Daily Picks

Thistledown Picks & Predictions — August 19, 2026

August 19, 20268 racesAll Thistledown picks

This card ran on August 19, 2026.

Results & payouts →Latest Thistledown picks →

Best bets at Thistledown, August 19, 2026

Race 18Big PranksterML 5/112:50 PM EDT

Race 2 is free with an account, and the other 6 races are for members.

A free account opens race 2 too. Premium opens all 8, with AI ratings on every runner and SmartBet, which splits one bet across the horses you like.

Join Free See plans · from $9.99

Results are in — see the official Thistledown chart and payouts (our top pick won 3 of 8)→

It's a Wednesday afternoon at Thistledown and conditions couldn't be much better for the horses — partly cloudy skies and a comfortable 75°F make for a fast, consistent dirt surface. Eight races are on the card today, all run on the main track, ranging from quick 5-furlong sprints all the way out to a mile.

The card leans heavily toward claiming company, which is right in Thistledown's wheelhouse. That means class drops, trainer patterns, and pace dynamics matter more than usual — and our analysis has been digging through all of it. Whether you're targeting a single-race bet or building a multi-race sequence, today's program has some legitimate angles worth getting excited about.

Three full race analyses are available free to all TrackWiz users. Unlock the remaining five — including a pair of 9/5 morning-line standouts — with a premium subscription.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The morning line favors Iceberg Slim, but our ratings tell a different story — Big Prankster tops the field and offers real value at 5/1 in this 5½-furlong dirt claimer.

win8Big PranksterML 5/1

Big Prankster earns the top TrackWiz rating in this field at 84.17, comfortably clearing the morning-line chalk by nearly eight points. He posts the best average speed figure of any horse outside Iceberg Slim and carries a 19% career win rate that looks perfectly respectable in this spot. Jockey Luis Raul Rivera and trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich are a familiar pairing, and at 5/1 on the morning line, this is the kind of overlay we love to target when the ratings diverge sharply from the oddsmakers.

place3Iceberg SlimML 8/5

Iceberg Slim is tough to ignore — a 60% career win rate is eye-popping at any level, and his 57 average speed figure is the best number in the race. The 8/5 morning line makes him a tough win bet from a value standpoint, but he's a near-lock for the exacta and a sensible place bet if you want safety.

show2Simply ValidML 4/1

Simply Valid rounds out the top three with a 70.26 TrackWiz rating and a 21% career win rate, giving him legitimate in-the-money upside in a field where several rivals are bunched in the mid-50s range. At 4/1, he's a fair price for exotic coverage — use him underneath in trifectas with the top two.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

1:20 PM EDT

Allowance · 1 mi · Dirt

A deep allowance mile shapes up as a two-horse battle at the top of the ratings, with Parlay and Lil Bit separating themselves from the pack — but Goosebumps could complicate things at a fair price.

win2ParlayML 3/1

Parlay leads all comers with an 87.08 TrackWiz rating and a 26% career win rate, both of which are excellent markers in an allowance field going a mile on dirt. Rocco Bowen gets the call in the irons — one of the more reliable names on the Thistledown circuit — and trainer Timothy E. Hamm also saddles Goosebumps, giving the barn a solid one-two punch in this spot. At 3/1, Parlay isn't a screaming overlay, but the rating advantage is real and worth backing.

place5Lil BitML 5/1

Lil Bit's 41% career win rate is the single most striking stat on the entire race card for this event — nearly four out of every ten career starts have resulted in a win. Her 82.74 TrackWiz rating backs it up, and Fernando Salazar Becerra is a competent pilot. The 5/1 morning line looks like legitimate value for a horse with that kind of win percentage; she belongs on top of your exotics.

show7GoosebumpsML 4/1

Goosebumps sits third in our ratings at 70.62 and carries a 21% career win rate, making him a reasonable underneath horse in trifectas and superfectas. The Hamm barn connection with Parlay is worth noting — trainers who double up often know which horse is peaking, but having two live runners in the same race can only help in the exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

The opening trio gives us a nice cross-section of today's card. Big Prankster (Race 1, 5/1 morning line) is our top value play in the early going — that kind of price on a horse with an 84+ TrackWiz rating in a maiden claiming sprint is exactly the spot we look for. Race 2 shifts to a route, where Parlay (3/1) posts our highest free-race rating at 87.08 in an allowance mile — a cut above the claiming ranks and worth watching as a single in multi-race wagers. Feeling Easy (4/1, Race 3) rounds out the free picks in a 6-furlong claiming affair where the pace scenario sets up nicely for a closer.

