Daily Picks

Thistledown Picks & Predictions — August 31, 2026

August 31, 20268 racesAll Thistledown picks

This card ran on August 31, 2026.

Results & payouts →Latest Thistledown picks →

Best bets at Thistledown, August 31, 2026

Race 11Blake JamesML 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)→

Here's our expert breakdown of today's 8-race card at Thistledown. We've identified 3 standout races with strong plays — see our analysis below. Full card picks for all 8 races are available to TrackWiz subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:50 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

Blake James towers over this field on our ratings — significant gap back to the rest of the shortlist.

win1Blake JamesML 5/1

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 82.2 for Race 1. Ridden by Alexander Chavez, trained by Shane Meyers. For past year, Jockey has a 22% win rate and finished in the money in 61% of races. 2 wins and placed in 7 of 12 races on Dirt tracks. Has placed in the last 4 races. Has placed in 4 of the last 5 races. Has 2 wins and placed in 5 of 7 races at 6 fur. 1 wins and placed in 5 of 7 races at Thistledown. More than 1 win on today's surface/distance. Horse won last time it raced. 08/12/2026. Horse won last time raced at today's surface/distance.

place5Saving HeartML 7/2

Rating board at 81.5. Ridden by Luis Antonio Gonzalez. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 12.19 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 26% win rate and finished in the money in 67% of races.

show7MetaphorML 8/1

Rating board at 79.8. Ridden by Ricardo Feliciano. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 12.23 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 18% win rate and finished in the money in 55% of races.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

1:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Bet-down spot for Ati Mint — the rating gap is wide enough that we treat this as a key single.

win5Ati MintML 4/1

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 85.6 for Race 2. Ridden by Rocco Bowen, trained by Timothy E. Hamm. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 12.70 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 23% win rate and finished in the money in 62% of races. For past year, Jockey & Trainer Combo has a 24% win rate and finished in the money in 67% of races. Placed in 2 of 3 races on Dirt tracks. Has placed in 2 of the last 3 races. Has placed in 2 of 3 at Sprint races. Ranked 3rd in workouts over last month at 12.08 sec/furlong. Horse appears in today's Top 50 Horses List.

place7TulsiML 2/1

Rating board at 58.3. Ridden by Luis Alberto Batista. For past year, Jockey has a 17% win rate and finished in the money in 51% of races. Ranked 2nd in workouts over last month at 12.00 sec/furlong.

show4Velours RoseML 7/2

Rating board at 55.8. Ridden by Victor R. Fernandez. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.49 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 20% win rate and finished in the money in 60% of races.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Our top picks for today focus on races with clear edges in speed figures, trainer form, and track bias. These are the spots where we see the most value on the board.

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 · 1 mi · Dirt

Standout on paper: Harbour Bridge grades multiple points clear of the rest of the field.

win4Harbour BridgeML 5/1

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 84.2 for Race 3. Ridden by Luis Alberto Batista, trained by Craig Sweeting. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.76 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 17% win rate and finished in the money in 51% of races. 3 wins and placed in 23 of 34 races on Dirt tracks. Has placed in 4 of the last 6 races. Has 1 wins and placed in 6 of 8 races at 1 mi. 1 wins and placed in 5 of 7 races at Thistledown.

place8Gut InstinctML 5/2

Rating board at 64.8. Ridden by Jason Simpson. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 12.84 sec/furlong. 4 wins and placed in 12 of 22 races on Dirt tracks.

show7BasscoatML 6/1

Rating board at 63.0. Ridden by Jose A. Bracho. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 12.84 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 23% win rate and finished in the money in 62% of races.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 4

2:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

Hardway Mike is the class of the rating board here, with the next-best a meaningful step behind.

win7Hardway MikeML 8/5

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 59.0 for Race 4. Ridden by Jose A. Bracho, trained by Jeffrey A. Radosevich. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 13.17 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 23% win rate and finished in the money in 62% of races. For past year, Jockey & Trainer Combo has a 25% win rate and finished in the money in 75% of races.

place6Silence EarthlingML 5/2

Rating board at 57.5. Ridden by Fernando Salazar Becerra. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 13.00 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 55% of races.

