Retama Park Picks & Predictions — August 20, 2026

Sensational Sinner is an interesting place play at 4/1 with a rating of 76.45 — second best in the field and well clear of everyone except the top pick. Trainer Mario J. Loza puts up Gilberto Linares, and the 4/1 morning line reflects genuine support. If Jess Sissy Cartel stumbles out of the gate or encounters any trouble in this short sprint, Sensational Sinner is well-positioned to grab the runner-up spot.

Mj Watters fills out the trifecta key at 9/2 with a rating of 74.41 — third-best in this maiden field and only separated from Sensational Sinner by two points. Trainer Francisco Perez, Jr. hands the reins to Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr., and the odds suggest the public sees something here too. In a maiden race where any given horse could underperform, having three closely grouped ratings at the top gives the trifecta real structure.

Mas Amor is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 with a rating of 57.50, making her a logical place play behind our top pick. Trainer Jose M. Farias sends out H. Javier Hernandez, a jockey who has multiple rides today and clearly knows this circuit. The gap between Miss Abril and Mas Amor is narrow enough that a slight edge off the gate could swap their finishing positions — which is exactly why Mas Amor is a solid place bet.

Texis Cash Jess is a sneaky show play at 10/1 with a rating of 55.94 — only two points behind the place pick and hidden in a field that doesn't separate cleanly. Trainer Carlos A. Fierro puts Angel A. Fierro up, another family-connected entry worth noting. At 10/1 in the exotics, Texis Cash Jess gives your trifecta tickets a healthy overlay if the top two finish ahead but a longshot sneaks into third.

Cedar Post sits in a comfortable spot at 4/1 with a rating of 55.00, good enough for third-best in a tightly bunched mid-field. Trainer Janessa Lee Muniz gives the call to Olvin Josue Martinez, who shows up multiple times on today's card. If Iceman Watters does his job on the front end, Cedar Post looks like the most likely survivor in the scramble for second.

Dulces Hero opens at 9/2 with a rating of 53.35 — tied with Flyn Honey Senator for fourth in the field — but gets the nod over that rival based on a slight edge in our model's overall profile. Trainer Zackary Stinebaugh sends out Rosendo E. Pina Garcia, a quieter combo in this field. In a 300-yard dash where a bad break can end a race before it starts, Dulces Hero's rating is solid enough to land on the board in a competitive finish.

Rc Said Cap Em is separated from the top pick by just 0.12 rating points (86.23 vs. 86.35), making this essentially a dead heat on paper — and that's exactly why the place spot is so apt. Trainer J.W. Plunkett sends out Eliazar T. Vera at 5/2 on the morning line. If you're playing exactas, boxing these two is a must — the difference between them is razor-thin and either could win.

Eagle Desire brings a rating of 70.75 to the table at 5/1, a meaningful step below the top two but well clear of the rest of this maiden field. Trainer Joseph D. Manucy hands the reins to Lucas Constantin, who also rides Music Maestro earlier on the card. Eagle Desire's third-place slot in our ratings makes her the most logical show play and a useful bottom leg on trifecta tickets built around the top two.

Lorenzita is a solid place play at 7/2 with a rating of 55.83 — second-best in the field and a comfortable distance ahead of the third-place cluster. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh gives the mount to Gilberto Linares. If Adieu runs her race cleanly, Lorenzita has the profile to hold off the rest of the field for the runner-up spot.

Jess Send Her rounds out our ticket at 9/2 with a 54.17 rating — only 1.66 points behind Lorenzita, making this a very tight call for the third spot. Trainer Raul Ramirez deploys Oliver E. Martinez, who is on multiple mounts today and is comfortable on this circuit. The 9/2 morning line offers solid value in the show slot and makes Jess Send Her an attractive addition to trifecta and exacta part-wheels.

Eyesa Got It runs a close second in our ratings at 84.90 — only 0.72 points behind Big Sky Cowboy — and opens at 9/2, making this another near-coin-flip at the top. Trainer Jesse E. Ramos deploys Raul Padilla Hernandez, Jr., a jockey with experience on today's Retama card. The narrow rating gap between the top two means exacta boxes involving both horses should be near the top of any ticket structure here.

Maxis Round Up offers a different angle as the 5/2 morning-line second choice with a rating of 74.09 — third in the field but priced like a contender. Trainer Miguel Angel Medina gives the call to Luis L. Vivanco, and the public clearly sees value here at a price that seems tighter than our model suggests. If the top two outrun their ratings, Maxis Round Up is well-positioned to snag the show spot and could even push for more.

Going for Gold brings an 80.43 rating and a 10% career win percentage to the table at 7/2 on the morning line. Trainer Adan Guzman gives the mount to Noe Villatoro, one of the more active jockeys on today's program. At a distance that stretches to 440 yards, horses that close well have extra value, and Going for Gold's profile suggests she's a legitimate threat to hit the board behind the top selection.

Goliath Stone is a credible show play at 9/2 with a 63.97 rating — third-best in the field — and a 11% career win percentage that shows he can compete at this level. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh saddles Ali Rivera in a combination that's familiar with the Retama circuit. In a 440-yard allowance where pace can get complicated, Goliath Stone's overall profile makes him a reliable third-leg option in trifecta tickets.