Daily Picks

Thistledown Picks & Predictions — June 25, 2026

Thursday, June 25, 20268 racesThistledown

It's a pleasant Thursday afternoon at Thistledown — partly cloudy and 72°F, which means a comfortable, consistent surface with no weather-related excuses for connections. The dirt track should play fair all day, and that's great news for handicappers who trust their numbers.

Eight races are on the board today, ranging from maiden special weights and claiming events to a pair of allowance spots that figure to draw the sharpest horses on the grounds. The card has a nice mix of sprint and route action — five of the eight races go a full mile, so pace scenarios and trip handicapping are going to matter more than usual today.

TrackWiz has crunched the full card and there are some legitimate angles worth playing, including a couple of spots where the morning line may be leaving value on the table. Let's dig in.

Best Bets

Race 1

4:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A one-mile claiming opener where the morning line tells the story — Secret Caller and Tampa Teacher draw most of the early money, but Elopedatthederby lurks at a price with the top TrackWiz rating in the field.

win5Secret CallerML 9/5

Secret Caller is the standout here with a TrackWiz rating of 88.83 — well clear of the rest of the field — backed by a 20% career win rate and the best average speed figure in the race at 54. At 9/5 on the morning line, trainer Nestor R. Rivera puts up a horse that profiles as the class of this claiming field. Fernando Salazar Becerra gets the call and should have this horse sitting in a comfortable spot through the first turn of the one-miler.

place4ElopedatthederbyML 6/1

Elopedatthederby catches the eye at 6/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 76.85 — highest in the field after Secret Caller — and trainer Robert C. Cline also sends out Exaltada, suggesting he has this race dialed in. The 14% career win rate understates the horse's overall form, and at this price in a claiming route, Elopedatthederby is a solid place-ticket anchor for exotics.

show6I Belong FirstML 9/2

I Belong First rounds out our ticket at 9/2, sporting an 18% career win rate and an average speed figure of 53 — competitive for this level. Trainer Justin Radosevich keeps this one eligible, and Jose A. Bracho is a capable hand for a one-mile trip. Use this horse underneath in trifectas as a hedge against any chaos in the pace scenario.

Race 2

5:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 fur · Dirt

Maiden Special Weight sprinters going five furlongs on the dirt — most of this field is first-out or lightly raced, so trainer and jockey connections carry extra weight when the form book is thin.

win1NessyML 2/1

Nessy tops our analysis at a rating of 58.33 and draws the morning line favoritism at 2/1 for trainer Nestor R. Rivera, whose barn has shown up with live horses throughout this card. With most rivals showing no career starts or zero recorded speed figures, the edge here comes down to preparation and connections — and Rivera's operation gives Nessy a meaningful edge. Luis Raul Rivera takes the mount and figures to have this filly in a good spot early in the five-furlong sprint.

place7Just a DotML 3/1

Just a Dot checks in with the second-highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 56.67 and is priced at 3/1 on the morning line, suggesting trainer Justin Radosevich has her pointing to this spot. In maiden races with little published form, a horse that earns a strong pre-race rating and draws fair odds is worth including on the place line of your tickets.

show3MkeracingreatagainML 7/2

Mkeracingreatagain comes in third in our ratings at 55.83 and draws a quality rider in Rocco Bowen for trainer Timothy E. Hamm — a barn that also saddles Ati Dude, meaning Hamm has studied this field closely. The 7/2 morning line makes her a reasonable show price, and in a maiden sprint where the lead can shift quickly, having a Bowen-ridden closer in the exotics makes sense.

Race 3

5:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Three horses rated 78 or higher set up a sharp top tier in this six-furlong claiming sprint, but the morning line has Stage Name as the slight public choice while our analysis lands differently at the top.

win2Wildcat ExpressML 2/1

Wildcat Express leads our TrackWiz ratings at 88.54 and brings a 28% career win rate — the kind of number that commands attention in a claiming sprint. Trainer Joseph M. Poole sends this horse out at 2/1 with Jose A. Bracho aboard, a sharp combination at Thistledown. The average speed figure of 54 is right in the mix, and with a pace scenario that likely sees multiple horses wanting to run early, Wildcat Express has the profile to sit just off the pace and pounce.

place4Stage NameML 6/5

Stage Name is the morning line favorite at 6/5 and posts a strong 47% career win rate — among the highest in today's entire card — with a leading average speed figure of 55. Trainer Timothy E. Hamm puts Rocco Bowen up, a pairing that's been active all afternoon. The public money is justified here, and Stage Name belongs on every exotic ticket as a place horse.

show3Trouble in MotownML 4/1

Trouble in Motown is the most intriguing deeper play in this race, carrying a 50% career win rate — best in the field — while sitting at 4/1 on the morning line. Trainer Justin Radosevich has been live throughout the card, and David J. Haldar gets the mount. A 78.37 TrackWiz rating slots this horse clearly into the mix for trifecta plays.

