making this essentially a two-horse race at the top of the field. The 10% career win rate and a 3/1 morning line suggest the market has noticed, and Jose Elias Villarreal aboard for trainer Arturo Archundia Garcia gives this one a capable pilot. If Lota More Things stumbles at the break, El Terco Jess is right there to steal the win — and in any case, the place is a near-certainty on current form.

show4Dyno ManML 6/1

Dyno Man checks in at 60.44 — a step below the top two but clearly ahead of the rest of the claiming field — and draws J.R. Ramirez Jr. for trainer Richard G. Washington. The 6/1 morning line offers genuine show value, and while a 2% career win rate is low, in a claiming race with a well-defined pace scenario, hitting the board for third is a much more realistic target. Solid inclusion for trifecta players looking to anchor the bottom of the ticket.

Race 6

2:03 AM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 870 yd · Dirt

A Starter Optional Claiming event at 870 yards where our top pick is undervalued at 9/2 despite the highest rating in the field — and a legitimate place contender at 3/1 makes the exacta worth building.

win8Dazzlin DramaML 9/2

Dazzlin Drama carries an 84.90 TrackWiz rating — the best in this eight-horse field — yet opens at 9/2 on the morning line, which looks like a price worth taking. Trainer Arnold Lewis has horses on multiple races today and clearly has a competitive string at this meet, and Eliazar T. Vera takes the mount. The 17% career win rate in what appears to be a competitive résumé is respectable for this class of Starter Optional Claiming. At 870 yards, pace management matters, and Dazzlin Drama's rating edge should translate.

place6Heza KvnML 3/1

Heza Kvn rates second at 75.08 and is actually the morning line favorite at 3/1, which tells you the handicappers like this one to win — but our model puts Dazzlin Drama a step ahead. Luis L. Vivanco is one of the most active and trusted riders on this card, and a 20% career win rate for trainer Angel Sanchez signals a horse who delivers when pointed at a spot. If the favorite fires, the exacta with Dazzlin Drama on top looks tasty.

show3Run Like Da DevilML 7/2

Run Like Da Devil brings a 64.23 rating and a 23% career win rate — that winning percentage is actually the best among the horses in the show conversation, suggesting she delivers when asked. J.R. Ramirez Jr. gets the mount for trainer Brian Stroud, and at 7/2 on the morning line, she's right in the thick of the pace discussion. Her profile as a horse who wins nearly one in four starts makes her a strong trifecta anchor, particularly in a route-style 870-yard race where ground-saving trips can pay off.

Race 7

2:30 AM EDT

Maiden · 250 yd · Dirt

A big ten-horse Maiden field at the short 250-yard distance — pure gate-and-go racing — where two horses stand above the rest on ratings but the show pick at 5/1 offers legitimate trifecta upside.

win1Ivory DesireML 7/2

Ivory Desire tops the field at 86.35 on our TrackWiz ratings scale and draws the rail in a race where the break is everything at 250 yards. Trainer Ysela Edytt Najera sends her out with Rigoberto Camarillo Ortega in the irons, and the 7/2 morning line offers value given the rating edge she holds. In a short-burst maiden race, a horse rated nearly five points above the nearest rival has a legitimate edge — and Ivory Desire should be in front from the jump.

place2Got Cartel CowboyML 5/2

Got Cartel Cowboy has a nearly identical rating to Ivory Desire at 81.71 and draws post 2, just outside the rail — an excellent spot in a 250-yard sprint where inside posts can clip heels on a tight turn. Noe Villatoro rides for trainer Adan Guzman, and the 5/2 morning line makes this the second choice — a price that reflects real respect. If Ivory Desire gets nipped at the break, Got Cartel Cowboy is right there to steal the win, and the exacta pairing of these two is the core of your ticket.

show6Jes MyluckML 5/1

Jes Myluck rates at 57.53 — a step below the top two but a meaningful gap above the rest of the ten-horse field — and opens at 5/1 for trainer Katie Carlos with Eleazar Rivera Hernandez aboard. In a maiden race at this distance, horses don't need to have a ton of seasoning; they just need to break clean and run straight for about twelve seconds. At 5/1, Jes Myluck's ratings edge over the lower half of the field makes her a strong show play and trifecta option.

