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Thistledown Picks & Predictions — September 7, 2026

September 7, 20268 racesAll Thistledown picks

This card ran on September 7, 2026.

Best bets at Thistledown, September 7, 2026

Race 11Kingdom TrailsML 2/112:50 PM EDT

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Labor Day weekend stretches into Monday at Thistledown, and the track is serving up a clean, crisp 8-race card to close it out. With clear skies and temperatures sitting right at 74°F, the dirt should be playing fast and consistent all afternoon — the kind of conditions where pace scenarios sharpen up and speed figures become a reliable compass.

Today's card leans heavily on claiming company, which is Thistledown's bread and butter, but Race 7 steps things up with an allowance feature at 6 furlongs. That's where the better horses come to play, and it's a race worth circling early. The first three races are open to everyone, so whether you're a TrackWiz subscriber or just dipping a toe in, there's plenty to dig into before the first post.

Best Bets

Race 1

12:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

A one-mile dirt claimer with a clear top three on paper, but the morning line spreads from 2/1 to 20/1 — the value question is whether the chalk holds or one of the mid-prices sneaks in.

win1Kingdom TrailsML 2/1

Kingdom Trails enters as our top-rated horse in the field at 88.54 and draws the morning-line favoritism at 2/1 for good reason. A 27% career win rate is genuinely strong for a claiming runner, and trainer Nestor R. Rivera puts him in a spot where the distance — a full mile on dirt — suits the profile. Jockey David J. Haldar gets the call, and with that rating advantage over the rest of the field, Kingdom Trails is the horse to beat in Race 1.

place4Wonder WorldML 7/2

Wonder World posts the second-highest TrackWiz rating in the field at 86.35 and backs it up with the best career win percentage of anyone in this race at 33%. Trainer Ricardo Bailey and jockey Jason Simpson make for a competent combo, and at 7/2 on the morning line, there's a scenario where Wonder World outperforms that number if the pace sets up honestly over a mile.

show7Work'n On a BuzzML 4/1

Work'n On a Buzz slots in third on our ratings at 84.06 — tight enough to the top two to make him a genuine exotic player. His average speed figure of 53 is a tick above several rivals, and at 4/1 he's a fair price for trifecta coverage. Trainer Robert C. Cline and jockey Mauro Cedillo round out a workmanlike but respectable combination.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 8 runners

Race 2: Free with an Account

Race 2

1:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Six furlongs on the dirt with a legitimate upset angle hiding in the outside post — Her Own Shadow carries the top TrackWiz rating but goes postward at 9/2, making this a potential value race if the public oversupports the morning-line favorite.

win7Her Own ShadowML 9/2

Her Own Shadow is our top-rated horse at 84.90 and ties Spun in Dominus for the best career win percentage in the field at 37% — that combination of raw rating and proven closing ability is hard to ignore. She goes at 9/2 on the morning line despite those credentials, which likely reflects a tough outside post draw more than any fundamental weakness. Trainer Jeffrey A. Radosevich puts her in a manageable six-furlong spot, and if jockey Luis Raul Rivera can find a clean trip from gate seven, the price makes this a standout value play.

place2Laketown EllyML 5/2

Laketown Elly is the morning-line choice at 5/2 and backs up that favoritism with a 33% career win rate — best among the horses the public will likely key on. Her TrackWiz rating of 70.80 is solid, and trainer Craig Sweeting keeps her in familiar claiming territory. If the pace gets hot up front, Laketown Elly's win percentage suggests she knows how to finish.

show1Queen KittyML 6/1

Queen Kitty is an interesting show option at 6/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 69.24 — third-highest in the race. She's been a tough out for trainer Loren Huepenbecker, and while a 14% career win rate won't win any awards, her speed figures are competitive at 53. In a six-furlong sprint where things can get chaotic early, she's a reasonable trifecta anchor.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

The free portion of today's card opens with a mile-long claiming race that puts Kingdom Trails (2/1 morning line, TrackWiz rating 88.54) front and center — a strong rating for the claiming ranks, and the extra ground suits horses who project to get a comfortable pace setup. From there we shift to a 6-furlong sprint in Race 2, where Her Own Shadow at 9/2 offers a touch of value if the pace sets up to her liking. Race 3 is maiden claiming territory at 6 furlongs, and Remix From Phoenix comes in as the morning-line favorite at 9/5 with the highest TrackWiz rating of the first three races at 88.83 — a number that suggests she's a legitimate standout in this field.

