Pick Pony Tip Sheet – Expert picks for Turf Paradise, February 18, 2026.


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Race 1 Maiden 250 Yards Dirt Purse $14,300

Win: Ivy Chanel (5) – 67% confidence

Place: Wild Tymes (3) – 75% confidence

Show: Kvn Negro To Blanco (9) – 100% confidence

Alternative: Sweet Blazin Corona (7) – 100% confidence

Analysts show strong conviction in Ivy Chanel (5) as the primary win candidate given recent form. Wild Tymes (3) is viewed as a high-probability place horse, while Kvn Negro To Blanco (9) is a consensus selection for the vertical exotics.

Race 2 Maiden 250 Yards Dirt Purse $14,300

Win: Hp Ridge Runner (8) – 40% confidence

Place: I Am The Queen B (5) – 67% confidence

Show: Tm Louisiana Beduino (10) – 100% confidence

Alternative: Froylans Storm (3) – 100% confidence

Opinion is fractured regarding the top spot between Hp Ridge Runner (8) and Rc Passions Coronita (6). Analysts lean toward I Am The Queen B (5) to hit the board after a solid third-place finish in her last outing.

Race 3 Claiming 1 Mile Turf Purse $13,000

Win: Dontmesswithtess (2) – 83% confidence

Place: P. S. Rising Star (6) – 67% confidence

Show: Donna Wyn (1) – 75% confidence

Alternative: Vulin (7) – 50% confidence

Dontmesswithtess (2) holds the strongest consensus of the day with almost universal backing for the win. Analysts expect Donna Wyn (1) to be competitive but likely find one or two too good at this distance.

Race 4 Claiming 6.5 Furlongs Dirt Purse $10,000

Win: Union Coach (2) – 40% confidence

Place: Hot Jammies (3) – 50% confidence

Show: Diamond Dee (6) – 50% confidence

Alternative: Roses R Blue (4) – 100% confidence

This race presents significant analytical variance. Union Coach (2) is a soft favorite, while analysts also signal interest in longshots like Capital Heat (1) and Diamond Dee (6) for upset potential.

Race 5 Claiming 6.5 Furlongs Dirt Purse $9,000

Win: Six Hot Grands (7) – 67% confidence

Place: Stetsonsnstilettos (1) – 80% confidence

Show: Brass (2) – 75% confidence

Alternative: Crown Prosecutor (6) – 50% confidence

Six Hot Grands (7) is a heavy favorite following a near-miss last time out. Analysts also focus on Stetsonsnstilettos (1) as a reliable place option after finishing as the beaten favorite in her previous start.

Race 6 Claiming 5.5 Furlongs Dirt Purse $9,500

Win: She’s A One Of One (1) – 80% confidence

Place: Shanghai Barbie (3) – 75% confidence

Show: Top Review (6) – 100% confidence

Alternative: Lotsa Steel (7) – 100% confidence

She’s A One Of One (1) commands significant attention coming off an impressive win. Shanghai Barbie (3) remains a consistent factor in this class and is the primary contender for the place position.

Race 7 Luke Kruytbosch Overnight Stakes 1 Mile Turf Purse $30,000

Win: Independence Rise (6) – 40% confidence

Place: Need The Purse (4) – 75% confidence

Show: Secret Insanity (9) – 50% confidence

Alternative: Pi Time (8) – 100% confidence

The feature race has analysts divided between Independence Rise (6) and Secret Insanity (9). Need The Purse (4) is considered the most reliable board-hitter in the field given her recent win at this distance.

Race 8 Claiming 5 Furlongs Dirt Purse $9,000

Win: Poco Yo (2) – 50% confidence

Place: Hatagasal (1) – 67% confidence

Show: Drum Bunny (7) – 67% confidence

Alternative: Sawtooth Bow (6) – 50% confidence

Analysts are split on the finale, with Poco Yo (2) and Drum Bunny (7) both receiving win support. Hatagasal (1) is viewed as a live runner who could improve off her recent workout tab.


