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Full card analysis on every Thistledown race, AI ratings on every runner, and SmartBet ticket construction.
Free Thistledown Picks & Predictions
Thistledown is an all-dirt track, racing from 5 fur to 1 1/4 mi, with fields averaging 7.1 starters. Every card gets free picks on selected races plus a full-card breakdown for subscribers — 75 Thistledown sheets published so far.
Latest Thistledown Free Picks
Thistledown is not racing today. Below are the free picks from the last Thistledown card, September 10, 2026.
Race 1
Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt
Two horses stand well above the field on TrackWiz ratings in this one-mile dirt claimer, setting up a potential top-two exacta between a morning-line favorite and a live 3/1 shot — with a possible 8/1 overlay lurking underneath.
Valiant Strike is the clear top selection here with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54, the highest in the field, and a career win rate of 20% that stands out in a claiming field like this. Trainer Robert C. Cline sends him out at 2/1 on the morning line, which feels fair given how far he separates from the rest of the pack on our model. Jockey Victor R. Fernandez gets the call, and the one-mile dirt route looks like a solid fit. At the morning line price, there's not a ton of overlay, but the profile is clean — this horse should be right there at the top of the stretch.
Kettle Coalmine comes in with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating — just a tick below the top pick — and actually carries the best average speed figure (54) in the race. Trainer Rodney C. Faulkner puts David J. Haldar up at 3/1, and with that speed edge on dirt, this one could easily be the one pressing the pace and holding for a piece. A solid place ticket at a price that still offers some value.
Vecchi at 8/1 is the interesting underneath piece here. His TrackWiz rating of 74.85 actually clears most of the field outside the top two, and Jose A. Bracho is a capable hand in the irons. At morning-line odds of 8/1, if the top two battled early and Vecchi has a stalker profile, there's real show-ticket upside here for exotic players looking to widen their coverage.
Race 2
Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt
A one-mile allowance with a clear form standout at the top but genuine depth underneath — Nava's Gold's 44% career win rate makes the middle of the ticket more interesting than the top.
Classy Disposition tops our TrackWiz model at 88.83 and goes to the gate at a fairly short 9/5 morning line, which signals the clockers and connections are confident. Her 32% career win rate is strong for this level, and trainer Benny R. Feliciano keeps it in the family with Ricardo Feliciano aboard — those tight connections often signal a horse ready to fire. At a mile on dirt, this looks like a horse being asked at the right time.
Don't overlook Nava's Gold at 2/1 — a 44% career win rate is genuinely elite for any level and suggests this horse knows how to finish in front. Trainer James R. Jackson ships him in with Luis Raul Rivera up, and an 81.48 TrackWiz rating is more than good enough to hit the board in this spot. If the favorite underperforms, this one is the most likely beneficiary.
Buckeye Cruiser is the show value play at 6/1 with a 35% career win rate that is second-best in the race. Fernando Salazar Becerra takes the mount for trainer David Wolochuk, and while the 67.83 TrackWiz rating doesn't put this horse in the top tier, a third-place finish at this price would pay nicely. Definitely worth including in trifecta tickets as a third wheel behind the top two.
Race 3
Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt
The morning-line favorite and the TrackWiz top-rated horse are different horses in this five-runner claimer, which creates an interesting tension at the top — the model loves The Miracle Kiut, while the form book may lean elsewhere.
The Miracle Kiut tops our TrackWiz ratings at 88.83 and goes out at 9/5 on the morning line — so at least the market and our model are aligned here. Trainer Nestor R. Rivera gets Jose A. Bracho in the irons, a capable jockey at this level. A 25% career win rate in a five-horse field is encouraging, and a 53 average speed figure on dirt over a mile gives this horse the tools to control the pace and hold on.
Pretty Patty is a serious threat at 5/1 and our second-ranked horse in the race at a 79.96 TrackWiz rating. What jumps out is the 54 average speed figure — best in the field — which could be the difference in the stretch run. Trainer Saul M. Morales sends her out with Fernando Salazar Becerra, and a 33% career win rate says this horse competes consistently. She's the one to beat if the top pick stumbles.
Elopedatthederby rounds out our ticket at 5/2 with a 75.78 TrackWiz rating and a 23% career win rate. Trainer Robert C. Cline is a familiar name on today's card with a solid book of horses, and Mauro Cedillo is a reliable rider at this level. At 5/2 there's not huge value, but in a five-horse field with a short-priced top choice, making sure you have this one in your tickets is just good ticket construction.
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About the Thistledown Racing Surface
- Surfaces
- Dirt
- Distance range
- 5 fur to 1 1/4 mi
- Typical field
- 7.1 starters
- Typical card
- 8 races
Most common race conditions at Thistledown: Claiming, Allowance, Maiden Special Weight, Maiden Claiming.
