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Mountaineer Casino Racetrack hosts an eight-race evening card tonight, with first post at 7:00 PM EDT. The West Virginia track continues its fall racing season with a mix of claiming races and one allowance race, offering purses from $8,000 to $18,000.
Weather and Track Conditions
Current conditions at Mountaineer show fair weather with temperatures around 53°F and northwest winds at 7 mph. The forecast predicts morning clouds giving way to afternoon sunshine, creating ideal racing conditions for tonight’s card. Track conditions are expected to stay fast on the main dirt surface, consistent with recent racing at the facility. October temperatures in West Virginia typically range from 48°F to 68°F, making tonight’s conditions perfect for both horses and connections.
Race 1 – 7:00 PM – Claiming $10,000
This two-furlong sprint for three-year-olds and up features six runners in a $14,000 claiming race. Silver Candice draws the rail advantage for trainer Julie Mathes and jockey Luis Negron. The five-year-old mare receives a three-pound weight allowance and should benefit from the inside post in this short dash. Ee Yah brings tactical speed from the rail for trainer Osvaldo Ocasio, while Red Gun and Emperorofthedark provide closing threats from outside posts.
The pace should be honest given the sprint distance, with early speed at a premium. Silver Candice’s rail position and Negron’s 20% win rate at the meet make her the logical choice.
Selection: Silver Candice (2)
Race 2 – 7:25 PM – Claiming $4,000
Seven runners compete in this 5.5-furlong claiming race for horses that haven’t won two races in 2025. Boudin stands out for trainer Krista Nicole Hetrick and jockey Yan Aviles. The five-year-old horse gets weight relief and should appreciate the slight cutback in distance. Brother Skye offers early speed from the rail, while Cash Customer could provide late interest despite recent struggles.
This appears to be a competitive affair with several horses showing similar form patterns. Boudin’s connections have been effective at this level, and the horse’s style fits the distance.
Selection: Boudin (5)
Race 3 – 7:50 PM – Maiden Claiming $4,000
Six fillies and mares compete in this maiden claiming event at one mile. Nvdia draws attention as the only three-year-old in the field, getting significant weight allowances. Trainer Melinda K. Sanders places the filly with jockey Maikol Vilchez, who provides tactical riding. Pigeon Cay and Sunset Vibes both show recent form improvements that merit consideration.
The maiden ranks can be unpredictable, but Nvdia’s youth and weight advantage provide clear advantages over this older field.
Selection: Nvdia (4)
Race 4 – 8:15 PM – Claiming $4,000
This six-furlong claiming race for horses that have never won three races presents seven runners. Shiva gets the nod from handicappers despite drawing the rail. The four-year-old gelding for trainer Claudie Marshall Godsey Jr. and jockey Deshawn L. Parker shows consistent form at this level. Dream Force and Reason to Believe provide the main competition in what appears to be an open contest.
Parker’s familiarity with the track and consistent riding make Shiva the logical choice despite a competitive field.
Selection: Shiva (1)
Race 5 – 8:40 PM – Claiming $4,000
Six fillies and mares compete in this one-mile claiming race restricted to horses that haven’t won since October 15, 2024. Halo City stands out as the likely favorite for trainer Juan C. Vazquez and jockey Luis Negron. The eight-year-old mare shows the most consistent recent form in this restricted field. Sugar Britches and Maureenlovesfrank provide the main competition.
Negron’s success rate at the meet combined with Halo City’s form edge makes this the most confident selection on the card.
Selection: Halo City (3)
Race 6 – 9:05 PM – Claiming $12,500
This 5.5-furlong claiming race for fillies and mares features six runners competing for a $11,500 purse. Bien Fresa appears best positioned for trainer Horacio Barbaran and jockey Erik Barbaran. The three-year-old filly gets weight relief and should appreciate the cutback in distance. Portia’s Hope and Ragazza Mia provide the main threats in this competitive field.
The Barbaran trainer-jockey combination has been effective at Mountaineer, making Bien Fresa the selection despite the competitive nature of this race.
Selection: Bien Fresa (3)
Race 7 – 9:30 PM – Allowance
This $18,000 allowance contest at 5.5 furlongs represents the evening’s feature race, restricted to horses that have never won two races. The six-horse field presents an intriguing mix of lightly raced horses with varying levels of experience at this class level.
Key Contenders
Don Corleone (Post 2) emerges as the most logical choice following his breakthrough maiden special weight victory on September 11, 2025, at this same track. The five-year-old More Than Ready gelding finally broke through for trainer Emily Szczepanski and jockey Angel I. Diaz after years of trying, and the combination returns with confidence. His maiden victory came at the same 5-furlong distance on the turf, suggesting tactical speed that should translate well to dirt. The Szczepanski-Diaz pairing has shown effectiveness at Mountaineer, making this the most reliable option in an otherwise unpredictable field.