Recommended Exotic Plays by Race

Race 1 analysts suggest a straight Exacta using Ivy Chanel (5) over Wild Tymes (3). For deeper value, a Trifecta box featuring Ivy Chanel (5), Wild Tymes (3), and Kvn Negro To Blanco (9) is recommended.

Race 2 appears wide open, leading analysts to favor a Trifecta wheel with Rc Passions Coronita (6) and Hp Ridge Runner (8) in the top two spots over the field.

Race 3 is the primary anchor for multi-race exotics. Analysts recommend a cold Exacta with Dontmesswithtess (2) over Donna Wyn (1) and using Dontmesswithtess (2) as a single in Pick 3 and Pick 4 sequences.

Race 4 is viewed by analysts as a “chaos” race. A Superfecta box with Union Coach (2), Hot Jammies (3), Diamond Dee (6), and Roses R Blue (4) is suggested to capture high-odds combinations.

Race 5 analysts advise an Exacta box with Six Hot Grands (7) and Stetsonsnstilettos (1). A Trifecta with Six Hot Grands (7) keyed on top of Stetsonsnstilettos (1) and Brass (2) is also a strong play.

Race 6 analysts highlight She’s A One Of One (1) as a logical winner. An Exacta 1 over 3 and 6 is the preferred strategy here.

Race 7 analysts suggest a Trifecta box including Independence Rise (6), Need The Purse (4), and Secret Insanity (9). This overnight stakes race often produces tight finishes, making the box more appealing.

Race 8 analysts recommend a late Daily Double play using Poco Yo (2) and Drum Bunny (7) to close out the card.


Value Play Observations

In Race 1, Phenomenal Heat (1) is noted as a significant overlay relative to the morning line, with analysts suggesting she could outrun her odds if she breaks cleanly. Conversely, Wild Tymes (3) appears underlaid in some markets compared to the strong analyst consensus for Ivy Chanel (5).

Race 4 provides the best value opportunity of the day. Hot Jammies (3) is identified by analysts as a potential overlay whose recent speed figures suggest she belongs much closer to the favorites than her current price indicates.

Race 7 sees independence Rise (6) as a potential underlay due to her “At The Races” top tip status, which may drive her price too low for a win bet. Analysts point toward Secret Insanity (9) as a better value play for those looking for a higher return on a win wager.


Overall Wagering Strategy

The February 18 card at Turf Paradise is headlined by several high-confidence favorites that provide strong anchors for multi-race sequences. Race 3 and Race 6 are the standout contests where analysts show a 65% or higher conviction in the top selections. Dontmesswithtess (2) in the third race and She’s A One Of One (1) in the sixth are the most reliable singles for Pick 3 or Pick 4 construction. These races offer reduced volatility and allow bettors to concentrate their capital on the more competitive segments of the card.

Split-opinion races occur most notably in Race 2 and Race 7. In the second race, the tension between Hp Ridge Runner (8) and Rc Passions Coronita (6) suggests a spread approach is necessary. Similarly, the Luke Kruytbosch Overnight Stakes in Race 7 features a deep field where no single horse commands a majority of analyst win picks. In these instances, prioritizing place and show coverage or using smaller-unit Trifecta boxes is a more defensive and effective strategy than aggressive win betting.

Exotic value opportunities are concentrated in the mid-card claiming events. Race 4 and Race 8 show high analytical variance, indicating that the form is less predictable. These are the ideal spots for superfecta wheels or four-horse combinations to capture upset upside. Analysts have identified several overlays in these races that could significantly boost payout potential if they find the frame.

Track conditions appear stable, with clear weather and a fast dirt surface expected. This should favor front-runners and horses with tactical speed, particularly in the shorter sprints of Race 1 and Race 2. Bettors should prioritize horses that have shown the ability to sit close to the pace, as the Turf Paradise surface has historically leaned toward speed in these types of conditions.

The key takeaways for this card are to use Dontmesswithtess (2) as a multi-race anchor, spread deep in the competitive fourth and seventh races, and look for value in the place and show pools for the quarter horse openers. By balancing high-confidence singles with strategic spreads in the stakes and claiming divisions, bettors can maximize their exposure to the most likely winners while remaining positioned for potential upsets.

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