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Woodbine Picks & Predictions — August 20, 2026

August 20, 20267 racesAll Woodbine picks

Happy Thursday at Woodbine. We've got a pleasant late-summer afternoon shaping up — partly cloudy skies and 77°F — which is just about ideal for racing on both the dirt and the turf. Seven races are on the card today, split between two surfaces, and there's enough variety in conditions and class levels to keep things interesting from first post to last.

The mix of maiden races, claiming events, and optional claimers gives us a card where pace scenarios can shift dramatically from race to race. Dirt races in the early going and a pair of turf routes in the middle of the card make surface-reading a key part of today's handicapping puzzle. The comfortable weather means the turf should be playing true — always a plus when you're trying to trust your figures.

Best Bets

Race 1

7:10 PM EDT

Maiden Optional Claiming · 5 fur · Dirt

A maiden optional claimer sprinting 5 furlongs on the dirt — experience is thin across the board, so the TrackWiz ratings become the primary separator in what shapes up as a wide-open opener.

win2Lovely RainbowML 2/1

Lovely Rainbow tops the TrackWiz ratings at 58.33 and is one of only two horses in the field showing a recorded average speed figure (54), giving her a measurable edge over rivals who are essentially unknown quantities. Trainer William Tharrenos saddles two horses in this race, which signals stable confidence, and at 2/1 on the morning line she's the public's choice for good reason. The 5-furlong sprint suits horses with early foot, and if she breaks cleanly for jockey Jeffrey Ian Alderson, she'll be tough to catch.

place5Princess OrlaithML 5/2

Princess Orlaith comes in with the second-highest rating in the field at 57.5, bridging a narrow gap behind our top pick. Trainer Tino Attard has a solid reputation at Woodbine, and Pietro Moran in the irons adds confidence — this is a pair worth trusting at 5/2 on a maiden who could surprise if Lovely Rainbow doesn't fire her best.

show6Have RespectML 7/2

Have Respect at 7/2 is worth slotting into your exotics at third. She carries a 55.83 rating and an average speed figure of 53, putting her squarely in the competitive zone for this field. Trainer Robert P. Tiller knows how to place a horse, and if the pace gets hot early between the top two, a closer profile here could be rewarded.

Race 2

7:43 PM EDT

Optional Claiming · 7 fur · Turf

A full and sprawling 13-horse optional claiming field on the turf sets up with a sharp class divide — two horses rated well above 80 stand out from the crowd while the rest of the field scrambles for the minor awards.

win11Lady IzzyML 5/2

Lady Izzy is the clear TrackWiz top-rated horse in this field at 87.81, a significant jump above her closest rivals. Trainer Sid C. Attard is a proven Woodbine turf conditioner, and the 5/2 morning line reflects genuine market respect. At 9% career win rate she's a grinder who shows up, and the 7-furlong turf trip at Woodbine is a trip that plays right into her profile.

place4Tap My DesireML 4/1

Tap My Desire rates second-best in the field at 82.78 — only five points behind our top pick — and comes in with an average speed figure of 53 on the turf. At 4/1 on the morning line with Keveh Nicholls up for trainer Philip Hall, this is a horse who could easily flip the result if the pace scenario sets up for a presser. Definitely include her underneath in exactas.

show12Daddy's SecretML 6/1

Daddy's Secret is the third-best rated runner here at 76.5, and her 16% career win rate is one of the stronger marks in a field where several horses are sitting in single digits. Emma-Jayne Wilson is one of the savviest riders in the colony and knows how to navigate a big turf field. At 6/1, she's a legitimate show play and adds depth to any exacta or trifecta ticket.

