Pick Pony takes pride in providing the most accurate expert picks available today. Pick Pony Expert Picks are carefully selected by our team of analysts based on analytics from our advanced Past Performance Sheets and Racing Forms. For potential longshot selections, check out Pick Pony’s AI Picks.
Race #1 Expert Picks – Claiming, 1 Mile, Dirt
Win: 8. Drip D’Oro – 87% confidencePlace: 7. Ten Days Later – 38% confidence
Show: 6. Lil Bro Coop – 38% confidence
Alternative: 2. Daryl’s Bolt – 38% confidence🥇
Notes
Drip D’Oro commands overwhelming analyst consensus as the race favorite with seven of eight analysts backing this selection for the win. The horse steps down in class and should benefit from recent conditioning efforts. Ten Days Later provides steady place support after a competitive effort last start, finishing six lengths off the winner at Prairie Meadows. Lil Bro Coop and Daryl’s Bolt split support for the remaining finishing positions. Early speed appears balanced throughout the field, potentially setting up a competitive pace.
Recommended Exotic Bets
Consider an exacta of 8-7, as the top two picks represent the strongest analyst consensus. Trifecta players should construct combinations with 8 on top, using 7-2-6 or 7-6-2 depending on race flow and pace development. Pick Pony analysts suggest using 8 in the win slot across all exotics while expanding place and show combinations to capture value.
Race #2 Expert Picks – Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs, Dirt
Win: 4. Fade To Gold – 38% confidence🥉
Place: 12. Thrill Seeker – 13% confidence🥇
Show: 2. What’s Love – 38% confidence
Alternative: 7. Missin Missy – 13% confidence🥈
Notes
Fade To Gold splits consensus support in what appears to be a competitive maiden special weight with limited standout form. The filly has placed in higher-class races and seeks to bounce back from a recent disappointment. Thrill Seeker draws intrigue as a first-time starter for the Sharp-Lopez connection, which has found early-meeting success. What’s Love impressed on debut and merits serious consideration despite being passed over by some analysts as a pace threat. This race presents significant uncertainty with multiple first-time starters and young runners with limited racing experience.
Recommended Exotic Bets
This is a less defined race requiring wider exotic coverage. Pick Pony analysts suggest a $1 trifecta wheel using Fade To Gold (4) with all horses, or expanding to a box using 4-12-2-7 to capture multiple finishing permutations. The maiden special weight landscape favors horses capable of stalking and closing; consider the analytical models identifying pace scenarios rather than form lines alone.
Race #3 Expert Picks – Maiden Claiming, 1 1/16 Miles, Turf
Win: 1. Liam’s Lagoon – 78% confidence
Place: 3. Porkyismyname – 22% confidence
Show: 11. Got Stripes – 33% confidence
Alternative: 8. Edgerton – 33% confidence🥇
Notes
Liam’s Lagoon dominates consensus support with seven of nine analysts selecting this runner to win. The horse demonstrates credible form having finished third in tougher company at Churchill Downs while returning from an eight-week layoff. Porkyismyname enters with several placing efforts this preparation and provides secondary support for exacta construction. Got Stripes brings multiple identifiers as a closer type, while Edgerton receives backing from analysts appreciating the class relief and surface advantage. Turf form differentials create relevant picking distinctions; the Amoss-trained Liam’s Lagoon possesses the strongest credentials on the grass.
Recommended Exotic Bets
Pick Pony analysts recommend straight exactas of 1-3 and 1-11, given the pronounced preference for Liam’s Lagoon. Trifecta players should utilize 1 across the top while boxing 3-11-8 for place and show positions. Consider a $2 exacta box of 1-3 with backup wagers on 1-11 to capture value if Liam’s Lagoon maintains form while Got Stripes closes from behind.
