Multi-Track Special | February 21, 2026

Your one-stop guide to the best action across thirteen tracks today. We’ve scoured the cards from coast to coast and hand-picked the races, horses, and bets worth your attention. Let’s ride.

Gulfstream Park — The Flagship Card

Gulfstream is loaded today and deserves top billing. Three graded-quality races anchor the afternoon, and the Sprint Stakes in Race 10 is the day’s most compelling single-race betting opportunity.

Race 10 — Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes (6 Furlongs, Dirt | 4:50 PM ET)

Purse: $125,000

This is the race of the day at Gulfstream. The field is sharp, competitive, and there’s a clear standout — but the price says the market agrees.

• PP 6 — Damon’s Mound (7/5) — Tops the field by a wide margin on projected speed. Trained by Todd Pletcher’s longtime rival Mott and piloted by Alvarado — this horse is the one to beat. He projects well clear of the field. The morning line is short but warranted.

• PP 4 — Beeline (12/1) — An interesting overlay. Projects second-fastest and posts a neutral factors score. If Damon’s Mound has any trouble, Beeline is the prime beneficiary.

• PP 2 — Jack’s Promise (9/2) and PP 7 — Rolando (8/1) — Both project identically and bring neutral factors. Either could fill out the exotics.

Betting Suggestions: Win/Place: Damon’s Mound (PP 6) Exacta: 6 over 2, 4, 7 Trifecta: 6 / 2, 4, 7 / 2, 4, 7, 5

Race 6 — Allowance Optional Claiming (8.5 Furlongs, Turf | 2:50 PM ET)

Fillies & Mares | Purse: $86,000

A contentious turf route for the ladies. Ivory and Ebony tops the projected speed rankings but opens at 6/1, making this a legitimate value opportunity.

• PP 10 — Ivory and Ebony (6/1) — Tops the field with the highest factors score in this race. Trained by Romans and piloted by Lanerie — a dangerous combination. Excellent overlay.

• PP 9 — High South (3/1) — Second-fastest projection with a solid positive factors number. The public choice and rightfully so.

• PP 5 — Jalila (6/1) and PP 4 — Timeless Wonder (5/2) — Project identically; Timeless Wonder is the public’s pick but Jalila with Gaffalione up is intriguing at the same price.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Ivory and Ebony (PP 10) — strong value play Exacta: 10 / 9, 5, 4 Trifecta: 10 / 9, 4 / 9, 4, 5

Race 9 — Allowance Optional Claiming (8.5 Furlongs, Turf | 4:20 PM ET)

Fillies & Mares | Purse: $86,000

The companion turf route for fillies features a nice front-runner in Pretty Lavish (IRE).

• PP 9 — Pretty Lavish (IRE) (3/1) — Projects fastest and carries the top factors score. Gaffalione in the irons on a horse this well-constructed is a powerful combo.

• PP 10 — La Cantera (IRE) (6/1) — A clear second in projected speed, and at 6/1 offers real value in the exotics.

• PP 11 — Maggie Go (ARG) (9/5) — The public favorite, projects third. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides — hard to ignore but the price is tight.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Pretty Lavish (IRE) (PP 9) Exacta: 9 / 10, 11 Daily Double (Races 9-10): 9 / 10, 12

Oaklawn Park — Stakes Day in Hot Springs

Oaklawn delivers two standout stakes races today, including the richest dirt sprint among all thirteen cards.

Race 8 — Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes (6 Furlongs, Dirt | 4:10 PM CT)

Statebred | Purse: $150,000

The richest race on the entire multi-track card today belongs to Oaklawn. Bohemian Bo has the top projected speed number by a meaningful margin and arrives with the best factors score in this field.

• PP 3 — Bohemian Bo (8/5) — Leads all comers here. Trained by Vance, ridden by De La Cruz. At 8/5, the public has found him, but the numbers back the price entirely.

• PP 4 — Navy Seal (2/1) — A solid second projection with a positive factors score. Leparoux rides and this horse can make it a real race.