Race 3

8:19 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

The top of the claiming ranks are dominated by two horses — a near-perfect rated favorite and a lightly bet closer with an eye-catching win percentage — making the real question here whether the favorite delivers or gets caught napping.

win1MoventothecountryML 5/2

Moventothecountry carries the maximum TrackWiz rating of 87.81 in this field, a commanding lead over everyone else in the gate. Trainer Michael Mattine sends her out at 5/2 with Sahin Civaci aboard — a familiar Woodbine partnership — and the 1 1/16-mile dirt route gives a quality horse room to settle and assert. At 11% career win rate she won't blow you away on paper, but the rating gap is substantial enough to make her the clear top choice.

place8Armada RisingML 6/1

Armada Rising is the most intriguing horse in the field for value players: a 50% career win rate that absolutely jumps off the page, even accounting for a small sample size. Her TrackWiz rating of 63.58 and average speed of 54 put her solidly in the frame, and trainer Philip Hall keeps her sharp. If the pace gets honest up front, this closer could be finishing fastest of all at a juicy 6/1.

show4That Girl ArtemusML 3/1

That Girl Artemus slots in third at 56.01 on the TrackWiz scale and shows the best career win percentage among the mid-tier horses at 16%. Trainer Kerron Palmer runs two horses in this race — also saddling Makayla — which tells you the barn is feeling good about their chances. Eswan Flores is a solid pick-up in the irons, and a pace scenario favoring closers suits this profile well at 3/1.

Our three free races today — Races 1, 2, and 3 — cover a lot of ground. We open with a maiden optional claimer on the dirt sprint, where Lovely Rainbow (morning line 2/1) headlines our analysis. From there, Race 2 shifts to the turf for seven furlongs of optional claiming action, and Lady Izzy (5/2) carries one of the day's highest TrackWiz ratings in the free portion of the card. Race 3 brings us back to the dirt for a route, and Moventothecountry (5/2) matches Lady Izzy's 87.81 rating — a near-identical score that makes this an unusually strong one-two punch of free content.

A quick angle worth noting across these early races: with the turf playing fair and the dirt surface at Woodbine likely rewarding early pace on a warm, dry afternoon, keep an eye on how horses are positioned out of the gate. Front-runners and pace-pressers have been holding up well under similar conditions, and that context matters when you're sizing up the maiden fields in Races 1 and 3.

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Full Card Analysis

Race 4

8:53 PM EDT

Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

A premium race locked behind the TrackWiz subscription — and for good reason: the morning-line favorite doesn't match up with the top-rated horse, setting up a potential overlay and one of the card's best betting opportunities.

win7Catch the DriftML 8/1

Catch the Drift is our TrackWiz top pick at 79.79 — significantly above the morning-line favorite Galley Head despite being priced at 8/1. Trainer Michael Mattine places a horse well, and Jeffrey Ian Alderson gives this barn a reliable pilot. The average speed figure of 54 matches the best in the field, and at that morning-line price, the value case here is compelling. Our analysis suggests the public has underestimated this runner.

place4Galley HeadML 9/5

Galley Head is the public's choice at 9/5 and not without merit — a 27% career win rate is the best in the field by a wide margin, and an average speed of 54 keeps her competitive on the figures. Trainer David Borsk clearly has her fit, and Keveh Nicholls aboard adds tactical versatility. She's a deserving second choice, but at short odds her place payoff won't be generous — factor that into your ticket-building.

show5Holiday With AmyML 10/1

Holiday With Amy at 10/1 is the price play worth stashing in your trifectas. Her TrackWiz rating of 63.75 is third-best in the field — above both Foxy Diva and Flying Black — and her average speed of 54 ties the best in the race. Trainer Patrick Dixon drops her in here and Jalon L. Samuel picks up the mount; if the two speed horses battle each other, she has the pace setup to be picking up the pieces late.

Race 5

9:26 PM EDT

Optional Claiming · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

Two horses have separated themselves from the optional claiming turf field with ratings above 87, creating a de facto match race at the top — the value question is whether the 2/1 shot or the 5/2 shot gets the upper hand stretching out to 1 1/16 miles on the lawn.

win7Bold RipassoML 2/1

Bold Ripasso holds the top TrackWiz rating in the field at 88.54 and backs it up with the deepest career credentials — a 28% win rate that stands alone in this group. Pietro Moran is one of Woodbine's most capable riders and the 2/1 morning line reflects genuine market confidence. The 1 1/16-mile turf trip gives this horse room to do what he does best, and trainer Donald C. MacRae has him ready.