Measured across the last 24 Thistledown cards we have handicapped.
Thistledown Results & Payouts
Official finishing order and mutuel payouts for September 3, 2026.
Race 1
| Fin | # | Horse | Jockey | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Go West7/2 | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | $10.60 | $3.40 | $2.40 |
| 2 | 1 | Colonel Vargo5/2 | Jason Simpson | — | $2.80 | $2.10 |
| 3 | 3 | Big Prankster3/1 | Luis Raul Rivera | — | — | $2.20 |
| 4 | 5 | Aye Aye Sir12/1 | Erik Barbaran | — | — | — |
| 5 | 4 | Liltonytwophones6/1 | Chelsey Keiser | — | — | — |
| 6 | 7 | Zippin Gigi9/2 | Jose A. Bracho | — | — | — |
Exotic payouts
- $1 Exacta 6-1 paid $13.10
- $0.50 Trifecta 6-1-3 paid $9.75
- $0.20 Superfecta 6-1-3-5 paid $28.96
Race 2
| Fin | # | Horse | Jockey | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Need to Know Basis9/2 | Alexander Chavez | $11.60 | $5.40 | $3.60 |
| 2 | 3 | Check the Facts3/1 | Angel I. Diaz | — | $11.40 | $7.00 |
| 3 | 1 | Mister Mobil5/2 | T. D. Houghton | — | — | $3.20 |
| 4 | 6 | Sammy's Smile2/1 | Fernando Salazar Becerra | — | — | — |
| 5 | 2 | Drill City10/1 | Jose A. Bracho | — | — | — |
| 6 | 5 | Goldstriker8/1 | Jefferson Skerrett | — | — | — |
Exotic payouts
- $1 Daily Double 6-4 paid $16.30
- $1 Exacta 4-3 paid $50.50
- $0.50 Trifecta 4-3-1 paid $60.10
- $0.20 Superfecta 4-3-1-6 paid $46.00
Race 3
| Fin | # | Horse | Jockey | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Willing N Abled8/5 | Erik Barbaran | $2.80 | $2.40 | — |
| 2 | 1 | Whiskey Point2/1 | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | — | $2.40 | — |
| 3 | 3 | Princeton6/1 | Rocco Bowen | — | — | — |
| 4 | 5 | Total Silence5/1 | Luis Raul Rivera | — | — | — |
| 5 | 2 | Distant Galaxy7/2 | Fernando Salazar Becerra | — | — | — |
Exotic payouts
- $1 Daily Double 4-4 paid $14.70
- $1 Exacta 4-1 paid $4.90
- $0.50 Trifecta 4-1-3 paid $9.65
- $0.20 Superfecta 4-1-3-5 paid $9.82
- $0.50 Pick 3 6-4-4 paid $19.40
Race 4
| Fin | # | Horse | Jockey | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Moonlighter8/5 | Erik Barbaran | $2.20 | $2.10 | $2.10 |
| 2 | 3 | Killa Creed4/1 | Chelsey Keiser | — | $3.60 | $4.60 |
| 3 | 5 | Crimson Crush15/1 | Mauro Cedillo | — | — | $5.80 |
| 4 | 6 | Rollin for Real3/1 | Jefferson Skerrett | — | — | — |
| 5 | 7 | Cantcatchlilfletch6/1 | Yuri Yaranga | — | — | — |
| 6 | 4 | Scared Cause5/1 | Fernando Salazar Becerra | — | — | — |
| 7 | 1 | Ultissimo15/1 | Samuel Jimenez | — | — | — |
Exotic payouts
- $1 Daily Double 4-2 paid $2.20
- $1 Exacta 2-3 paid $5.50
- $0.50 Trifecta 2-3-5 paid $21.15
- $0.20 Superfecta 2-3-5-6 paid $22.34
- $0.50 Pick 3 4-4-2 paid $7.15
Race 5
| Fin | # | Horse | Jockey | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Rhythm 'n Blues4/1 | Alexander Chavez | $9.00 | $3.60 | $2.40 |
| 2 | 5 | Moreau9/5 | Jose A. Bracho | — | $2.40 | $2.10 |
| 3 | 1 | Capo Luca5/1 | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | — | — | $2.60 |
| 4 | 2 | We Need a Favor8/1 | Rocco Bowen | — | — | — |
| 5 | 6 | Silence10/1 | Jefferson Skerrett | — | — | — |
| 6 | 3 | Chiron2/1 | Ricardo Feliciano | — | — | — |
Exotic payouts
- $1 Daily Double 2-4 paid $7.00
- $1 Exacta 4-5 paid $10.70
- $0.50 Trifecta 4-5-1 paid $20.20
- $0.20 Superfecta 4-5-1-2 paid $21.02
- $0.50 Pick 3 4-2-4 paid $8.35