show3Kestrel KingML 4/1

Rating board at 55.0. Ridden by David J. Haldar. Ranked 1st in workouts over last month at 12.45 sec/furlong.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 5

2:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — Florida Gator looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win6Florida GatorML 6/1

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 82.7 for Race 5. Ridden by Deshawn L. Parker, trained by Johanna Urieta. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 12.33 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 22% win rate and finished in the money in 59% of races. 9 wins and placed in 32 of 51 races on Dirt tracks. Has placed in 4 of the last 6 races. More than 1 win on today's surface/distance.

place7Bella FutureML 2/1

Rating board at 81.6. Ridden by Jefferson Skerrett. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.17 sec/furlong. Has placed in the last 3 races.

show8BrewingML 5/2

Rating board at 78.9 • 27% career wins. Ridden by Fernando Salazar Becerra. For past year, Jockey has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 55% of races. Has placed in the last 2 races.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 6

3:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

El Notional towers over this field on our ratings — significant gap back to the rest of the shortlist.

win5El NotionalML 6/5

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 59.7 for Race 6. Ridden by Fernando Salazar Becerra, trained by Robert C. Cline. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.55 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 55% of races. Has placed in the last 2 races. Has placed in 2 of the last 2 races. Placed in 2 of 2 races at Thistledown.

place1First TimberML 2/1

Rating board at 58.3. Ridden by Luis Alberto Batista. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 13.29 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 17% win rate and finished in the money in 51% of races.

show6Total GloryML 7/2

Rating board at 55.8. Ridden by Jann N. Hernandez. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 13.92 sec/furlong. Ranked 1st in workouts over last month at 12.28 sec/furlong.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 7

3:50 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

Bet-down spot for Afloat — the rating gap is wide enough that we treat this as a key single.

win2AfloatML 5/2

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 84.4 for Race 7. Career win rate of 42% shows consistency. Ridden by Erik Barbaran, trained by Robert M. Gorham. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 12.29 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 26% win rate and finished in the money in 69% of races. For past year, Jockey & Trainer Combo has a 33% win rate and finished in the money in 69% of races. 3 wins and placed in 5 of 7 races on Dirt tracks. Has placed in the last 4 races. Has placed in 4 of the last 6 races. Has 3 wins and placed in 4 of 6 races at 6 fur. Jockey & Horse combo has a 26% win rate and finished in the money in 69% of races. More than 1 win on today's surface/distance. Horse won last time it raced. 06/17/2026. Horse won last time raced at today's surface/distance. Jockey appears in today's Top 50 Jockeys List.

place5Teaching MomentML 5/1

Rating board at 84.2 • 75% career wins. Ridden by Chelsey Keiser. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.26 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 51% of races.

show6OniricoML 7/2

Rating board at 74.4 • 50% career wins. Ridden by Jose A. Bracho. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 12.38 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 23% win rate and finished in the money in 62% of races.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 runners

Race 8

4:20 PM EDT

Maiden Special Weight · 1 mi · Dirt

Standout on paper: Composition grades multiple points clear of the rest of the field.

win3CompositionML 2/1

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 88.5 for Race 8. Ridden by Rocco Bowen, trained by Timothy E. Hamm. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 13.19 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 23% win rate and finished in the money in 62% of races. For past year, Jockey & Trainer Combo has a 24% win rate and finished in the money in 67% of races. Has placed in 2 of 3 at Medium Distance races. Ranked 1st in workouts over last month at 11.97 sec/furlong. Horse appears in today's Top 50 Horses List.

place6Ravishing RubyML 8/1

Rating board at 79.8. Ridden by Luis Alberto Batista. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.88 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 17% win rate and finished in the money in 51% of races.

show7Dollar DanceML 3/1

Rating board at 68.1. Ridden by Jefferson Skerrett. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 13.12 sec/furlong.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 9 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

Good luck at Thistledown today! Remember to check back for live odds updates and follow us for real-time picks throughout the card. Subscribe to TrackWiz for full access to every race at every track.

← All Thistledown picks & predictions