place6Secret LoadML 5/2

Secret Load rates just a whisker behind at 87.81 — essentially a dead heat with Bold Ripasso on the TrackWiz scale — and comes in with Emma-Jayne Wilson, who is outstanding on the turf at Woodbine. Trainer Richard G. Hayashi keeps this horse dialed in, and at 5/2 she's genuine value if the top pick hits any traffic. She's a near-automatic place selection and the key to any exacta.

show1North YorkML 4/1

North York at 4/1 rounds out our key selections with a 72.06 rating and a 16% career win rate, respectable in this company. Trainer Stuart C. Simon runs two horses in the race, which tells you the barn is loaded for bear today. David Moran grabs the mount, and with two speed figures of 53, North York has enough ability to stay competitive and collect a check if the top two have a heated battle.

Race 6

9:58 PM EDT

Maiden Optional Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

A maiden optional claimer over 6 furlongs on the dirt features a sharp form reversal angle at the top — the morning-line favorite doesn't match the TrackWiz top-rated horse, and that gap could translate into serious overlay value.

win4Baccaro PointML 3/1

Baccaro Point rates 87.08 — the top mark in this maiden field — and is sent out at 3/1 on the morning line by trainer Andrew Smith with Pietro Moran in the irons. His average speed figure of 53 is competitive, and in a maiden race where most rivals have yet to break their maiden, that consistency matters. The 6-furlong sprint on the dirt is a trip where sharp figures can dominate, and TrackWiz analysis puts him clearly on top.

place5Well LitML 7/5

Well Lit is the public's favorite at 7/5, and while she rates second at 75.86, the gap between her and Baccaro Point is notable — roughly 11 points on the TrackWiz scale. Trainer Krista Cole and jockey Christoff Douglas are a pairing worth respecting, and her average speed of 53 keeps her squarely in the mix. She's probably a vulnerable short-priced favorite, but she's talented enough to collect at least a place.

show3Cosa TapaML 7/2

Cosa Tapa at 7/2 is worth a spot in your trifectas as the third-best rated runner at 55.83. Trainer Tino Attard has a proven record developing young horses at Woodbine, and Sahin Civaci is a journeyman who gets results when given a live mount. Without a recorded speed figure she carries some mystery, but that Attard connection in a maiden race is an angle worth a small investment.

Race 7

10:27 PM EDT

Maiden Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Dirt

A nine-horse maiden claiming sprint at 5½ furlongs features the card's clearest top-rated horse — but the morning-line favorite is a different runner, creating a genuine overlay situation that sharp bettors should exploit.

win1FeatherweightML 4/1

Featherweight tops the TrackWiz ratings at 85.62 and represents a significant jump over the rest of the maiden field. Trainer Santino C. DiPaola puts Pietro Moran on top — a high-leverage jockey booking for a trainer who clearly believes in this horse. With an average speed of 54 that ties the field's best, Featherweight has the raw ability to dominate a maiden claimer and is available at a generous 4/1 on the morning line despite being our top pick.

place4Butterfly BillieML 2/1

Butterfly Billie is the morning-line favorite at 2/1 and rates second on our scale at 78.09 — a legitimate contender with a respectable average speed of 53. Trainer Sylvain Pion and jockey Jose Luis Campos make a capable combination, and in a maiden sprint she won't need to do anything fancy. If Featherweight doesn't break cleanly, Butterfly Billie has the profile to steal this.

show9No MistakeML 6/1

No Mistake at 6/1 is the value show play in the field, posting a 67.25 rating that slots her comfortably into third among the nine runners. Trainer Joseph Humber has her competitive on the figures with an average speed of 53, and Luis R. Reyes is a capable hand in the irons. In a maiden sprint where pace can be chaotic, a horse with solid figures and a double-digit morning line is exactly the kind of runner that pops in exotic payoffs.

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Woodbine hands us a workable seven-race card on a beautiful August afternoon. Lady Izzy and Moventothecountry stand out as the strongest free-race plays, while Bold Ripasso and the intriguing longshot Catch the Drift headline the premium half of the card. Grab the free picks below, and if you want the full-card pace projections and exotic ticket breakdowns, the complete analysis is waiting for subscribers — check out TrackWiz premium and get the edge before first post.

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