A mild pace bias toward horses who can settle early and finish hard is worth keeping in mind on a day like this — comfortable temperatures tend to produce consistent fractions, which rewards horses with clean late kicks over pure front-runners grinding it out alone.

Free with an account

Open the next race free

A free account opens the first 2 races at every track, and every race at our Track of the Day. No credit card needed.

Create a free account Sign in

Full Card Analysis

Race 3

1:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Feeling Easy owns a massive rating edge in this six-furlong dirt claimer, making her the clear class of the field despite carrying a deceivingly low career win percentage.

win3Feeling EasyML 4/1

Feeling Easy posts an 85.62 TrackWiz rating — more than 26 points clear of the second-best horse in the field — which is a dominant advantage in a six-horse claiming field. Yes, her 13% career win rate gives some bettors pause, but that can reflect class and pace scenario history rather than talent, and the raw rating says she belongs several rungs above these rivals. Rocco Bowen takes the mount, and trainer Nestor R. Rivera knows this horse well, also saddling Kat Trax in the same race. At 4/1 on the morning line, there's enough price to make this a confident top selection.

place2Kettle KissML 3/1

Kettle Kiss checks in at 59.20 on our ratings with a 24% career win rate — both solid marks in this field. Trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich sends out multiple runners today, which suggests a barn in form, and at 3/1 Kettle Kiss is fairly priced as the most likely runner-up behind our top selection.

show4Amy's StarML 2/1

Amy's Star is the morning-line favorite at 2/1, and that 36% career win rate demands respect — she wins more than one in three starts, which is a standout number. Her 58.12 TrackWiz rating trails Feeling Easy by a wide margin, which is why she lands in the show position for us, but she's absolutely a factor and worth including in all exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 4

2:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Gone Wild is a short-priced morning-line favorite with the ratings to justify it, but Hidden Ransom at 6/1 gives the trifecta a juicy middle leg in this 5½-furlong dirt claimer.

win6Gone WildML 9/5

Gone Wild tops the TrackWiz ratings at 88.83 — the highest mark of any horse in today's first four races — and Victor R. Fernandez takes the mount for trainer Robert C. Cline. The 9/5 morning line reflects how much the oddsmakers respect this horse, and our numbers agree. At 5½ furlongs on dirt, this looks like a pace-and-go scenario where Gone Wild's superior rating should carry the day.

place5Hidden RansomML 6/1

Hidden Ransom is the value play of this race at 6/1 on the morning line. His 78.85 TrackWiz rating is second-best in the field and his 33% career win rate is tied for the highest among all starters — a pairing of solid rating and elite win percentage that screams in-the-money threat. Rocco Bowen in the irons for Lorenzo Juarez gives this an experienced tactical pairing, and at that price, he's a must-use in all multi-race exotics.

show3Party PooperML 4/1

Party Pooper sits third in ratings at 63.77 with a 26% career win rate and draws Humberto Haldar aboard for trainer Johanna Urieta. He's a step below the top two on our numbers but should be competitive enough to sneak into the trifecta at 4/1, giving him fair value as a show play or exotics underneath.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 5

2:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

Bumpkin dominates the TrackWiz ratings in this five-furlong sprint and looks like the horse to beat, but Ollie's Folly and the high-win-percentage Ilikethat can make the exotics interesting.

win1BumpkinML 2/1

Bumpkin earns an 88.54 TrackWiz rating — best in the field — and pairs it with the top average speed figure in the race at 55. That combination of raw rating and speed is exactly what you want to see in a short five-furlong dirt sprint where early foot can be decisive. Alexander Chavez gets the call for trainer Shane Meyers, and at 2/1 on the morning line, the price is modest but the horse looks like the real deal.

place6Ollie's FollyML 9/2

Ollie's Folly rates second at 82.53 and owns a 27% career win rate, making him a legitimate threat to hit the board. Luis Raul Rivera rides for Michael L. Rone, and at 9/2 on the morning line, there's enough price here to make Ollie's Folly an attractive place bet and a key exacta underneath Bumpkin.

show5IlikethatML 6/1

Ilikethat may be the most intriguing number in the race from a win-percentage standpoint — a 42% career win rate is extraordinary and demands attention in the exotics. His 70.08 TrackWiz rating slots him third in our rankings, and Humberto Haldar is a capable pilot. The 6/1 morning line is fair price for a horse who wins nearly half the time; use him in trifectas.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 6

3:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Seeking Freedom holds the top rating despite a thin win percentage, creating an interesting puzzle in this 5½-furlong claiming sprint where Vecchi and My Valentino lurk as legitimate threats.