• PP 8 — Touchdown Arkansas (3/1) — Third-fastest projection with a strong factors number. Van Berg barn has been rolling at Oaklawn.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Bohemian Bo (PP 3) Exacta: 3 / 4, 8 Trifecta: 3 / 4, 8 / 4, 8, 5

Race 9 — RHP (6 Furlongs, Dirt | 4:55 PM CT)

Fillies & Mares | Purse: $55,000

A competitive filly and mare dash with a rare co-top projection — and neither is the public choice.

• PP 6 — Miss Arlington (8/1) and PP 5 — Spring Dancer (4/1) — Both project identically at the top of this field. Miss Arlington at 8/1 is a glaring overlay with a positive factors score. K.J. Asmussen rides for the Asmussen barn — that’s a family affair worth noting.

• PP 3 — Pistol (7/2) — Projects third and is trained by Van Berg. With a neutral factors number, she’s a contender.

• PP 9 — Popperina (8/1) — Rosario climbs aboard for Moquett. Projects fourth and brings a slight negative factors, but Rosario’s presence commands attention.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Miss Arlington (PP 6) — value play at 8/1 Exacta: 6, 5 / 6, 5, 3 Trifecta: 6, 5 / 6, 5, 3 / 6, 5, 3, 9

Laurel Park — Stakes Double in Maryland

Laurel offers two $100,000 stakes races back-to-back that deserve serious attention.

Race 7 — Wide Country Stakes (7 Furlongs, Dirt | 2:58 PM ET)

3-Year-Old Fillies | Purse: $100,000

A quality sprint stakes for sophomore fillies with a clear top projection.

• PP 4 — Peach Tie (8/5) — Projects fastest with a solid positive factors score. Trained by B.T. Russell and ridden by Scott Russell — same barn, same family, very confident connections. Deserves to be the favorite.

• PP 3 — Law School (1/1) — The public’s choice at even money but projects second. Jockey Hazlewood is a 5-pound bug. If you want value, Peach Tie at 8/5 is the better play.

• PP 5 — Strike a Rose (9/2) — Third projection, slight negative factors. An outside longshot to complete exacta tickets.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Peach Tie (PP 4) Exacta: 4 over 3, 5 Trifecta: 4 / 3, 5 / 3, 5, 1

Race 8 — Miracle Wood Stakes (8 Furlongs, Dirt | 3:26 PM ET)

3-Year-Olds | Purse: $100,000

One of the day’s most intriguing races — Balboa tops the field with the even-money support of the crowd, but interestingly, no jockey had been named at time of publication.

• PP 6 — Balboa (1/1) — Top projection, positive factors, and trained by B.T. Russell. The Russell barn clearly has two bullets on today’s Laurel card. Watch for jockey assignment before betting.

• PP 7 — Let’s Go Lando (9/2) — Second projection with neutral factors. Hazlewood in the irons.

• PP 2 — Higher Sense (6/1) — Third projection, slight negative factors. Lopez rides for Penaloza.

• PP 4 — Close the Gate (6/1) — Projects identically to Higher Sense. Worth including in wider exotics.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Balboa (PP 6) — confirm jockey before wagering Exacta: 6 / 7, 2, 4 Trifecta: 6 / 7, 2 / 7, 2, 4

Aqueduct — New York Value Hunting

The Big A offers a full nine-race card and a handful of spots where the numbers diverge meaningfully from the odds board.

Race 6 — Allowance (6 Furlongs, Dirt | 3:42 PM ET)

4-Year-Olds & Up | Purse: $83,000

The best Aqueduct race of the day. Yo Banana Boy tops the field with the highest projected speed and the best factors score in the race.

• PP 2 — Yo Banana Boy (5/2) — The class of this field. Rivera up for Heath. Tops everything here.

• PP 3 — Cool Andy (2/1) — Second projection with a solid positive factors score. The public favorite and trained by the prolific L. Rice barn. A fair price.

• PP 6 — Sacrosanct (5/2) — Third projection for Franco and Rice. Worth a look in exotics.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Yo Banana Boy (PP 2) Exacta: 2 / 3, 6 Trifecta: 2 / 3, 6 / 3, 6, 5

Race 7 — Allowance Optional Claiming (6 Furlongs, Dirt | 4:13 PM ET)

Fillies & Mares 4 Up | Purse: $86,000

A legitimate overlay situation in this filly and mare allowance.

