Pick Pony Tip Sheet – Expert picks for Fonner Park, February 21, 2026.


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Race 1 Claiming 4 Furlongs Dirt Purse $6,900

Win: JAMES’S MOONSHINE (1) – 50% confidence

Place: STATE SCHOOL SMART (5) – 50% confidence

Show: GUITAR DOCTOR (3) – 0% confidence

Alternative: CAMPTON (4) – 0% confidence

Race 1 features a divide between two top choices in this short four furlong dash. Analysts are split on whether the inside speed or the outside tactical advantage will prevail.

Race 2 Claiming 6 Furlongs Dirt Purse $8,100

Win: TO TOO TWENTYTWO (5) – 67% confidence

Place: FLAME ROCK FIRE (4) – 67% confidence

Show: STORM STRATEGY (1) – 33% confidence

Alternative: PRINTS MONEY (2) – 33% confidence

The second race shows a strong lean toward the outside speed. While one analyst prefers the mid-pack closer, the majority expect the front-runners to control the tempo.

Race 3 Allowance 4 Furlongs Dirt Purse $17,000

Win: INSPIRING INDEED (5) – 100% confidence

Place: IT’S NOTMYPROBLEM (1) – 33% confidence

Show: TURN N BURN BOSS (6) – 33% confidence

Alternative: GOIN OWEN (7) – 33% confidence

This race presents the strongest consensus on the card with every analyst backing the same top selection. The wagering focus here should be on the vertical exotics beneath the heavy favorite.

Race 4 Allowance 6 Furlongs Dirt Purse $13,200

Win: FORTHELONGHAUL (6) – 50% confidence

Place: WEDDING GIFT (7) – 50% confidence

Show: MISTER LESTER (4) – 0% confidence

Alternative: ONE LUCKY BOY (3) – 0% confidence

Opinion is strictly divided between the two most consistent runners in the field. One analyst favors the tactical speed from the outside post while the other looks for a late charge.

Race 5 Claiming 6 Furlongs Dirt Purse $6,900

Win: LETSHAVEONEMORE (1) – 100% confidence

Place: DENINGTON (5) – 33% confidence

Show: BEGGIN FOR TROUBLE (7) – 33% confidence

Alternative: LUCKY BREAK (2) – 33% confidence

Despite one analyst placing a different runner in the top spot, the overall consensus frequency heavily favors the rail runner. The field appears top-heavy with a sharp drop-off in confidence for the minor placings.

Race 6 Claiming 6 Furlongs Dirt Purse $9,200

Win: EL MERO MERO (4) – 100% confidence

Place: MASTER GAME (6) – 0% confidence

Show: SUBSIDIZE (2) – 0% confidence

Alternative: OPTIMAL TRIP (3) – 0% confidence

Analysts are in total agreement on the winner for the sixth. The lack of secondary consensus suggests this is a race to single the favorite in multi-race wagers.

Race 7 Allowance 6 Furlongs Dirt Purse $16,000

Win: JUDO (7) – 100% confidence

Place: MIDNIGHT RULES (8) – 0% confidence

Show: MAGNET AND STEEL (5) – 0% confidence

Alternative: SOMERSETSLASTRIDE (9) – 0% confidence

Another race where analysts are unified on the win selection. The outside post position seems to be a non-factor for the experts who all agree on the class advantage of the favorite.

Race 8 Allowance 4 Furlongs Dirt Purse $18,200

Win: SHIPS LOG (8) – 50% confidence

Place: GENERAL SHIPMAN (4) – 50% confidence

Show: HUSKER BUTCH (1) – 0% confidence

Alternative: SUBMITTED (2) – 0% confidence

The eighth race is a toss-up between two high-percentage favorites. Analysts are searching for value by splitting their top marks between the speed of the four and the closing kick of the eight.

Race 9 Grasmick Stakes 4 Furlongs Dirt Purse $20,000

Win: UNDER OATH (1) – 50% confidence

Place: PAYNTED BLUE (3) – 50% confidence

Show: SWEET TATUM (2) – 0% confidence

Alternative: GOODNIGHTLOVING (4) – 0% confidence

The feature race of the day sees a significant split in analytical opinion. The rail runner holds half the support while the rest of the expertise shifts toward the mid-field contender.