Three races are unlocked for every reader today, and they're a strong cross-section of the card. Secret Caller opens the show in Race 1 — an 88.83 TrackWiz rating in a one-mile claiming event is the kind of number that stands out right away, and the 9/5 morning line suggests the oddsmakers agree. Over in Race 2, the maiden special weight sprint at five furlongs introduces Nessy, a 2/1 morning line choice in what figures to be a wide-open field of first-timers and lightly raced types — maiden races always carry uncertainty, and that rating of 58.33 reflects the unpredictability of the division. Race 3 brings Wildcat Express into a six-furlong claiming sprint with an 88.54 figure and 2/1 odds, setting up a compelling pace matchup on the front end.

One thread connecting these three free picks: they're all on the dirt, they all project well on a track playing to its typical form, and none of them are dramatic overlays — they're solid, data-backed choices that give you a real foundation for your tickets today.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

6:20 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden claiming six-furlong test with a dominant top-rated horse that should be tested to justify chalk odds — this card is locked between trainer Marco Ccamaque's pair at the top of the order.

win4Veri CollectedML 8/5

Veri Collected enters with the highest TrackWiz rating in this race at an impressive 89.12 — well above the field — and trainer Marco Ccamaque also sends out Blondieness, meaning this barn has strong representation. Erik Barbaran takes the mount at 8/5 morning line odds, and while all horses in this field show 0% career win rates as maidens, the rating gap here is significant. An average speed figure of 52 matches the pace range of this field, and Veri Collected looks like a horse Ccamaque is pointing to win.

place1BlondienessML 5/2

Blondieness is the other Ccamaque runner and our place pick at 5/2, with a TrackWiz rating of 61.55 and a recorded average speed figure of 52. Fernando Salazar Becerra is a dependable rider who has appeared on several winners today, and the barn connection to the top pick suggests this horse knows how to train. In maiden claimers, stablemate entries often run interference for each other — keep Blondieness on your place and exacta tickets.

show3YalordeML 9/2

Yalorde draws the 9/2 morning line for trainer Rey Juarez-Mendoza and shows an average speed figure of 53 — actually the best in this field — while Angel I. Diaz takes the mount. The 51.47 TrackWiz rating places her solidly mid-pack, but the above-average speed figure in a maiden claiming sprint is worth noting for exotic players looking for a third horse.

Race 5

6:50 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

An allowance mile with a clear top two separated from the rest of the field — Mia's Go and Vespera look like the class of this spot, with a value angle lurking at fair odds underneath.

win6Mia's GoML 9/5

Mia's Go leads all horses in this allowance field with a TrackWiz rating of 88.83 and the best career win rate at 30% — numbers that stand out in a six-horse allowance field. Trainer Nestor R. Rivera has been the standout conditioner of the afternoon, and Alexander Chavez picks up the mount at a morning line of 9/5. With an average speed figure of 53, Mia's Go has the class edge and the consistency to hold serve over a one-mile route.

place5VesperaML 5/1

Vespera is a legit threat to the top pick at 5/1 on the morning line, carrying a 78.54 TrackWiz rating and a 20% career win rate with an average speed figure of 53 — matching Mia's Go stride for stride on paper. Trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich has a horse in top condition here, and Luis Raul Rivera is a capable closer for a one-mile trip. The price makes Vespera a strong exacta and place-ticket play.

show1Dos AmoresML 6/1

Dos Amores brings a 21% career win rate — solid for this level — and an average speed figure of 54, which is actually the highest in the field. Trainer Michael L. Rone sends this one out at 6/1, and Erik Barbaran takes the call. The speed figure edge makes Dos Amores worth including in your trifecta underneath the top two, especially if the pace heats up and opens the door for a closer.