- $0.50 Pick 4 4 OF 4 4-4-2-4 paid $35.80
- $0.50 Pick 5 5 OF 5 6-4-4-2-4 paid $177.90
Race 6
| Fin | # | Horse | Jockey | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Compute This3/1 | Chelsey Keiser | $4.80 | $3.60 | $2.60 |
| 2 | 5 | Siofra8/5 | Mauro Cedillo | — | $3.80 | $2.60 |
| 3 | 6 | Kat Trax6/1 | David J. Haldar | — | — | $2.40 |
| 4 | 1 | Cause of Love4/1 | Alexander Chavez | — | — | — |
| 5 | 3 | Shakeurskinnylegs5/1 | Jefferson Skerrett | — | — | — |
| 6 | 2 | Hello Sweets8/1 | Fernando Salazar Becerra | — | — | — |
Exotic payouts
- $1 Daily Double 4-4 paid $18.60
- $1 Exacta 4-5 paid $9.30
- $0.50 Trifecta 4-5-6 paid $9.50
- $0.20 Superfecta 4-5-6-1 paid $13.62
- $0.50 Pick 3 2-4-4 paid $8.60
Race 7
| Fin | # | Horse | Jockey | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Silent Rule9/5 | Brandon Tapara | $5.40 | $3.20 | $2.20 |
| 2 | 4 | City Scene7/2 | Luis Raul Rivera | — | $3.20 | $2.40 |
| 3 | 3 | Candlelight Hours3/1 | T. D. Houghton | — | — | $2.60 |
| 4 | 2 | Az We Speak12/1 | Erik Barbaran | — | — | — |
| 5 | 1 | Lionistic10/1 | Jose A. Bracho | — | — | — |
| 6 | 5 | Practicallyelusive5/1 | Chelsey Keiser | — | — | — |
Exotic payouts
- $1 Daily Double 4-6 paid $5.30
- $1 Exacta 6-4 paid $7.70
- $0.50 Trifecta 6-4-3 paid $8.05
- $0.20 Superfecta 6-4-3-2 paid $12.54
- $0.50 Pick 3 4-4-6 paid $16.10
Race 8
| Fin | # | Horse | Jockey | Win | Place | Show |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Val's Twinstar2/1 | Luis Antonio Gonzalez | $15.00 | $6.00 | $4.80 |
| 2 | 6 | Kiss Valentina7/2 | Fernando Salazar Becerra | — | $6.20 | $4.80 |
| 3 | 1 | Amy's Star8/1 | Brandon Tapara | — | — | $7.40 |
| 4 | 7 | Cali Cruiser5/1 | Jefferson Skerrett | — | — | — |
| 5 | 4 | Feeling Easy4/1 | Rocco Bowen | — | — | — |
| 6 | 2 | Mizzen the Point6/1 | Jose A. Bracho | — | — | — |
| 7 | 3 | Kerri's Miracle10/1 | Chelsey Keiser | — | — | — |
Exotic payouts
- $1 Daily Double 6-5 paid $15.90
- $1 Exacta 5-6 paid $36.10
- $0.50 Trifecta 5-6-1 paid $184.95
- $0.20 Superfecta 5-6-1-7 paid $248.78
- $0.50 Pick 3 4-6-5 paid $17.85
- $0.50 Pick 4 4 OF 4 4-4-6,7-5 paid $127.65
- $0.50 Pick 5 5 OF 5 2-4-4-6,7-5 paid $150.25
- $0.20 Pick 6 6 OF 6 4-2-4-4-6,7-5 paid $161.00
- $0.20 Super Hi 5 5-6-1-7-4 paid $764.20
Recent Thistledown Race Sheets
- September 10, 20268 races
- September 9, 20268 races
- September 8, 20268 races
- September 7, 20268 races
- September 3, 20268 races
- September 2, 20268 races
- September 1, 20268 races
- August 31, 20268 races
- August 27, 20268 races
- August 26, 20268 races
Recent Thistledown Results & Payouts
Thistledown Picks — Common Questions
Is there a free Thistledown card?
Yes. Every Thistledown race sheet includes free picks with full analysis on selected races, with no account required. The remaining races on the card are part of a TrackWiz subscription.
What surface does Thistledown race on?
Thistledown races on dirt. Every race across the last 24 cards was run on the dirt.
How many races are on a typical Thistledown card?
Thistledown cards average 8 races, with fields of about 7.1 starters. Distances run from 5 fur to 1 1/4 mi.
When are Thistledown picks published?
Thistledown picks are published ahead of the first post for that day's card. We have published 75 Thistledown sheets; you can get each new one by email before post time.