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Thistledown Picks & Predictions — June 24, 2026

June 24, 20268 racesAll Thistledown picks

This card ran on June 24, 2026.

Best bets at Thistledown, June 24, 2026

Race 11Sammy's HaloML 3/112:50 PM EDT

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Thistledown is putting up a clean 8-race card today under blue skies and a comfortable 73°F — ideal conditions for speed horses on a fast dirt surface. No weather excuses, no track bias masking true form. What you see is what you get today, and that makes the handicapping both more honest and more fun.

The card is a nice mix of Allowance company, Claiming races, and a pair of Starter Optional Claiming routes that should draw some lively fields in the back half. There's also a Maiden Special Weight mile — the kind of race where TrackWiz ratings often find big-price value hiding in plain sight. Eight races, a lot of angles, and a few spots where the morning line looks beatable.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:50 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

Sammy's Halo owns a massive TrackWiz rating edge over this allowance field, but Kettle Coalmine figures to push the pace and keep things honest through the stretch.

win1Sammy's HaloML 3/1

Sammy's Halo comes in with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 — nearly 16 points clear of the next-best horse in the field — and that kind of separation at the allowance level is hard to ignore. Erik Barbaran gets the call, and the 3/1 morning line feels like fair value given how much this horse stands out on paper. The 9% career win rate is modest, but in an allowance spot where class matters, the rating gap does a lot of the talking. If he fires his best, this field may not have an answer.

place6Kettle CoalmineML 2/1

Kettle Coalmine is the morning-line favorite at 2/1, and a TrackWiz rating of 71.39 with an average speed figure of 52 puts him squarely in the mix as a place horse. He profiles as a pace-presser type who figures to be forwardly placed from the rail area — the kind of horse that's tough to shake loose even if he can't quite hold off our top pick. David J. Haldar pilots, and this looks like a solid spot for a runner-up check.

show5MaybetodayML 5/1

Maybetoday is worth including in your exotics at 5/1 on the morning line for one compelling reason: a 33% career win rate is the best in the field by a wide margin. Chelsey Keiser handles the riding duties, and while the TrackWiz rating of 58.57 suggests she's a tier below the top two, horses with that kind of win percentage have a way of showing up when the price is right.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

1:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Tyson's Lil' Star looks like a potential gate-to-wire winner in this claiming sprint, but Heza Pistol lurks as a dangerous second choice who could complicate the pace scenario.

win3Tyson's Lil' StarML 7/2

Tyson's Lil' Star posts the field's top average speed figure at 55 — a full tick above the next-best horses — and pairs it with a 86.35 TrackWiz rating that dwarfs the competition. A 33% career win rate is the kind of number that tells you this horse knows how to close out a race. Luis Antonio Gonzalez is in the irons for trainer Valerie K. Shanyfelt, and at 7/2 on the morning line, there's still some meat on the bone here. The speed figure edge at six furlongs sets up a potential wire job.

place9Heza PistolML 6/1

Heza Pistol checks in with a 73.43 TrackWiz rating — second-best in the field — and Victor R. Fernandez gives this horse a competent pilot from the outside post. The 18% career win rate is respectable in a claiming field, and at 6/1 morning line odds, there's real value if you want coverage behind the top pick. He profiles as the type who could sweep up late and grab the place spot if the pace gets honest up front.

show2BosabrotherML 5/1

Bosabrother brings a 65.33 TrackWiz rating and a 25% career win rate — the second-highest win percentage in the field — making him a solid show-ticket inclusion. David J. Haldar rides for Jennifer Tooley, and the 53 average speed figure is right in the pack. In a claiming race where things can get messy, a horse with that kind of win rate has a reasonable shot at hitting the board.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Our three free races today cover the first half of the card and they tell an interesting story. In Race 1, Sammy's Halo (3/1 ML, TrackWiz rating 87.08) kicks things off in Allowance company at six furlongs — a solid top figure for the conditions and a horse worth anchoring your early pick-3. Race 2 flips to Claiming, where Tyson's Lil' Star (7/2 ML, 86.35) profiles well in what figures to be a pace-friendly setup at the same six-furlong trip. And in Race 3, Beachglass (5/1 ML, 84.17) stretches out to a mile in another Allowance — the 5/1 morning line is worth a second look if the TrackWiz rating holds up in final odds.

