Thistledown Picks & Predictions — August 26, 2026

Cloud Storage rates a close second at 85.77 with Ricardo Feliciano riding for trainer Benny R. Feliciano — another family connection that signals a sharp, focused barn. The 18% career win rate is solid for this level, and the 5/2 morning line reflects legitimate public confidence. If Riobella stumbles or gets into trouble, Cloud Storage has the rating and the talent to take over.

Kissin Cash checks in at 77.74 in the ratings with a 23% career win rate that's the strongest strike rate among the leading contenders in this field. Jefferson Skerrett rides for trainer Kim A. Puhl — same barn as the top pick — which occasionally creates a conflicted dynamic but also means the connections know exactly how good Kissin Cash is. At 9/2, she's a sensible show bet and trifecta anchor in a race where the top of the order looks fairly set.

Tough Cat is right there at 85.41 in the ratings and brings a 22% career win rate to match — this is a deep, consistent competitor who figures to be in the mix all the way around the turn. Jose A. Bracho has a live shot here for trainer Joseph M. Poole, and the 7/2 morning line gives you a fair return if you're boxing these two in exactas. The gap between Tough Cat and the rest of the field is wide enough to feel comfortable about a place ticket.

Jac's Doe Maker is the most statistically unusual horse on the entire card — a 50% career win rate is extraordinary and suggests a horse that competes hard and gets the job done when fit. The 79.37 TrackWiz rating puts her third in the field, and Chelsey Keiser picks up the mount for trainer Ivan Vazquez. At 8/5 on the morning line, she's the public's choice, which means show payoffs may be slim, but she's difficult to leave out of the exotic mix entirely.

Fact Not Fiction is the standout career win percentage horse in this field at a remarkable 35% — that's a horse that wins far more than its fair share of starts. Jefferson Skerrett rides for trainer Jeffrey Skerrett in another family booking, and the 85.99 TrackWiz rating keeps this one squarely in the mix. The 9/5 morning line makes it a tough win bet from a value standpoint, but a place ticket is a comfortable way to play this consistent performer.

Worthy Opponent checks in at 78.30 in the ratings with a 21% career win rate and an average speed figure of 54 — matching the field's best. Rocco Bowen gets the call for trainer Candace M. Huffman, and at 7/2, there's some return if this one runs into the money behind the top two. In a race where the pace could be fierce among the top contenders, a closer profile like Worthy Opponent can benefit from rivals who've done too much work too early.

Miss Foxann rates second in the field at 81.01 and posts the highest average speed figure in the race at 54 — a notable edge in a 5½-furlong sprint where raw speed matters from the jump. Rocco Bowen rides for trainer Julie A. Pappada, and a 12% career win rate is the one mild concern. Still, the combination of elite speed figures and a solid rating makes her the most logical place contender in the race.

Rating board at 53.4. Ridden by Jefferson Skerrett. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 12.76 sec/furlong. Has placed in 4 of the last 6 races.

Her Own Shadow rates second in the field at 79.26 and brings a strong 28% career win rate — one of the best strike rates in this particular race. Luis Raul Rivera rides for trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich, who's been active all card long. At 9/5 on the morning line, Her Own Shadow is actually co-favored with Mandalay Sky by the morning line maker, suggesting this is seen as a genuine two-horse race — and our ratings agree.

Biondettisnitemare sits at 51.89 in the ratings with a 20% career win rate, giving this horse a better-than-average probability of hitting the board. David J. Haldar rides for trainer Rodney C. Faulkner, and while the 7/2 morning line might not scream value, the 20% career win rate suggests a horse that runs honestly. In a race that figures to be contested by the top two, Biondettisnitemare looks like a safe show anchor for horizontal exotic plays.

Jilly Runs Deep brings the field's best career win percentage at 25% — a genuine overachiever by win-rate standards. T.D. Houghton rides for the same Loren Huepenbecker barn as the top pick, which is worth noting: when a trainer doubles up in a race, the better-performing horse at the wire often tells you something about stable confidence. At 4/1, Jilly Runs Deep is a solid place play and a natural exacta partner with Queen Kitty.

Come On Arlene rates third in the field at 70.82 with an 18% career win rate and an average speed figure of 53 — matching the top horses in raw pace terms. Fernando Salazar Becerra, who's been one of the busiest and most effective riders on this card, rides for trainer Robert C. Cline. At 3/1, the morning line respects this horse's chances, and the combination of a capable jockey and a solid rating makes Come On Arlene a credible show option and trifecta component in the day's final race.