Race 8

2:57 AM EDT

Allowance · 870 yd · Dirt

One of the better Allowance fields on the card at 870 yards, with four horses rated above 70 and a clear top pick at a fair price — the show spot at 10/1 is the most intriguing value angle of the race.

win2Thrill and FuryML 5/2

Thrill and Fury brings an 84.06 rating and a 22% career win rate — both near the top of this allowance field — and draws a favorable 5/2 morning line that reflects genuine market confidence. Froylan Tellez Ramirez rides for trainer Brittany N. Tellez, a family-operated pairing that often means the horse is pointed and ready for its best effort. At 870 yards on the dirt, this is a distance that rewards horses with ability to sustain speed, and Thrill and Fury's profile says she can do exactly that. Our top pick in Race 8.

place7Yippee Ki YeyML 9/2

Yippee Ki Yey rates at 82.22 and has a 14% career win rate — solid numbers in an allowance field — and goes at 9/2 on the morning line under Alejandro Medina for trainer Richard D. Sedillo. Sedillo also runs Fire Bolt B in this same race, which suggests he's competitive with both runners and may have a live second string. Yippee Ki Yey's rating puts her in genuine win contention, and the place is a very realistic outcome if Thrill and Fury gets her way on the front end.

show3Dm Special CatML 10/1

Dm Special Cat is the longshot angle here at 10/1 despite rating third in the field at 76.88 — that's a pricing inefficiency our model notices. Claudio Ponce Aguilar gets the call for trainer Kie Mushinski, and an 11% career win rate in what looks like an experienced résumé suggests she's a legitimate contender rather than a filler. At 870 yards, a horse with this rating profile who's been underestimated by the morning line is exactly the kind of trifecta play that pays well when it lands.

Race 9

3:24 AM EDT

Maiden · 300 yd · Dirt

A ten-horse Maiden sprint at 300 yards where the top-rated horse opens at 7/2 and there's a tight cluster of contenders between 70 and 86 on our ratings — pace scenario and gate luck will be decisive.

win2Big Sky CowboyML 7/2

Big Sky Cowboy carries an 86.35 TrackWiz rating — the best in this ten-horse maiden field — and gets Jose Amador Alvarez up for trainer Bradley C. Bolen, a trainer whose name appears in multiple spots on today's card. The 7/2 morning line is fair, though we'd argue there's slight value here given the rating gap between this horse and the next cluster. At 300 yards, the break is paramount, and a horse with this kind of class edge in a maiden field should be able to fire out of the gate and hold on.

place9I Am NmeML 3/1

I Am Nme rates at 72.80 and opens as the morning line second choice at 3/1 — a price that reflects market respect, and rightly so. Noe Villatoro gets the mount for trainer Adan Guzman, the same trainer-jockey combination that handles Got Cartel Cowboy in Race 7 today. In a maiden race where several horses have blank records, a horse with a 72+ rating and morning line attention is a legitimate place contender, and the exacta with Big Sky Cowboy looks like a logical play.

show4Zee RayML 5/1

Zee Ray slots in at 71.04 on our scale — just a tick below I Am Nme but miles ahead of the lower half of this field — and goes at 5/1 on the morning line with Nestor Duran in the saddle for trainer Mario J. Loza. Loza also runs Maxxe in this same race, showing the barn has multiple strings to its bow. At 5/1, Zee Ray's place in the rating hierarchy makes her a smart show play and worth including in trifecta tickets as the bottom piece under the top two.

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Today's headline plays are Jvm Hot Victoria in Race 1 and Eagle Leeder in Race 3 — both free, both well-supported by TrackWiz ratings, and both lining up nicely given the fast, dry surface. The premium card brings six more opportunities, with Thrill and Fury (Race 8) and Lota More Things (Race 5) among the names worth circling. For pace breakdowns, exotic strategies, and the full nine-race analysis, subscribers have everything waiting at TrackWiz Premium. Good luck out there — and stay hydrated, because it's going to be a hot one at Retama.

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