With all three free picks in sprint-to-route sequence, there's a natural pick-3 structure worth building around. Clean weather and a consistent surface mean early speed figures should translate, so trust the numbers and don't overthink the pace on a day like this.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

1:50 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

An interesting allowance mile where the morning-line favorite doesn't match the TrackWiz top rating — Beachglass at 5/1 is the value play the sharp money should be chasing.

win1BeachglassML 5/1

Beachglass is our top-rated horse at 84.17 despite carrying 5/1 morning-line odds — a disconnect that suggests the public may be overlooking him in favor of shorter-priced options. Rocco Bowen takes the mount for trainer Timothy E. Hamm, a combination worth watching at Thistledown. A 20% career win rate at a mile on the dirt tells you this horse is no stranger to winning, and the rating gap over the morning-line favorite makes the price look very attractive.

place5BokehML 5/2

Bokeh rates second in the field at 70.31 and goes as the morning-line second choice at 5/2 for trainer Justin Radosevich, who also saddles a stablemate in the race. Alexander Chavez is a solid pilot, and the 53 average speed figure matches up well at a one-mile trip. This horse profiles as the most likely to challenge our top pick deep in the stretch and earn a place check.

show3Calling TillieML 7/2

Calling Tillie comes in at 7/2 with a TrackWiz rating of 68.85 and a 20% career win rate that ties the field's best mark. Erik Barbaran handles the ride for the Radosevich barn — which has two horses entered here — and this could be the stable's sneaky play if Bokeh draws all the attention. At a competitive price, Calling Tillie rounds out a sensible exacta and trifecta structure.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 4

2:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Dirt

A maiden special weight mile where Munny Town owns a commanding TrackWiz rating edge, though first-time-out horses make this kind of race inherently unpredictable.

win5Munny TownML 8/5

Munny Town leads all horses in this maiden field with an 89.12 TrackWiz rating, and Dylan Machado pilots for trainer William D. Cowans in what shapes up as a legitimate morning-line favorite at 8/5. In a MSW field where everyone is winless, the rating gap matters — Munny Town sits more than 22 points clear of the next horse. The 52 average speed figure is right in line with the field, but when your rating is this far ahead, it often reflects a more complete profile. Back with confidence, but understand that maiden races always carry extra variance.

place4PrincetonML 5/2

Princeton rates second-best in the field at 66.59 and carries 5/2 morning-line odds, which tracks with the public's assessment. Luis Antonio Gonzalez rides for Kim A. Puhl, and the 53 average speed figure ties for the field's best alongside our top pick. In a race where the favorite is beatable if things don't go smoothly, Princeton is the most natural backup.

show6CaesareaML 7/2

Caesarea rounds out our ticket at 7/2 with a 63.91 TrackWiz rating — third in the field — and Bailey Weatherly aboard for trainer Eric R. Reed. The 52 average speed figure is competitive, and in a wide-open maiden race, getting a horse at this price with the third-best profile is worth the exotic inclusion. She gives this trifecta structure a reasonable floor.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 5

2:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Remember Me stands out as a clear class separator in this claiming sprint, but Thee New Beginning and Special Beach make this a trifecta worth playing deep.

win5Remember MeML 4/1

Remember Me posts the field's top TrackWiz rating at 85.62 and backs it up with the highest average speed figure in the race at 54 — tied only with stablemate Elika and Thee New Beginning, but with a significantly better overall rating. Chelsey Keiser rides for trainer Jevon D. Crumley, and the 19% career win rate on a horse with these numbers says this is someone who delivers when placed correctly. At 4/1 on the morning line, this is a legitimate best-bet value in a field of ten.

place8Thee New BeginningML 9/2

Thee New Beginning also checks in with a 54 average speed figure — matching our top pick — and a TrackWiz rating of 71.35 that makes this a clear second option. Erik Barbaran handles the ride for trainer Jose Antonio Vargas, and a 20% career win rate is solid for the claiming ranks. At 9/2, this horse offers real exacta value as the type that could track the pace and pounce if our top pick flattens out.

show3Special BeachML 5/1

Special Beach brings a 71.06 TrackWiz rating to the table and a 14% career win rate under the care of trainer Joseph P. Mahan. Victor R. Fernandez rides, and while the 53 average speed figure is a tick below the top two, this horse's overall profile supports a place on the trifecta ticket at 5/1. In a ten-horse claiming field, board runners can come from anywhere, and Special Beach has the numbers to warrant coverage.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 10 runners

Race 6

3:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Call It a Night dominates the TrackWiz ratings in this seven-horse claiming sprint, while Polizon at 7/2 sets up as the main threat and a prime exacta target.

