Will Rogers Picks & Predictions — November 8, 2026

Lorenzo Gold rates second at 78.62 and brings the second-fastest recent speed figure in the race at 11.75 sec/furlong. He's placed in 4 of 7 dirt starts, showing consistent form on the surface, and Grade A jockey Roman Cruz — 23% wins and 54% in-the-money over the past year — gives him a top-tier pilot. At 3/1, he's the most logical underneath horse if the favorite hits any trouble.

Cla the Joker is worth a look at 10/1 — she sits third in the TrackWiz ratings at 73.03 and has placed in 3 of 5 dirt starts and 3 of her last 5 overall, including back-to-back in-the-money finishes coming in. A 60% in-the-money rate across her career is elite consistency for maiden company. The price makes her an attractive trifecta piece if the top two run 1-2 as expected.

Jess Mr Hocks rates second at 65.16 and clocks the second-fastest recent speed at 12.29 sec/furlong, keeping him in the conversation at this sprint distance. The concern is real — only 1 placing in his last 6 races and just 1 placing in 6 sprint starts — but the raw speed profile gives him a puncher's chance to run second if the favorite clears out. At 3/1 on the morning line he's decently priced for an underneath slot.

Bulletproof Briel sits third in the ratings at 64.82 and brings an interesting connections angle — the jockey/trainer combination has hit at 17% wins and 55% in-the-money over the past year, which is solid efficiency. The form is inconsistent (1 placing in 4 dirt starts, 1 placing in 4 sprint races), but at 6/1 she gives you value in trifecta slots behind a potentially dominant favorite. Worth including in exotic tickets as a hedge.

Jet Black Corona is the public's 2/1 favorite and earns a second-place rating at 73.99 with Roman Cruz — one of the meet's sharpest pilots at 23% wins — aboard. He's hit the board in his last 2 starts, showing current form. The concern is real: just 2 placings in 12 career starts at 300 yards, and at 8 years old he's past the typical peak age for a quarter horse. Use him underneath rather than betting him straight.

Jumpn Toltac owns the fastest recent speed figure in this field at 11.78 sec/furlong and gets a claiming price drop (down from $10,000 to $7,500), which is a positive class angle worth noting. The concern is a short 14-day turnaround when this horse performs better on 30 or more days of rest — that's a flag, but the speed figure and class relief make him an intriguing show and exotic play at 8/1.

Leaving Account comes in with the fastest recent speed figure in the entire field at 11.57 sec/furlong and benefits from a significant class drop — down from $25,000 to $15,000. That's a meaningful relief, and TrackWiz sims gave him a 23.06% win share, actually the highest in the race. He rates second at 82.02 with jockey Erik N. Esqueda (grade B+) handling the lines. At 3/1 on the morning line, he's very much in the win picture as well.

Paint That Dynasty brings the third-fastest recent speed at 11.98 sec/furlong and rates third in the field at 77.80. The concern is he's skipping Lasix while 8 of his rivals are using it — that's a flag in a sprint on dirt. But at 2/1 on the morning line, the public clearly respects him, and his speed profile keeps him in the mix for exotic coverage. Worth using in trifectas beneath the top two.

Tarzans Tarzi Lo rates second in the field at 64.41 and benefits from a jockey/trainer combination that has clicked at 17% wins and 63% in-the-money over the past year — that's strong efficiency from the connections. He also shows up with the third-fastest recent speed at 11.98 sec/furlong. Two concerns: he's coming off a 129-day layoff and may just be tightening up, and he's skipping Lasix while most rivals are on it. Use him as the place horse rather than a straight bet.

Here's your exotic value — Chunky Bunny sits at 20/1 on the morning line but owns the fastest recent speed figure in this entire race at 11.61 sec/furlong, faster than the morning-line favorite. She's placed in 11 of 20 dirt starts and has hit the board in 3 of her last 4 races, showing sharp current form. The TrackWiz rating of 62.29 (third in the field) backs up what the speed figure suggests. At big odds in a 250-yard dash where anything can happen, she's a must-use in trifectas.

Mariahs Candy Girl checks in as the second-rated horse at 70.33 and arrives in outstanding form — placed in 4 of her last 6 starts and in each of her last 4 consecutive outings. The second-fastest recent speed at 11.68 sec/furlong gives her competitive time for this 110-yard sprint. At 7/2 morning line, she's the most logical underneath horse and a clear key in exactas beneath the top pick.

Apollitical Menace owns the fastest recent speed figure in the entire field at 11.42 sec/furlong, edging even the top-rated favorite, and has placed in each of her last 3 starts. That form cycle is real and worth respecting. At 6/1 on the morning line she offers solid show value and exotic appeal — if the speed figures hold, she could surprise at a price in an ultra-short sprint where the fastest horse out of the gate often wins.

Edberg Verde rates second at 76.62 and owns the fastest recent speed in this field at an impressive 11.09 sec/furlong — that's a sharp figure for a 400-yard stakes sprint. Jockey Ramiro Haro Garcia earns an A- grade and the jockey/trainer combination has hit at 17% wins and 48% in-the-money over the past year. The concern is age — he's described as past his prime at 6 years old — but the speed figures say he's still running. At 2/1 morning line he's priced as the public's top choice, so use him underneath.

Lightnin Strikes brings a career win percentage of 46% to match Ca Mental Cartel, with a 66% in-the-money rate and a stellar 7-for-15 dirt record. The jockey/trainer combination of Roman Cruz and Dee Keener has connected at 26% wins and 58% in-the-money over the past year — elite efficiency in a stakes spot. At 5/1 she offers the best value among the top three and rounds out a natural trifecta with the top two rated horses.

Koolnklassy rates second in the field at 70.51 and benefits from a solid jockey/trainer connection — Ramiro Haro Garcia and trainer Jason L. Olmstead have combined at 17% wins and 48% in-the-money over the past year. The 40% career in-the-money rate gives her a foundation of consistent performance for a maiden, and the TrackWiz sim share of 16.86% ranks her clearly second in the field. At 4/1, she's the natural place horse beneath the favorite.

Miss Tuffy Sin Tacha rates third in the field at 67.59 with Roman Cruz — one of the card's leading riders at 23% wins over the past year — getting the leg up. The 42% career in-the-money rate and a 13.07% sim share make her a legitimate show contender. At 6/1 morning line, she rounds out a logical straight exacta and trifecta underneath the top two rated horses.