Race #4 Expert Picks – Delmar R. Caldwell Memorial Stakes, 6 Furlongs, Dirt, $100,000
Win: 1. Blue Fire – 56% confidence
Place: 7. Secret Faith – 44% confidence🥇Show: 3. Sassi Strutter – 11% confidenceAlternative: 5. Six String – 11% confidence🥈
Notes
This stakes race presents a closer competitive dynamic than the earlier non-stakes events. Blue Fire draws strong support as a track specialist at Fair Grounds with four previous victories at the venue, though returning from a 29-week absence creates reconditioning risk. Secret Faith has proven highly competitive in the state-bred division and possesses excellent Fair Grounds form; some analysts view this runner as the real danger in the race. The competition remains quality-driven for a Louisiana-bred stakes, with both principals having legitimate credentials. Sassi Strutter provides modest depth, while Six String returns from a lengthy layoff and may require this outing to sharpen.
Recommended Exotic Bets
Pick Pony analysts suggest an exacta of 1-7, reflecting the two-horse consensus at the top. A show-money exacta box using 1-7 provides balanced coverage. Trifecta players should use 1-7 on top with 3-5-6 underneath, as the third through sixth horses represent reasonable closing candidates. Consider using 7 across if comfortable with Secret Faith as a potential upset winner, creating multiple ticket scenarios covering both outcomes.
Race #5 Expert Picks – Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 Mile, Turf WIN + EXACTA
Win: 7. Boss Of All Bosses – 25% confidence🥇
Place: 5. Flash N Class – 13% confidence🥈
Show: 8. Southscape – 13% confidence
Alternative: 9. Wish Carefully – 13% confidence
Notes
This allowance optional claiming race displays weak analyst consensus, suggesting genuine competitive balance among multiple contenders. Boss Of All Bosses returns from a 12-week layoff following a placed effort as favorite at Horseshoe Indianapolis, making this runner a reasonable target but not a dominant choice. Flash N Class brings recent form credentials and solid turf pedigree, though one analyst identified Wish Carefully as the primary turf form runner. Southscape provides resume credentials with a placed effort as favorite at this track, and the lay-off concerns remain moderate compared to some field entries. The one-mile turf distance favors horses with proven grass credentials; form lines show meaningful separation exists despite the lack of overwhelming consensus pick patterns.
Recommended Exotic Bets
This race lacks strong consensus, requiring wider coverage. Pick Pony analysts recommend trifecta construction using multiple horses, such as a $1 trifecta box using 7-5-8-9. Exacta players should consider underlaying the favorite with secondary choices like 5-7, 8-7, or 9-7 to capture value. The turf form differentials create multiple betting scenarios; exercise caution with horses making first-time transitions to the grass.
Race #6 Expert Picks – Maiden Special Weight, 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt WIN
Win: 8. Arabia Wild – 75% confidence🥇
Place: 2. El Capo – 25% confidence
Show: 5. Black Hornet – 25% confidence🥈
Alternative: 3. High Go – 13% confidence
Notes
Arabia Wild demonstrates strong analyst consensus as the race favorite with six of eight analysts supporting this selection. The runner presents proven maiden-level credentials after two placing efforts and returns from a 10-week rest period fresh for this assignment. El Capo brings solid placed efforts from higher competition levels and provides the primary alternative for exacta construction. Black Hornet rates as a reasonable closer type with step-up distance potential in this 1 1/16-mile route. High Go merits consideration as another closing candidate, particularly if early speed proves unsustainable. The maiden special weight distance and dirt surface should suit a runner with Arabia Wild’s placement history and racing pattern.
Recommended Exotic Bets
Pick Pony analysts recommend straight exactas of 8-2 and 8-5, given Arabia Wild’s pronounced consensus advantage. Trifecta players should use 8 across the top while constructing place and show combinations from 2-5-3. Consider a $2 exacta box of 8-2 with a backup $1 exacta on 8-5 to cover both runner-up scenarios. The consensus weight on Arabia Wild reduces payout potential, but the pick quality merits defensive wagering strategies.