• PP 2 — Atarah (7/2) — Tops the field by two points in projected speed and holds a neutral factors score. Prat rides for Rice — that’s the best jockey-trainer duo in this race. Yet she opens at 7/2.

• PP 5 — Sweet Brown Sugar (4/1) — Second projection with a slight negative factors. Lezcano up.

• PP 6 — Twirling Beauty (10/1) — Co-second projection and a massive price. If you’re going wide in exotics, Twirling Beauty is your longshot anchor.

• PP 3 — Irish Maxima (6/5) — The public’s heavy choice, but she projects well below the top two. The numbers do NOT support this price.

Betting Suggestions: Win/Place: Atarah (PP 2) — excellent value Exacta: 2 / 5, 6, 7 Fade: Irish Maxima (PP 3)

Santa Anita Park — California Dreaming

The historic Great Race Place brings us a full ten-race card with several quality spots.

Race 9 — Allowance Optional Claiming (About 6.5 Furlongs, Turf | 4:37 PM PT)

4-Year-Olds & Up | Purse: $70,000

A loaded turf sprint with a co-top projection and outstanding value in the second slot.

• PP 10 (program 9) — Anmer Hall (5/2) and PP 3 — Double Jab (10/1) — Both project identically at the top of this field. Double Jab at 10/1 with a matching projection and a solid positive factors score is the best overlay on the Santa Anita card today.

• PP 5 — Yacowlef (IRE) (6/1) — Projects in the top tier with a strong positive factors number. A European import with Berrios up — respect this one.

• PP 14 (AE) — Beef Winslow (6/1) — Projects just behind the leaders with a solid positive factors score and Geroux aboard for Hess.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Double Jab (PP 3) — top value play Exacta: 3, 9 / 3, 9, 5 (using program numbers — verify at windows) Longshot: Double Jab win single

Race 7 — Wishing Well Stakes (6 Furlongs, Turf | 3:37 PM PT)

Fillies & Mares 4 Up | Purse: $100,000

A quality turf sprint stakes for fillies and mares. Gratefully leads clearly.

• PP 6 — Gratefully (2/1) — Top projection by seven points and the best factors score in the race. Geroux rides for Falcone. Deserves the favorite’s role.

• PP 8 — Egyptian Mau (SAF) (9/2) — Second projection with a positive factors number. Hernandez up for Drysdale.

• PP 7 — Nay V Belle (6/1) — Third projection with a neutral factors score. An interesting price.

Betting Suggestions: Win/Place: Gratefully (PP 6) Exacta: 6 / 8, 7, 3

Turfway Park — The Night Owl Special

Turfway runs late into the evening on the synthetic surface and offers two rich stakes races worth staying up for.

Race 9 — John Battaglia Memorial Stakes (8.5 Furlongs, Synthetic | 9:55 PM ET)

3-Year-Olds | Purse: $175,000

The richest race at Turfway and one of the most compelling non-Gulfstream stakes of the day. Street Beast tops the field.

• PP 1 — Street Beast (5/2) — Top projection with the best factors score in the field. Machado rides for Colebrook. Solid case for the win.

• PP 13 (AE) — Small Town (12/1) — Remarkable — projects just one point behind Street Beast with a strong positive factors number. If he draws in, this is the value play of the evening. Keep an eye on the entry draw.

• PP 12 — Two Out Hero (7/2) — Third projection with a positive factors number. Hernandez rides for Attard. A very fair price.

• PP 11 — Fulleffort (3/1) — Fourth projection but a slight negative factors score. Cheminaud rides for Cox. Public money may be misplaced here.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Street Beast (PP 1) Exotic anchor: Small Town (PP 13 AE) — if he draws in, bet aggressively Trifecta: 1 / 12, 7 / 12, 7, 9

Race 6 — Allowance Optional Claiming (8 Furlongs, Synthetic | 8:25 PM ET)

Fillies & Mares | Purse: $102,000

A rich synthetic route for the ladies with a tight projection cluster at the top.

• PP 11 — Defiant Lass (5/1) — Top projection with a positive factors score. Machado in the irons for Romans.