My Balboa (Post 3) brings the most experience to this allowance level, having won three career races including victories in January and March 2024. The five-year-old Fiber Sonde gelding for trainer Jennifer A. Johnson and jockey Kevin Gonzalez has been competitive at this class, finishing third on July 10, 2025, at Mountaineer in similar company. However, his recent sixth-place finish on September 8 suggests some inconsistency. The Johnson-Gonzalez combination understands this horse’s capabilities, but recent form raises questions about his current condition.
Secondary Choices
Braggart Joe (Post 4) offers significant appeal as a three-year-old colt receiving substantial weight relief at 118 pounds compared to the 123-126 carried by his older rivals. The Exaggerator colt represents the Jennifer A. Johnson stable with jockey Brandon Whitacre aboard. Three-year-olds often show improvement when facing older horses in allowance company, and the weight advantage provides a clear edge. Whitacre’s experience at Mountaineer adds value to this combination.
After Sunrise (Post 1) has been campaigned in allowance company throughout 2025, including a notable eighth-place finish in early August at this level. The four-year-old gelding for trainer Wilson C. Langley draws jockey Joe Stokes, who has shown consistent results at the meet. While lacking recent victories, the horse’s seasoning at this class level cannot be dismissed entirely.
Longshot Analysis
Narizon (Post 5) and Cascabel (Post 6) both represent the Jose Luna Silva stable and carry 118-pound weight assignments as three-year-olds. Both horses have shown flashes of ability in claiming company, with Cascabel displaying some competitive form earlier in the season. However, the step up to allowance competition represents a significant class challenge for both runners.
Pace Analysis
The 5.5-furlong distance favors horses with tactical speed and finishing kick. Don Corleone showed the ability to rate kindly in his maiden victory, suggesting adaptability to various pace scenarios. My Balboa typically shows early speed but has demonstrated the ability to rate when necessary. The pace should develop moderately with multiple horses capable of pressing early fractions.
Key Angles
The trainer Emily Szczepanski angle with Don Corleone deserves strong consideration, as connections follow up their breakthrough maiden victory with logical placement in allowance company. The three-year-old weight allowance for Braggart Joe, Narizon, and Cascabel provides a mathematical edge that cannot be ignored in competitive allowance racing. Jockey Angel I. Diaz has shown proficiency at Mountaineer and maintains the mount on Don Corleone despite other options.
Wagering Strategy
Win bet: Don Corleone (2) – The logical progression from maiden winner to allowance competition with proven connections makes this the most reliable selection.
Exacta: Don Corleone over Braggart Joe – The weight advantage for the three-year-old colt creates an appealing second choice behind the logical favorite.
Trifecta: 2-4 with 1,3,5,6 – Using Don Corleone and Braggart Joe on top while including the experienced My Balboa and After Sunrise provides coverage for various pace scenarios.
This allowance feature represents the strongest betting race on the evening card, with Don Corleone offering the most logical progression while Braggart Joe provides value as the weight-advantaged three-year-old alternative.
Race 8 – 9:55 PM – Claiming $4,000
The evening concludes with seven fillies and mares competing in a 5.5-furlong claiming race. Ice Floe offers value at projected odds for trainer Denis Cluley and jockey Kevin Gonzalez. The six-year-old mare has shown flashes of ability and could provide value in the finale. Scream Machine and American of Course provide logical alternatives.
This appears to be the most wide-open race on the card, making Ice Floe an interesting longshot play to close the evening.
Selection: Ice Floe (5)
Jockey Analysis
Luis Negron leads the Mountaineer jockey standings with 78 wins from 385 starts, representing a solid 20% win rate. He rides Silver Candice in Race 1 and Halo City in Race 5, making both strong contenders. Erik Barbaran shows 37 wins from 188 starts for a 20% win rate, giving Bien Fresa strong pilot support in Race 6. Deshawn L. Parker provides veteran experience and has shown success at the track with multiple mounts tonight.
Trainer Insights
Julie Mathes trains Silver Candice and has shown consistent results at the claiming level. The Mathes barn tends to have horses ready for their assigned tasks. Horacio Barbaran sends out multiple runners tonight, including Bien Fresa, and his horses typically show up prepared. The trainer-jockey combination of Barbaran training and Erik Barbaran riding provides additional confidence.
Wagering Strategies
The card presents several strong favorites, making single-race betting the preferred approach on most races. Race 5 with Halo City provides the most confident win bet of the evening. For value seekers, Race 8 with Ice Floe at projected 8-1 odds offers the best longshot opportunity.
A Pick 3 covering Races 6-7-8 using Bien Fresa, Don Corleone, and Ice Floe with backup selections could provide solid return potential while maintaining reasonable costs. The evening’s competitive nature suggests focusing on the stronger selections rather than attempting exotic wagers across multiple races.