win1Call It a NightML 4/1

Call It a Night checks in with an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — tops in the field by more than 12 points — and the 54 average speed figure is the best on the board. Luis Raul Rivera gets the mount for Jeffrey A. Radosevich, a trainer who is well-represented on today's card. The 4/1 morning line actually offers some value given how dominant this horse looks on paper, and the six-furlong distance on dirt should suit a horse carrying that kind of speed figure. This is our strongest play in Race 6.

place7PolizonML 7/2

Polizon rates second in the field at 72.96 with Jerome J. Innis taking the call for Ricardo Bailey. The 5% career win rate is low, but in a claiming field where consistency can matter more than peak performance, a horse with solid underlying numbers at 7/2 is a worthwhile place ticket. If Call It a Night gets taken back or meets traffic, Polizon is the most likely to capitalize.

show4Game PerformerML 5/2

Game Performer brings a 69.60 TrackWiz rating and an 11% career win rate into a race where the top two choices are doing a lot of heavy lifting. Erik Barbaran is a strong rider, and the 5/2 morning line suggests the public already respects this one. At a distance and surface that suits a presser profile, Game Performer gives your exotic tickets a solid anchor in third.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 7

3:50 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Reinvest is the class of this Starter Optional Claiming mile, but the 2/1 morning line on a horse with a top rating of 88.54 may compress the win prices — John's Rock and Tricky Tiger make the exacta worth building.

win5ReinvestML 2/1

Reinvest tops the field with an 88.54 TrackWiz rating and posts a 54 average speed figure — tied for best in the race. A 22% career win rate is strong for this level, and Anthony Rodriguez is a capable rider who should be able to find a good trip from post 5 in a six-horse field. The 2/1 morning line reflects legitimate favorite status, and while the price isn't juicy, the profile here is hard to argue with. When a horse leads on rating, speed, and win percentage, you respect it.

place2John's RockML 4/1

John's Rock is a fascinating second option at 4/1 — his 83.86 TrackWiz rating is just behind Reinvest, and a 26% career win rate is the second-highest in the field. Jose A. Bracho rides for Nestor R. Rivera, who also has Tricky Tiger in the race, giving the barn two live shots. If Reinvest runs into any trouble or gets too far back, John's Rock has the form to swoop in and earn a place check at a fair price.

show4Tricky TigerML 5/1

Tricky Tiger rounds out the ticket at 5/1 with an 81.52 TrackWiz rating and a 54 average speed figure that matches the top two. Alexander Chavez is a strong jockey choice, and the Rivera barn's decision to run two horses here suggests they like the conditions. At a mile on dirt, a horse with that kind of speed figure and a top-tier rating deserves exotic consideration — especially at a price that still offers value.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 8

4:20 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Hidden Ransom leads a loaded Starter Optional Claiming sprint where the top three TrackWiz ratings are all above 83 — expect a pace duel and a tight finish.

win1Hidden RansomML 5/2

Hidden Ransom tops the field with an 87.81 TrackWiz rating and comes in with an elite 38% career win rate — by far the highest in the race. Mauro Cedillo rides for trainer Lorenzo Juarez, and the 54 average speed figure puts this horse right at the top of the speed ladder. At 5/2 on the morning line, this is a horse you can confidently back as your win selection knowing the profile supports it across multiple metrics. That win rate alone is a number that demands respect at any level.

place4Midnight WarshipML 2/1

Midnight Warship is actually the morning-line co-favorite at 2/1 despite a slightly lower TrackWiz rating of 84.89, which suggests the public has a strong opinion here. Luis Raul Rivera rides for Michael L. Rone, and the 25% career win rate is solid. If there's a pace duel up front — which this field invites — Midnight Warship profiles as the type to sit just off the leaders and pounce in the stretch. Don't let the tight rating gap fool you: this is a live place horse.

show8Gunner GabrielML 9/2

Gunner Gabriel brings an 83.68 TrackWiz rating and a 28% career win rate into a race where even the third-best horse is legitimately dangerous. Deshawn L. Parker rides for Johanna Urieta, and the 54 average speed figure matches the field's best. In a race this competitive, the trifecta is the play — and Gunner Gabriel is the natural show selection given the ratings cluster at the top of this field.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

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Bottom line: it's a good betting day at Thistledown. Clean conditions, a trustworthy surface, and eight races with clearly defined pace shapes. Start with Sammy's Halo, Tyson's Lil' Star, and Beachglass in the free races — then let TrackWiz subscribers handle the rest with full pace projections, exotic tickets, and the complete Race 4–8 breakdowns. Good luck out there.

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