• PP 12 — Appellate (7/2) and PP 4 — Five a Side (5/2) — Both project identically one point back. Appellate at 7/2 with Hernandez up for Sharp is interesting. Five a Side is the public’s choice and Rodriguez rides.

• PP 9 — Champagne Nights (15/1) — Projects just a point off the top group and brings a slight negative factors, but 15/1 is a price that begs inclusion in wide tickets.

Betting Suggestions: Exacta: 11, 12, 4 / 11, 12, 4 (box or wheel) Longshot: Champagne Nights (PP 9) to complete trifectas at 15/1

Fair Grounds — Louisiana’s Best

New Orleans delivers a full nine-race card with a pair of turf stakes and some solid claiming value.

Race 8 — Allowance Optional Claiming (8.5 Furlongs, Turf | 4:15 PM CT)

4-Year-Olds & Up | Purse: $58,000

Higgins Boat is the class of this turf route by a notable margin.

• PP 5 — Higgins Boat (5/2) — Tops the field with the best factors score in the race. Ortiz rides for Amoss — two of the sharpest operators at Fair Grounds this meet.

• PP 4 — Emmanuel (6/1) — Second projection with a neutral factors score. Castillo aboard for Maker. A fair overlay.

• PP 3 — Presider (3/1) — Third projection, also neutral factors. Curtis in the saddle for Sharp.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Higgins Boat (PP 5) Exacta: 5 / 4, 3 Pick 3 anchor: Use Higgins Boat single in Race 8

Race 7 — Maiden Special Weight (6 Furlongs, Dirt | 3:45 PM CT)

3-Year-Olds & Up | Purse: $54,000

A maiden sprint with a clear standout — and a big factors score to match.

• PP 6 — Swaging (3/1) — Tops the field with the highest factors score of any horse in this race. Castillo rides for Catalano. This horse should be shorter.

• PP 1 — Sargent Sully (4/1) — Second projection with a strong positive factors score. Curtis rides for Walden. A legitimate main threat.

• PP 5 — Great Moment (8/1) — Third projection, neutral factors. Worth including in exotics at this price.

Betting Suggestions: Win/Place: Swaging (PP 6) Exacta: 6 / 1, 5

Sam Houston Race Park — Texas Value

Sam Houston offers a compact nine-race card with some interesting angles on the turf.

Race 9 — Claiming (8.5 Furlongs, Turf | 4:36 PM CT)

Purse: $17,000

The top race at Sam Houston today with a convincing leader.

• PP 4 — Hedge the Risk (8/5) — Tops the field with the best factors score. Elliott up for Asmussen. The favorite is the right horse here.

• PP 8 — Gold Prize (5/2) — Second projection with a slight positive factors score. Diego rides for Jacks.

• PP 6 — Absolutely Certain (7/2) — Third projection and a strong positive factors number. Alvarez aboard for Calhoun. Excellent candidate to upset or place.

• Note: PP 3 — Curlins Incharge is listed as MTO (main track only) — monitor scratches.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Hedge the Risk (PP 4) Exacta: 4 / 8, 6 Trifecta: 4 / 8, 6 / 8, 6, 4(MTO) — check scratch status

Delta Downs — The Louisiana Bayou

Delta Downs runs a ten-race evening card with some competitive stakes action.

Race 10 — Starter Optional Claiming (8.5 Furlongs, Dirt | 8:57 PM CT)

Purse: $28,500

Call My Banker leads this field with the best factors score of any horse at Delta today.

• PP 4 — Call My Banker (2/1) — Top projection by six points with the best factors score in the race. Thornton rides for Landry.

• PP 3 — Gucci Boy (5/1) — Second projection with a solid positive factors score.

• PP 2 — The Boss Soss (8/1) — Third projection, also positive factors. Melancon rides — a reliable hand at this level.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Call My Banker (PP 4) Exacta: 4 / 3, 2

Charles Town — Saturday Night Lights

Charles Town kicks off its Saturday night card at 7 PM ET with eight races on dirt.

Race 4 — Allowance (7 Furlongs, Dirt | 8:32 PM ET)

Fillies & Mares 4 Up | Purse: $35,300

The most unusual projection of the entire multi-track card lands at Charles Town. Professor Grace projects at a jaw-dropping 118 — far clear of a field whose second-place horses project at 87.