With the dirt playing true on a clear afternoon, the common thread through all three free races is straightforward: pace matters. Horses that can find position early without burning too much fuel should have a leg up. TrackWiz analysis on these three races is free to all readers — no subscription required.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 3

1:50 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Maiden claimers going six furlongs — nobody in this field has broken their maiden yet, but the ratings spread is wide enough to suggest a clear hierarchy, with a longshot show play worth sprinkling in for exotic ticket builders.

win1Remix From PhoenixML 9/5

Remix From Phoenix carries the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 88.83 — a meaningful edge in a maiden claiming sprint where separation is everything. The 9/5 morning line suggests the betting public agrees, and trainer Joshua Langley sends him out with jockey Angel I. Diaz, a dependable combination for this level. In a race where no horse has a win to their name, the rating advantage alone makes Remix From Phoenix the most logical win play.

place3Worthy of It AllML 2/1

Worthy of It All checks in second on our ratings at 83.07 and actually owns the best average speed figure in the field at 52, matching Skiptheguilttrip but doing it with a significantly higher overall rating. Trainer Michael L. Rone and jockey Erik Barbaran are a sharp pairing, and at 2/1 on the morning line, the horse has legitimate win upside — place coverage looks like a smart hedge if Remix runs to his number.

show4SkiptheguilttripML 10/1

Skiptheguilttrip is the longshot value play for show at 10/1, and the case is straightforward — a TrackWiz rating of 60.47 puts him third in this field, ahead of the three lowest-rated horses by a comfortable margin. Trainer Paul G. Overholt gives him a reasonable trip at six furlongs, and his average speed figure of 52 ties for the field's best. At double-digit odds, he's a great trifecta wheel option for bettors building exotics.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 4

2:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

The morning-line favorite here isn't our top-rated horse — Bumpkin at 6/1 holds the highest TrackWiz score in a five-and-a-half-furlong sprint, setting up a potential overlay for sharp bettors willing to fade the chalk.

win4BumpkinML 6/1

Bumpkin is the top-rated horse in Race 4 at 82.71 and also posts the field's best average speed figure at 55 — a genuine advantage in a short sprint where early punch matters. Despite those credentials, the morning line has him at 6/1, which creates a real overlay opportunity if Wasabi Beach gets overbet as the 9/5 favorite. Trainer Shane Meyers places him in a five-and-a-half-furlong dirt claimer that fits his speed profile, and jockey Alexander Chavez is capable of getting him out of the gate clean.

place3Corner OfficeML 7/2

Corner Office rates second in the field at 79.43 with an average speed figure of 54 — right there with the top horses and only a tick behind Bumpkin on raw numbers. Trainer Marco Ibarra uses Luis Alberto Batista in the irons, and at 7/2 on the morning line, Corner Office is priced more like a co-favorite than a secondary option. He's a strong place play and a logical exacta partner with Bumpkin.

show2Right On the MunnyML 2/1

Right On the Munny comes in as the morning-line choice at 2/1 on the back of a 35% career win rate — best in the field by a wide margin. Her TrackWiz rating of 67.43 doesn't quite match the top two, but that win percentage tells you she competes hard consistently. Trainer Nicole Higham keeps her at a comfortable level, and Fernando Salazar Becerra gives her a live shot at the board even if she gets outrated on paper.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 5

2:50 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 mi · Dirt

Sweet as Sin dominates the ratings in this one-mile claimer, but Big Lucky's 45% career win rate is the eye-catching number in the field — a deep closer could complicate things if the pace collapses.

win3Sweet as SinML 8/5

Sweet as Sin leads all horses in Race 5 with a TrackWiz rating of 89.12 — the top mark on today's entire card — and trainer Kim A. Puhl puts her in a one-mile dirt claimer that looks well within her range. Jockey Luis Antonio Gonzalez gets the assignment, and at 8/5 on the morning line, the public isn't sleeping on her. For a horse with a 25% career win rate and that kind of rating edge, the question isn't whether she's the best — it's whether the pace scenario over a mile sets up for her.

place5Hot GunnerML 7/2

Hot Gunner gives trainer Kim A. Puhl a second string in this race, and the stable confidence is worth noting — when a barn fires two into the same spot, they usually like both. His TrackWiz rating of 67.19 is a clear step below Sweet as Sin but well ahead of the lower half of the field, and Rocco Bowen is a capable rider who can navigate a one-mile trip. At 7/2, he's a comfortable place play and a natural exacta partner with his stablemate.

show1Big LuckyML 6/1

Big Lucky is the most fascinating number in this race — a 45% career win rate on a horse going at 6/1. His TrackWiz rating of 61.04 doesn't tell the full story when the win percentage screams competitiveness, and trainer Nestor R. Rivera knows this horse well, also saddling More Than Five in the same race. Alexander Chavez in the irons keeps the trip manageable, and in a race where the pace could get honest over a mile, Big Lucky is a live show threat and an intriguing exacta/trifecta piece.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

Race 6

3:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

The public money figures to flow toward My Cajun Lady at 2/1, but our analysis says the morning-line favorite is actually the third-best horse in here — Starcourt at 4/1 is the overlay and the play.

win6StarcourtML 4/1

Starcourt leads all horses in Race 6 with a TrackWiz rating of 85.62 and backs it up with an average speed figure of 54 — tied for best in the field. The 4/1 morning line is generous given that edge, particularly since the 2/1 favorite My Cajun Lady rates significantly lower at 59.67. Trainer Richard L. Genovese puts him in a six-furlong dirt claimer that fits, and jockey Alexander Chavez — who's had multiple mounts today — knows how to handle a sprinter on this track.

