Pick Pony Tip Sheet – Expert picks for Delta Downs, February 14, 2026.


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Race 1 Maiden Special Weight 5 F Dirt $39,500

Win: Mingling Mo (4) – 33% confidence

Place: Crimson Red Road (8) – 33% confidence

Show: Zampino (2) – 33% confidence

Alternative: Range Goat (3) – 33% confidence

Race Notes: A highly contested maiden event where analysts are split between the tactical speed of Mingling Mo (4) and the proven form of Crimson Red Road (8). The consensus leans slightly toward the former based on training reports and early pace figures. Expect a fast opening quarter which could favor those sitting just off the lead.

Race 2 Claiming 5 F Dirt $20,500

Win: Imperial Assault (7) – 50% confidence

Place: Age of Reason (2) – 50% confidence

Show: Jazzy Gal (5) – 50% confidence

Alternative: Railey Jean (1) – 16% confidence

Race Notes: Analysts show strong support for Imperial Assault (7) following a powerful recent effort at this level. Age of Reason (2) is viewed as the primary threat, likely setting the early tempo. The vertical exotic structure seems relatively clear here if the top two choices hold form.

Race 3 Maiden Claiming 7.5 F Dirt $22,000

Win: Cookie Brookie (10) – 50% confidence

Place: Belarsen (6) – 33% confidence

Show: Goodmorning Gracie (1) – 33% confidence

Alternative: Louisiana Woman (9) – 50% confidence

Race Notes: Wide draws in route races can be tricky, but the analyst consensus is firm on Cookie Brookie (10) overcoming the outside post. There is significant divergence on the place and show positions, suggesting a chaotic finish is possible if the favorite falters.

Race 4 Starter Optional Claiming 5 F Dirt $15,000

Win: Lady Hipster (8) – 66% confidence

Place: Usain D’Oro (5) – 50% confidence

Show: Anajuliaforever (7) – 50% confidence

Alternative: Be Bo (2) – 33% confidence

Race Notes: This race features the strongest consensus on the card with multiple analysts backing Lady Hipster (8). The speed-favoring nature of the track today should work to her advantage as she possesses the best early gears in the field.

Race 5 Claiming 1 1/16 M Dirt $20,000

Win: Regatta Bay (2) – 50% confidence

Place: Pitch And Run (3) – 50% confidence

Show: Purrrfect Rhythm (1) – 33% confidence

Alternative: Throwin’ Shade (4) – 33% confidence

Race Notes: A classic distance battle where the inner posts are favored by analysts. Regatta Bay (2) and Pitch And Run (3) are expected to engage early, with the one who relaxes better likely taking the prize. The “all-in” sentiment on the top three suggests limited longshot potential here.

Race 6 Starter Optional Claiming 6.5 F Dirt $33,500

Win: Be Here Now (5) – 66% confidence

Place: Bold Exaggeration (4) – 33% confidence

Show: Miss Dealority (1) – 33% confidence

Alternative: Autism Community (3) – 50% confidence

Race Notes: Analysts are nearly unanimous in identifying Be Here Now (5) as the class of the field. The secondary market seems centered on Bold Exaggeration (4) and Autism Community (3), though both will need career-best efforts to topple the consensus choice.

Race 7 Claiming 5 F Dirt $20,500

Win: Mischievous Rumor (1) – 50% confidence

Place: Gypsy Mischief (5) – 66% confidence

Show: Lifelike (7) – 50% confidence

Alternative: Bearcat (4) – 16% confidence

Race Notes: A tactical speed-dominated race where analysts are divided between the rail-skimming Mischievous Rumor (1) and the outside-closing Gypsy Mischief (5). Pace pressure from the middle of the gate will be the deciding factor in who prevails.

Race 8 Claiming 6.5 F Dirt $14,500

Win: Donegal Freedom (7) – 50% confidence

Place: Primo Canary (2) – 33% confidence

Show: Rhum Saint Esprit (10) – 50% confidence

Alternative: Echo Down (3) – 33% confidence

Race Notes: Donegal Freedom (7) commands the win consensus based on a sharp drop in class. Analysts are looking for Primo Canary (2) to track the pace and potentially inherit the lead if the front-runners tire in the final furlong.

Race 9 Allowance 5 F Dirt $48,000

Win: Daddy’s Gift (2) – 33% confidence

Place: Leobobanna (1) – 33% confidence

Show: Handsome Harold (5) – 50% confidence

Alternative: Coattails (3) – 16% confidence

Race Notes: The most analytically diverse race on the card. Opinion is scattered across five different runners, indicating a high-volatility event. Wagering strategies should focus on multi-horse coverage or passing on single-win bets.