win3Seeking FreedomML 5/2

Seeking Freedom leads the TrackWiz ratings at 87.81 and draws David J. Haldar aboard for trainer Rodney C. Faulkner in what shapes up as a tricky spot. The 5% career win rate is admittedly concerning and bettors are right to notice it, but our ratings factor in more than just wins, and the number here is convincing. At 5/2 on the morning line, there's enough price to make Seeking Freedom the top selection despite the win-rate caveat — this horse has been running competitively and the model says today could be the day.

place6VecchiML 3/1

Vecchi rates a close second at 84.08 and goes with Humberto Haldar for trainer Timothy E. Hamm — a barn that also showed up with a live horse in Race 2 today. The 6% career win rate mirrors Seeking Freedom's thin conversion number, but at 3/1 on the morning line, Vecchi is priced to offer genuine exacta value and should be used underneath in all combinations.

show4My ValentinoML 2/1

My Valentino is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 and his 80.54 TrackWiz rating backs up the respect the oddsmakers show him. Erik Barbaran takes the mount for Marco Ibarra, and at 15% career win rate, My Valentino actually has the strongest conversion percentage among the top three rated horses in this field — he's a safe show play and a necessary trifecta inclusion.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 7

3:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Angel I'm Not takes top billing in the ratings despite being outpriced by the morning line, setting up an interesting dynamic against the shorter-priced Val's Twinstar and Brief Encounter in this six-furlong dirt claimer.

win1Angel I'm NotML 3/1

Angel I'm Not tops the TrackWiz ratings at 87.08 and posts a 19% career win rate that's respectable for a claiming horse going six furlongs. Victor R. Fernandez handles the mount for Robert C. Cline — the same trainer-jockey combo that saddles Gone Wild in Race 4 — and with the rail post in a six-furlong sprint, positioning early should be straightforward. At 3/1, this is a price that offers real value relative to the rating advantage our model identifies.

place6Val's TwinstarML 5/2

Val's Twinstar rates 82.49 and carries a 15% career win rate, but the key number here is her 54 average speed figure — the best in the field. Luis Antonio Gonzalez has the call for Valerie K. Shanyfelt, and at 5/2, she's the morning-line second choice. Speed figures (a measure of how fast a horse actually ran, adjusted for track conditions) favor her in a sprint, which is why she's a strong place contender even at a short price.

show3Brief EncounterML 2/1

Brief Encounter rates third at 74.63 with a 23% career win rate — the best conversion percentage among the top three rated horses in this race. Humberto Haldar takes the mount for James R. Jackson at 2/1, making Brief Encounter the favorite on the morning line despite landing third in our rankings. Use her in trifectas for sure, and she's worth a small show wager for the risk-averse.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 8

4:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

General Mathis is a dominant favorite in the ratings and brings a 38% career win rate to this mile claimer, but I Wanna Win at 5/2 gives the exacta a credible second leg.

win4General MathisML 9/5

General Mathis leads all horses on this entire card with an 88.83 TrackWiz rating — tied for the highest mark of the day — and backs it with a 38% career win rate that screams talent. His 55 average speed figure is also the best in this field by a margin. Alexander Chavez picks up the mount for Shane Meyers, the same trainer who runs Bumpkin in Race 5 today, suggesting a barn operating with confidence. The 9/5 morning line makes him the chalk, and our numbers say the price is fair — this is a confident best bet to close out the card.

place1I Wanna WinML 5/2

I Wanna Win rates second at 81.03 with an impressive 27% career win rate, making her the most logical exacta partner with General Mathis. Deshawn L. Parker gets the call for Johanna Urieta, and going a mile on dirt, a horse with that win percentage and a strong rating should be involved at the finish. At 5/2, she's not a huge overlay, but she's a necessary inclusion in all exotics.

show2Relish the RideML 4/1

Relish the Ride checks in at 65.98 on our ratings with a 25% career win rate — both solid enough to warrant a trifecta spot. Jefferson Skerrett is aboard for Gary L. Johnson at 4/1 on the morning line, giving him a price that's worth a small show investment or a trifecta key underneath the top two. In a mile race, closers can get involved late, and that win percentage suggests this horse knows how to compete.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Premium Content

Get the Full Card Analysis

Unlock expert picks for every race, detailed speed figures, trainer angles, and our SmartBet recommendations.

View Plans Sign In

A comfortable afternoon at Thistledown with eight races on dirt and genuine value spread across the card. Our top free plays — Big Prankster, Parlay, and Feeling Easy — are ready to go. For the full card including pace maps, exotic strategies, and our highest-rated horses on the day, premium analysis is waiting for you at /pricing. Good luck out there — and as always, bet smart.

← All Thistledown picks & predictions