• PP 6 — Professor Grace (9/5) — The standout of the entire Charles Town card and one of the most dominant projected leaders on any card today. Peltroche rides for Sandoval.

• PP 2 — Good Accelebrate (10/1) and PP 4 — Wynsome Cat (2/1) — Project identically second. At 10/1, Good Accelebrate offers value for place or exotics.

• PP 3 — Rock Hard Rose (3/1) — Projects fourth. Hernandez up for Chircop.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Professor Grace (PP 6) — even at 9/5, this projection demands a win bet Exacta: 6 / 2, 4, 3 Note: The projected win time is significantly faster than par — if Professor Grace shows up as advertised, this race could be over early.

Race 7 — Allowance Optional Claiming (6.5 Furlongs, Dirt | 10:02 PM ET)

4-Year-Olds & Up | Purse: $36,600

The final competitive race of the Charles Town card features a tight top projection.

• PP 3 — Captivated Drama (8/5) — Top projection with the best factors score. Rodriguez rides for Joy.

• PP 4 — Youthinkthatsfunny (4/1) — One point back in projected speed with a solid positive factors score. Barbosa up for Jones. Solid exacta partner.

• PP 1 — Omar Comin (7/5) — The public’s slight favorite but projects third. A case where the public money and the speed numbers diverge — lean toward Captivated Drama.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Captivated Drama (PP 3) Exacta: 3 / 4, 1 Fade: Omar Comin (PP 1) at 7/5 is an overbet public horse

Fonner Park — Nebraska’s Own

Fonner offers a ten-race card in Grand Island, Nebraska with some nice local spots.

Race 7 — Allowance (6 Furlongs, Dirt | 4:24 PM CT)

3-Year-Olds & Up | Purse: $16,000

Judo tops this field by six points in projected speed — the largest margin among competitive Fonner races today.

• PP 7 — Judo (5/2) — Clear leader here with a positive factors number. Bailon rides for Anderson.

• PP 5 — Sprint Out Pass (12/1) — Second projection with a strong positive factors score. An excellent longshot to include in exotics.

• PP 8 — Forced Ranking (6/1) and PP 3 — Time Muse (7/2) — Both project identically third. Forced Ranking at 6/1 offers better value.

Betting Suggestions: Win: Judo (PP 7) Exacta: 7 / 5, 8, 3 Longshot: Sprint Out Pass (PP 5) to show or in trifectas

Turf Paradise — Phoenix in February

Turf Paradise serves up an eight-race card in Scottsdale with a crisp local handicap opener.

Race 3 — Handicap NG (6 Furlongs, Dirt | 2:15 PM MT)

Purse: $32,615

Time to Fly is the dominant figure in this five-horse field.

• PP 5 — Time to Fly (4/5) — Top projected speed by eleven points with a positive factors score. Corbett rides for Eikleberry. At odds-on, this is more of a win-and-move play for multi-race tickets.

• PP 2 — Silverbullitbadger (3/1) — Second projection with a slight negative factors. Mojica up for Diodoro.

Betting Suggestions: Use Time to Fly (PP 5) as a single in the Pick 4 and Grand Canyon Pick 6 opener. Exacta: 5 / 2, 3

The Aces and Races Best Bets of the Day

Our top five plays across all thirteen tracks:

1. Damon’s Mound (PP 6) — Gulfstream Race 10 Sprint Stakes — Win/Place — The top horse on the entire multi-track card.

2. Ivory and Ebony (PP 10) — Gulfstream Race 6 Turf — Win — A class horse at a class price (6/1). Best overlay of the Gulfstream card.

3. Atarah (PP 2) — Aqueduct Race 7 — Win/Place — Numbers say she’s the best horse; the odds board says she’s a value play at 7/2. Take it.

4. Professor Grace (PP 6) — Charles Town Race 4 — Win — A projection this far clear of the field is extremely rare. Back it accordingly.

5. Double Jab (PP 3) — Santa Anita Race 9 — Win — Top projection at 10/1 with a strong factors score. The best pure value bet of the day.

Good luck at the windows. May your exotics cash and your singles wire. — Aces and Races