place1VodkatiniML 7/2

Vodkatini rates second in the field at 80.35 and draws favorable rail position at post one, which in a six-furlong dirt sprint can be a legitimate edge if the speed horse gets out cleanly. His 14% career win rate is modest, but the rating and speed figure of 53 suggest he runs competitively most trips. Trainer James R. Jackson sends him out with Luis Raul Rivera, and at 7/2, the place payoff could be attractive if Starcourt runs his race on top.

show5Special BeachML 6/1

Special Beach is third on our ratings at 73.33 with the field's best average speed figure at 54 — tied with Starcourt. The 6/1 morning line makes him an interesting exotics play, particularly because trainer Joseph P. Mahan's horse has a 13% career win rate that understates how often he threatens. Jefferson Skerrett rides, and in a six-furlong sprint, a horse sitting on a 54 speed figure can get hot if the pace sets up right.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 7

3:50 PM EDT

Allowance · 6 fur · Dirt

An allowance sprint at six furlongs — a step above the claimers — where two horses separate themselves clearly from the pack, setting up a potential exacta battle between the top two in the morning line.

win2All Pepped UpML 2/1

All Pepped Up leads the allowance field with a TrackWiz rating of 88.54 and comes in at 2/1 on the morning line, which feels about right for the top-rated horse at this level. Trainer Robert M. Gorham saddles him alongside stablemate Kiddie Cocktail, and the stable confidence of doubling up in an allowance suggests genuine belief in All Pepped Up's form. Jockey Erik Barbaran gets the mount, and with a 16% career win rate in allowance company, this horse has proven he belongs at this level.

place5CatpuccinoML 9/5

Catpuccino is the 9/5 morning-line pick — actually installed as a shorter price than our win selection — and carries an 81.33 TrackWiz rating with the field's best average speed figure at 54. Trainer David Wolochuk's runner has a 16% career win rate that mirrors All Pepped Up's, making this a genuinely competitive top-two. Mauro Cedillo rides, and if the pace scenario at six furlongs allows Catpuccino to stalk and pounce, she has the raw numbers to run All Pepped Up down.

show1Kiddie CocktailML 9/2

Kiddie Cocktail is the third wheel in a race controlled by two standouts, but at 9/2 she brings a 68.23 TrackWiz rating that leaves a comfortable gap between herself and the lower half of the field. Trainer Robert M. Gorham putting her in the same race as All Pepped Up tells you she's meant to compete, not just fill a spot. Fernando Salazar Becerra rides, and in a six-furlong allowance where pace can get contentious, Kiddie Cocktail has the profile to pick up pieces in the stretch.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 6 runners

Race 8

4:20 PM EDT

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A six-furlong dirt closer with a legitimate overlay at the top — Diamonds N Dew carries the highest TrackWiz rating but draws a 3/1 morning line behind a public favorite in Miss Springsteen, creating a sharp-money spot to close out the card.

win6Diamonds N DewML 3/1

Diamonds N Dew leads the Race 8 field with a TrackWiz rating of 87.08 and a 21% career win rate — solid credentials for a closing six-furlong claimer. The 3/1 morning line is slightly more generous than you'd expect for the top-rated horse, particularly since the 2/1 public favorite Miss Springsteen rates meaningfully lower at 81.41. Trainer Shane Meyers gives jockey Luis Raul Rivera a live animal to close out the card, and the numbers say this is the play.

place3Miss SpringsteenML 2/1

Miss Springsteen is the morning-line choice at 2/1 with a TrackWiz rating of 81.41 and a 17% career win rate — respectable numbers, though she sits second on our ratings behind Diamonds N Dew. Trainer Gary L. Johnson sends her out with Chelsey Keiser, a rider who's seen action throughout this card. Even if she gets outrun late, the six-furlong distance on dirt suits her average speed figure of 53, and she'll likely be on or near the lead to make the favorite backers sweat.

show7Olympic WingsML 7/2

Olympic Wings completes a logical top three with a TrackWiz rating of 78.81 — a solid number for a show position on the closer end of the card. Trainer Richard Zielinski uses Victor R. Fernandez, and the 7/2 morning line suggests the public respects this horse even if they aren't making him a win pick. His average speed figure of 53 keeps him competitive in this sprint, and as a trifecta piece behind the top two, he's the most credible option in a short field.

Live odds, scratches and ratings for all 7 runners

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A clear, comfortable afternoon at Thistledown with eight races and a legitimate allowance feature to anchor the card — it's a good day to be at the window. Start with Kingdom Trails, Her Own Shadow, and Remix From Phoenix in the free races, then let TrackWiz guide you through the rest. Subscribers have the full pace projections, exotic ticket breakdowns, and every top pick waiting for them — check out our premium plans if you want the complete picture before post time.

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