Thistledown Picks & Predictions — September 1, 2026

Axcel comes in at 5/1 on the morning line and backs it up with a 65.74 TrackWiz rating — second best in the field and a solid number for this level. Trainer Jacinto Lopez and jockey Mauro Cedillo combine on a horse that matches the average speed figure of several rivals while holding a meaningful edge on the overall rating. At 5/1, he's a value play in the exacta underneath Leo's Legacy.

Lookin Like Lucky brings the field's top average speed figure at 54 and a 59.14 rating that ranks third in the race. Trainer Johanson Serrano has him primed from post seven, and Alexander Chavez can let him run his own race. He's a legitimate show threat and adds depth to your trifecta if the pace sets up for a closing move.

Red Chips is the morning-line second choice at 5/2 with strong justification — a 77.63 rating, a 27% career win rate, and the top average speed figure in the field at 55. Trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich saddles Red Chips and Momma K's Boy in the same race, so connections clearly respect this spot. Jefferson Skerrett gets the mount and he's been effective at Thistledown throughout the day.

Swayback Mobil is the longshot angle for the show spot at 10/1, and his 69.91 TrackWiz rating is third in the field — higher than the morning-line favorites Bold Buckeye and Excitement. Trainer Rey Juarez-Mendoza has him ready, Erik Barbaran takes the mount, and if the early pace is honest between some of those front-runners, Swayback Mobil could be rolling late to grab third money.

Master of the Nite is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 with a 79.03 TrackWiz rating — second best in the field — and a 20% career win rate that's consistent. Luis Raul Rivera is having a productive day on the card, and trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich is well-represented throughout the afternoon. He's a deserving place play and could beat Ice Blast if the pace sets up perfectly for him.

Good Stuff is the show pick at a generous 15/1 morning line — that price looks like an overlay when you consider he posts a 53.74 TrackWiz rating and a 16% career win rate that beats several shorter-priced rivals. Trainer Ricardo Bailey and jockey Jason Simpson have him pointing at the right race, and in a mile where pace can get complicated, a horse at this price with a double-digit win rate is worth stacking onto your trifecta.

Rollin in Spiders posts a 71.93 rating and a 16% career win rate — he's the second-best horse on the TrackWiz numbers and rates as a solid play to hit the board at 5/2. Trainer Justin Radosevich gets David J. Haldar up, and from post five there's room to settle and make a run in the back half of a one-mile allowance. If Lightning Speed gets caught in a pace duel, Rollin in Spiders is the most likely beneficiary.

Bukele rounds out the show recommendation with a 66.02 rating and a 16% career win rate that matches Rollin in Spiders — making him competitive despite a 5/1 morning line that implies otherwise. Trainer Caryn Vecchio has him spot-started at the right level, and Alexander Chavez should keep him patient from the rail in a field where the top two horses figure to draw most of the attention. Show value at this price is real.

Kukuk is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 — which means the public sees something here too — and the 68.49 TrackWiz rating backs up that confidence as the second-best number in the race. Trainer Nestor R. Rivera is active at today's meet, and David J. Haldar should find a good spot from post six in a sprint where gate speed matters. Even if Exodus is the real deal, Kukuk's numbers support a strong place effort.

Exuberant Mischief is the morning-line second choice at 9/5 and posts a 58.67 TrackWiz rating — third in the field — with a 53 average speed figure. Trainer Timothy E. Hamm, who has been one of the sharpest operators all day at Thistledown, sends out Rocco Bowen for what could be a well-prepared debut effort. She's a logical show play to anchor your trifecta and gives you coverage if Kukuk underperforms.