Race #7 Expert Picks – Andrew Ney Memorial Stakes, 6 Furlongs, Dirt, $100,000 BOXED EXACTA
Win: 1. Geaux Sugar – 75% confidence🥈
Place: 8. Not On Herb – 38% confidence🥇
Show: 3. Smash It – 13% confidence
Alternative: 7. El Dinero – 13% confidence🥉
Notes
Geaux Sugar commands substantial analyst support as the race favorite with six of eight analysts selecting this runner to repeat in a stakes setting. The runner possesses an impressive state-bred record with three Fair Grounds victories and returns fresh from a 25-week layoff with strong conditioning indicators. Not On Herb enters as the primary alternative with eight career wins and proven Fair Grounds credentials, particularly on the main track where this runner has performed competitively. Smash It returns from a 39-week layoff and appears likely to require this effort for sharpening purposes; form suggests this runner finished uncompetitively at Sunland Park last out. El Dinero and other entries provide depth but lack the form lines supporting the top choices. Pick Pony analysts view this as a two-horse race with Geaux Sugar as the likely pacesetter.
Recommended Exotic Bets
Pick Pony analysts strongly recommend exacta wagering of 1-8, reflecting the primary finishing prediction. Trifecta players should use 1-8 on top with 3-7-6 underneath. Consider a $2 exacta on 1-8 combined with smaller trifecta tickets using 1 across the top to balance stakes race value extraction with defensive coverage. The consensus weight on Geaux Sugar suggests moderate payout potential, but the form credentials support tactical wagering concentration.
Race #8 Expert Picks – Allowance Optional Claiming, 1 Mile, Turf
Win: 1. Calicoco – 25% confidencePlace: 16. Ballinonabudjet – 13% confidenceShow: 8. Fran’s Star – 13% confidence🥉Alternative: 15. Pacificislandtime – 13% confidence
Notes
This allowance optional claiming event displays weak pick consensus, with Calicoco receiving modest support despite impressive career grass credentials and multiple Fair Grounds victories. The runner returns from a 35-week layoff with an established record on the turf; however, the extensive time away creates reconditioning uncertainty. Ballinonabudjet comes off a recent maiden-breaking success at Fair Grounds and carries significant recent momentum. Fran’s Star provides resume form on the turf and enters as an upset possibility if race pace proves favorable. Pacificislandtime brings the highest recent winning percentage among field entries and recently transferred trainers, creating potential uncertainty. The widespread lack of pick consensus suggests genuine competitive balance or form uncertainty; use caution with horses making transitions or returning from extended layoffs.
Recommended Exotic Bets
This race lacks strong directional consensus. Pick Pony analysts recommend trifecta construction using multiple horses, such as a $1 trifecta box using 1-16-8-15. Exacta players seeking value might consider underlays like 16-1, 8-1, or 15-1 to capture potential upsets. Place and show wagering offers defensive coverage in what appears to be a competitive field. The turf form questions create volatility; limit wagering exposure until post-race form verification confirms picks.
Race #9 Expert Picks – Jacob V. Morreale Memorial Stakes, 1 Mile 70 Yards, Dirt, $100,000
Win: 5. Sippin On Gin – 50% confidence
Place: 11. Hay Jude – 25% confidence
Show: 3. Letmikefigureitout – 13% confidence🥇
Alternative: 8. Allnight Moonlight – 13% confidence
Notes
Sippin On Gin demonstrates solid analyst consensus as the primary choice with four of eight analysts supporting this runner for the win. The horse returns from a 15-week layoff and possesses a strong placement record showing consistency at premium class levels. Hay Jude provides secondary support after finishing two lengths off the winner last out at this track, suggesting improved form trajectory entering the stakes. Letmikefigureitout and Allnight Moonlight represent viable alternatives, with Allnight Moonlight showing solid grass form credentials despite limited main track experience. The mile-and-70-yard distance represents a meaningful stretch with speed testing for route runners. Sippin On Gin’s consistency profile makes this runner attractive, though upset potential exists if early-running speed proves unsustainable during the extended route context.
Recommended Exotic Bets
Pick Pony analysts recommend exacta wagering of 5-11, capturing the primary finishing prediction. Trifecta players should construct combinations using 5 across the top while boxing 11-3-8 for place and show positions. Consider a $1 exacta on 5-11 combined with a $1 trifecta using 5-11-3 and 5-11-8 to balance stakes race value extraction. The consensus weight on Sippin On Gin remains moderate, suggesting reasonable payout scenarios despite solid form credentials.