Race 10 Maiden Special Weight 6 Furlongs Dirt Purse $11,000

Win: NOBLE REIGN (1) – 100% confidence

Place: SECRETO UNO (2) – 0% confidence

Show: IMA BOXER BOY (3) – 0% confidence

Alternative: COVERT QUALITY (4) – 0% confidence

Analysts close out the card with another unanimous selection. The rail position and recent form make this the most stable pick for the finale according to expert consensus.


Recommended Exotic Plays by Race

Race 1: Analysts suggest a small Exacta Box with JAMES’S MOONSHINE (1) and STATE SCHOOL SMART (5).

Race 2: A Trifecta Key using TO TOO TWENTYTWO (5) over FLAME ROCK FIRE (4), STORM STRATEGY (1), and PRINTS MONEY (2).

Race 3: Analysts recommend a Superfecta Part-Wheel: INSPIRING INDEED (5) with IT’S NOTMYPROBLEM (1), TURN N BURN BOSS (6), and GOIN OWEN (7).

Race 4: An Exacta Box with FORTHELONGHAUL (6) and WEDDING GIFT (7) is the preferred play here.

Race 5: Analysts favor an Exacta Part-Wheel: LETSHAVEONEMORE (1) over DENINGTON (5) and BEGGIN FOR TROUBLE (7).

Race 6: A Trifecta Part-Wheel: EL MERO MERO (4) over MASTER GAME (6) and SUBSIDIZE (2).

Race 7: Analysts suggest a Straight Trifecta: JUDO (7) over MIDNIGHT RULES (8) and MAGNET AND STEEL (5).

Race 8: An Exacta Box featuring GENERAL SHIPMAN (4) and SHIPS LOG (8) covers the primary consensus outcomes.

Race 9: Analysts recommend an Exacta Part-Wheel: UNDER OATH (1) and PAYNTED BLUE (3) over the field in the Grasmick Stakes.

Race 10: A cold Exacta: NOBLE REIGN (1) over SECRETO UNO (2) is the final recommendation.


Value Play Observations

In the second race, FLAME ROCK FIRE (4) is viewed by some analysts as a significant overlay at morning line odds of 6-1, given the split win confidence. Similarly, PAYNTED BLUE (3) in the Grasmick Stakes (Race 9) offers value as an alternative to the rail favorite. Analysts also note that DENINGTON (5) in Race 5 could provide a lucrative payout if the heavy favorite falters, as one expert has tipped it for the win despite the overall frequency favoring the one.


Overall Wagering Strategy

The racing card at Fonner Park today is defined by several high-certainty anchors and a few critical split-opinion contests. Analysts have identified three primary races where the consensus is exceptionally strong, specifically Race 3, Race 6, and Race 7. In these sequences, the experts are unanimous in their win selections, making these horses ideal candidates for singles in multi-race wagers such as the Pick 4 or Pick 5. The high confidence levels (100%) in these mid-card races suggest a lower-volatility environment where bettors can afford to be more aggressive with their horizontal bet sizing.

Conversely, the card features significant analytical tension in the early and late stages. Race 1, Race 4, and the featured Grasmick Stakes in Race 9 show a perfect 50/50 split between top contenders. Analysts are divided on whether the tactical advantages of inside posts will hold up against superior speed figures from the middle of the gate. In these split-opinion races, a defensive wagering approach using exacta boxes or small wheels is recommended to capture the most likely outcomes without overextending on a single horse that lacks a dominant consensus backing.

Strategic multi-race sequences should focus on the Pick 3 spanning Races 5 through 7. With strong consensus alignment on LETSHAVEONEMORE (1) and EL MERO MERO (4), the sequence is anchored by reliable form. The potential for carryover value exists in the later races where the Grasmick Stakes introduces higher variance. Environmental factors suggest the track will remain fast, favoring speed in the shorter four-furlong sprints, which reinforces the consensus picks in Races 1, 3, and 9. Bettors should prioritize the heavy favorites in the allowance races while looking for value overlays in the claiming ranks where pricing inefficiencies are more common.

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