Race 10 Maiden Claiming 6.5 F Dirt $13,000

Win: Boots An Diamonds (8) – 33% confidence

Place: Lincoln’s Target (7) – 33% confidence

Show: Ancho (2) – 33% confidence

Alternative: Shelbi’s Star (3) – 16% confidence

Race Notes: A classic “get-out” race with low confidence across the board. The analyst consensus is thin, highlighting the wide-open nature of these maiden claiming ranks. Small-scale investment is recommended.


Recommended Exotic Plays by Race

Race 1

Analysts suggest an Exacta Box featuring Mingling Mo (4), Crimson Red Road (8), and Zampino (2). For higher returns, a Trifecta Key with Mingling Mo (4) over the others is advised due to superior speed figures.

Race 2

The recommendation is a cold Exacta using Imperial Assault (7) over Age of Reason (2). Analysts also point toward a Trifecta wheel: 7 with 2, 5 with 1, 2, 5, 6.

Race 3

A wide Trifecta box is proposed including Cookie Brookie (10), Belarsen (6), Goodmorning Gracie (1), and Louisiana Woman (9). Analysts believe the spread of opinion necessitates broader coverage.

Race 4

Analysts recommend a straight Superfecta: 8 – 5 – 7 – 2. Given the high confidence in the top choice, keying Lady Hipster (8) in the win spot for all vertical wagers is a strategic move.

Race 5

An Exacta Part-Wheel 2, 3 / 1, 2, 3, 4 is suggested. Analysts see this as a two-horse race at the top, allowing for deeper coverage in the underneath positions at a reduced cost.

Race 6

Key Be Here Now (5) in Trifectas over Bold Exaggeration (4) and Autism Community (3). Analysts note that the favorite is likely to be a heavy “bridge jumper” target, making the vertical pools the only place for value.

Race 7

A 1, 5 Exacta box is the primary play. For deeper value, analysts suggest a Trifecta box: 1, 5, 7.

Race 8

Exacta box 7, 2, 3. Analysts suggest the class drop for Donegal Freedom (7) makes him a reliable anchor for the late Pick 3 or Daily Double sequences.

Race 9

Due to the split opinion, analysts recommend a 10 cent Superfecta box using 1, 2, 4, 5, 6. This allows for coverage of the high-variance outcomes at a manageable price.

Race 10

The strategy is a simple Win/Place bet on Boots An Diamonds (8) coupled with an Exacta box using 2, 7, 8. Analysts warn against over-investing in this specific leg.


Value Play Observations

Analysts identify Range Goat (3) in Race 1 as a potential overlay if the odds float above 6-1, as his tactical versatility isn’t fully reflected in the morning line. In Race 4, while Lady Hipster (8) is the consensus, Usain D’Oro (5) presents significant value as an underneath horse in trifectas given his consistent closing fractions.

Race 9 provides the best opportunity for value, where Flashy Boy (4) and Pennys Deal (6) are ignored by several analysts but possess speed figures that rival the favorites. A small win bet on either could provide a substantial payout relative to their actual probability of success.

Conversely, Imperial Assault (7) in Race 2 is flagged as a potential underlay. While he is the consensus choice, analysts worry the public will drive his price below 6-5, making him a horse to “bet against” in the win pool while still using him in exotics.


Overall Wagering Strategy

The February 14 card at Delta Downs presents a landscape of strong anchors early and high volatility late. Analysts show the highest conviction in Race 4 and Race 6, where dominant selections appear positioned to control their respective fields. These races serve as the logical building blocks for any multi-race wagers, allowing bettors to focus their capital on the more competitive segments of the program.

The early Pick 4 sequence (Races 2-5) is defined by the analytical tension between established favorites and emerging speed. While the consensus is high for specific win candidates, the variability in show and fourth-place positions suggests that superfectas may provide higher returns than simple win-place betting in these legs. Analysts emphasize that the inside rail has been playing aggressively fast, which may compromise the closing kicks of horses like Usain D Oro (5) in Race 4.

The late card volatility in Races 9 and 10 necessitates a broader defensive approach. Opinion is sharply divided in the Allowance feature (Race 9), where tactical position will likely dictate the outcome more than raw class. Strategic guidance suggests utilizing a “caveman” style Pick 4 or Pick 5 ticket that is thin in the middle (Races 5 and 6) but spreads wide in the final two legs to capture potential longshot upsets.

Key takeaways for today involve prioritizing the strong consensus in Race 4 as a single in horizontal wagers and utilizing the value play observations in Race 9 to differentiate tickets in large-pool exotic bets. Environmental factors suggest a track surface that favors tactical speed, so horses designated as “leaders” in consensus notes should be given additional weight in close-call decisions.

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