Race 6

7:20 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A tight Starter Optional Claiming mile featuring two Radosevich runners that crowd the top of the ratings — pace battle or stablemate teamwork could shape the outcome here.

win1Puff'smagicdragonML 8/5

Puff'smagicdragon tops the field with a TrackWiz rating of 89.12 and a 26% career win rate — a strong combination in a five-horse field. Trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich runs two horses in this race, and this one gets Erik Barbaran in the irons at an 8/5 morning line. An average speed figure of 52 keeps this horse right in the pace conversation for a one-mile starter optional claiming event.

place3Master of the NiteML 7/5

Master of the Nite is the other Radosevich runner and posts an 85.33 TrackWiz rating at a tighter 7/5 on the morning line — actually the public choice. Luis Raul Rivera gets the mount, and with a 21% career win rate and an average speed figure of 52, this is a legitimate contender. Having two such highly rated horses from the same barn means one of them is likely to hit the board, and Master of the Nite belongs solidly on place tickets.

show2KykeonML 4/1

Kykeon gives bettors a third legitimate option at 4/1, with a 75.40 TrackWiz rating and a 20% career win rate for trainer Rey Juarez-Mendoza. Victor R. Fernandez takes the mount, and the average speed figure of 52 keeps this horse in pace contention throughout the mile. With the top two from the same barn potentially influencing the race shape, Kykeon could benefit from a contested early pace and rally for third.

Race 7

7:50 PM EDT

Starter Optional Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A competitive Starter Optional Claiming mile where three horses rate within a few ticks of each other — Calisue leads our board but Classy Disposition and Dreaming of Audrey are close enough to keep this from being a single-horse race.

win4CalisueML 2/1

Calisue leads our TrackWiz analysis at 88.54 with a 20% career win rate and draws 2/1 on the morning line — a respected price for a horse this well-rated. Trainer Anthony F. Rini puts Chelsey Keiser in the irons, and while 2/1 isn't much of a value overlay, the combination of top rating and a clean draw makes Calisue the most straightforward win bet on this race. An average speed figure of 52 fits the pace profile for this distance.

place2Classy DispositionML 9/5

Classy Disposition is nearly as strong at an 84.65 TrackWiz rating and actually draws more public support at 9/5 — making this one of the more interesting betting battles of the day. Ricardo Feliciano rides for trainer Benny R. Feliciano in what amounts to a family operation, and a 22% career win rate backs up the support. The close ratings gap between the top two suggests this exacta box deserves consideration.

show1Dreaming of AudreyML 7/2

Dreaming of Audrey sits third in our ratings at 74.84 and goes postward at 7/2 for trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich, who has had a prominent presence throughout the card. Erik Barbaran is back up, carrying a 20% career win rate and an average speed figure of 52 that matches the field. With two horses rated above 84 drawing most of the action, Dreaming of Audrey is the most attractive show-price ticket and a trifecta must-use at a fair price.

Race 8

8:20 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

The finale is a six-furlong allowance sprint that features a clear top-rated horse in Vdaytothetenacious, but a deep field with multiple speed figures at 54-55 sets up a potentially contested early pace that could benefit a horse coming from off it.

win3VdaytothetenaciousML 5/2

Vdaytothetenacious leads all comers with a TrackWiz rating of 87.81 and a 35% career win rate — by far the best winning percentage in today's closing race. Trainer Kim A. Puhl sends this one out at 5/2, and Luis Antonio Gonzalez gets the call for what looks like a quality spot. An average speed figure of 55 ties for the field's best, and the career win rate here is the kind of number that separates a solid horse from the rest of the field in an allowance sprint.

place7Don't StopML 8/1

Don't Stop is our value play at 8/1 — a price worth circling. The 68.54 TrackWiz rating is third in the field, and while a 10% career win rate is modest, the average speed figure of 54 keeps this horse competitive in a six-furlong sprint. Trainer Khadeem Galloway and rider Luis Alberto Batista may be the least-hyped combination in the race, which is exactly where overlays hide in allowance sprints. Include Don't Stop on your exacta and trifecta tickets.

show5Bold BuckeyeML 3/1

Bold Buckeye brings a notable 30% career win rate to the gate — second in the field behind only Vdaytothetenacious — and trainer Joseph M. Poole, who also runs Bigpiclittlepic, clearly has this race on his radar. Jose A. Bracho picks up the mount at 3/1, and while the average speed figure of 53 is a tick below the top horses, Bold Buckeye's high win percentage suggests a horse that knows how to finish. A solid trifecta inclusion.

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Today's Thistledown card is a grinder's paradise — consistent conditions, plenty of route action, and a handful of spots where TrackWiz ratings diverge meaningfully from the morning line. Secret Caller in Race 1 and Wildcat Express in Race 3 are the marquee free plays, and there's more value hiding deeper in the card. Subscribers get the full picture: pace projections, exotic structures, and every contender ranked. Good luck out there — and as always, bet smart.

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