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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 1/16 mi, with fields averaging 7 starters. Every card gets free picks on selected races plus a full-card breakdown for subscribers — 83 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 24, 2026.
Race 1
Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt
A clear two-horse battle sits atop this 6-furlong allowance opener, with the rest of the field fighting for minor shares — don't overcomplicate the exotics here.
Catpuccino draws the morning-line favoritism at 2/1 for good reason, posting the field's top TrackWiz rating of 88.54 and a 14% career win rate that holds up well in an allowance field this deep. Jockey Chelsey Keiser gets the call for trainer David Wolochuk, and with the best average speed figure in the race at 54, Catpuccino projects to control or sit just off a manageable early pace. At 2/1 the price isn't generous, but the numbers back the favoritism — this is a deserving chalk play.
Kiddie Cocktail is nearly as compelling as the top pick, carrying an 86.98 rating that separates her clearly from the rest of the field. Fernando Salazar Becerra takes the mount for trainer Robert M. Gorham, and with a 12% career win clip and an average speed of 53, she profiles as the most dangerous pace-presser in the race if Catpuccino gets any trouble. At 5/2 on the morning line, she's a natural fit in exactas.
Buckeye Bombshell at 4/1 is the most logical exotic anchor outside the top two, carrying a 65.74 rating and a 12% career win percentage that shows she knows how to finish. Luis Antonio Gonzalez has the mount for Valerie K. Shanyfelt, and with the same average speed figure as Kiddie Cocktail, she could fill the board if either of the top choices encounters trouble in the stretch.
Race 2
Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt
General Mathis enters this one-mile claimer as a heavy favorite, but a pair of closers with solid win percentages could make the pace scenario interesting late.
General Mathis is the standout of this field on raw numbers — a 88.54 TrackWiz rating leads all comers, and his 42% career win percentage is simply elite for the claiming ranks. Luis Alberto Batista picks up the ride for trainer Johanna Urieta, who also throws in a second horse (Dew It With Class), suggesting stable confidence in the barn's current condition. The 54 average speed backs up the ratings, and at 2/1, General Mathis looks like exactly the kind of reliable claiming horse you build a ticket around.
I Wanna Win carries a 26% career win rate — one of the better marks in this field — and a solid 81.64 TrackWiz rating that makes her a genuine threat for the exacta. Luis Antonio Gonzalez is aboard for trainer James R. Jackson, and the 7/2 morning line suggests the market respects her too. Over a route of ground, horses with that kind of win consistency tend to find a way to hit the board even when they don't win outright.
Who Da Boss is worth including in tri tickets at 5/1, backed by a 24% career win percentage and a 78.0 TrackWiz rating that puts him squarely in contention for minor honors. Trainer Robert M. Gorham sends Erik Barbaran into the gate, and with average speed matching the mid-pack of this field, Who Da Boss should be running at or near the top of the lane when it counts.
Race 3
Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt
Tipsy Tulip enters this allowance mile with a perfect career record and a number that suggests she's in a class of her own — the question is how much you trust that morning line.
Tipsy Tulip is riding a 100% career win rate into this spot, and her 89.12 TrackWiz rating is the highest in the field by a meaningful margin. Chelsey Keiser gets the mount again for trainer Nestor R. Rivera, who saddles two horses in this race — a sign of barn depth and confidence. The 8/5 morning line reflects the respect the market has for her, and at a mile on the dirt, her 54 average speed should have her well within striking distance at every call.
Exponentially is the most dangerous rival in the field, posting an 88.02 TrackWiz rating that puts her within a point of the top pick. Trainer Michael J. Maker — a nationally respected conditioner — sends Erik Barbaran into the gate, and a 22% career win percentage shows this horse has finished the job before. If Tipsy Tulip faces any adversity or has a rough trip, Exponentially is positioned to pounce.
Kingdom Trails at 5/1 brings a 26% career win rate and a 73.25 rating that makes him a live exotic piece in a race where the top two could go at each other. Jose A. Bracho picks up the mount for trainer Nestor R. Rivera — the same barn as the favorite — and that stable connection could be worth noting when it comes to pace strategy and positioning in the early going.
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About the Thistledown Racing Surface
- Surfaces
- Dirt
- Distance range
- 5 fur to 1 1/16 mi
- Typical field
- 7 starters
- Typical card
- 8 races
Most common race conditions at Thistledown: Claiming, Allowance, Maiden Special Weight, Starter Optional 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 24, 20268 races
- September 23, 20268 races
- September 22, 20268 races
- September 21, 20268 races
- September 17, 20268 races
- September 16, 20268 races
- September 15, 20268 races
- September 14, 20268 races
- September 10, 20268 races
- September 9, 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 starters. Distances run from 5 fur to 1 1/16 mi.
When are Thistledown picks published?
Thistledown picks are published ahead of the first post for that day's card. We have published 83 Thistledown sheets; you can get each new one by email before post time.