February 17, 2026 | Five-Track Blowout

Happy Tuesday, railbirds. Five tracks are firing live cards today, and we have dug through every angle to bring you the plays worth your hard-earned dollars. From the stakes action at Fair Grounds to the grinders at Will Rogers, here is your coast-to-coast playbook.

Fair Grounds – The Crown Jewel Card

Race 8 | Mardi Gras Stakes | 5.5 Furlongs Turf | $100,000 Purse | 4:15 PM CT

The marquee event of the day, and it lives up to the billing. Lotsandlotsofcandy (Post 7) is the one to beat here. She profiles as the fastest horse in the field by a comfortable margin and brings a strong overall picture into this spot. The 2/1 morning line feels about right, but she is the deserving favorite. Shining Star (Post 6), the Chilean-bred trained by Brad Cox, is the clear second call at 5/2 and the one most likely to make the top pick work for it. After those two, there is a significant drop to Big Trouble (Post 1) and Serving Time (Post 4), who round out the exotics picture.

Betting suggestion: Lotsandlotsofcandy on top in exactas keyed to Shining Star. For the trifecta, use those two over Big Trouble, Serving Time, and Civetta (Post 5) in the third slot.

Race 7 | Maiden Special Weight | 8.5 Furlongs Dirt | 3 yo Fillies | 3:45 PM CT

Tap to Open (Post 3) towers over this field on talent and connections. Trained by Brad Cox with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, she has the strongest overall profile of any horse in this race by a wide margin and should handle this group. Love and Trust (Post 2) for Chris DeVaux with Jose Ortiz is the logical runner-up, and Abilene (Post 5) rounds out a top three that separates cleanly from the rest.

Betting suggestion: Tap to Open as a confident win play. She is 4/1 on the morning line, which looks generous for the best horse in the race. Key her over Love and Trust and Abilene in exactas and trifectas.

Race 6 | Allowance | 8.5 Furlongs Turf | Fillies and Mares | 3:15 PM CT

A solid allowance affair with a competitive top tier. Sy B (Post 1) gets the rail and the nod as the top selection for trainer Chris DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz. Exclusive Star (Post 6) has the best supporting profile of any horse in here and looms as a dangerous closer at 3/1. Ontario (Post 5) adds Irad Ortiz Jr. and completes a strong top three.

Betting suggestion: Exclusive Star is the value play here at 3/1. Consider her on top of exactas to Sy B and Ontario. A three-horse box in the trifecta with this trio is affordable and covers the most likely outcomes.

Race 2 | Allowance | 5.5 Furlongs Dirt | Statebred | 1:15 PM CT

Mister Banderas (Post 5) is a clear standout in this statebred allowance. He projects as the fastest horse by a significant gap, has the best supporting numbers in the field, and gets the top jockey-trainer combo of Jose Ortiz and Tom Amoss. The 7/5 morning line is justified.

Betting suggestion: Mister Banderas as a single in multi-race wagers. He is the strongest single of the Fair Grounds card.

Parx Racing – Deep Fields, Big Opportunities

Race 8 | Claiming $10,000 | 6.5 Furlongs Dirt | 3:14 PM ET

Easy Action (Post 3) is a monster in this spot. He is the top horse by a massive margin and has the strongest overall profile in the field. At 7/2 on the morning line, he is an absolute gift. Trainer Jason Servis sends him out with a huge edge, and the rest of the field is scrambling for minor awards. Nuedorf (Post 1) is the distant second choice.

Betting suggestion: Easy Action is a no-brainer win bet and a single in the pick 4 starting in this race. Build your multi-race sequences around him.

Race 10 | Allowance Optional Claiming $50,000 | 6.5 Furlongs Dirt | Fillies and Mares | 4:08 PM ET

The best race of the Parx card from a quality standpoint. Confirmed Star (Post 7) sits on top with the best speed and the best supporting profile, and that is a powerful combination. At 4/1, she is an overlay. Aoife’s Magic (Post 1) is a sharp second call at 6/1, while Lovely Charm (Post 8) rounds out the top three.

Betting suggestion: Confirmed Star to win, keyed over Aoife’s Magic and Lovely Charm in exactas. A 1/2/all trifecta with Confirmed Star on top, those two in second, and the field in third could pay handsomely.

Race 6 | Starter Optional Claiming $25,000 | 6 Furlongs Dirt | 2:20 PM ET

Mo Says (Post 3) has a clear edge as the top horse here and looks like the one to beat. But the real intrigue is behind him. Big Z Og (Post 6), Huggy (Post 2), and Iron Sharpens Iron (Post 5) are tightly bunched and any of them could fill out the exotics.

Betting suggestion: Mo Says on top, spreading underneath with Huggy, Big Z Og, and Iron Sharpens Iron in exactas and trifectas. The 4/1 morning line on Mo Says has value.

Mahoning Valley – Grind It Out

Race 2 | Allowance | 8 Furlongs Dirt | 12:43 PM ET

Knicks Glory (Post 1) is the clear top dog and separates sharply from the rest of this field. At 2/1 he is the deserved favorite. King Curlin (Post 3) is a distant second, and there is another gap back to the rest.

Betting suggestion: Knicks Glory as a single in the pick 3 and daily double. He is a reliable anchor.

Race 4 | Maiden Special Weight | 6 Furlongs Dirt | 1:39 PM ET

Game and Smart (Post 1) is one of the strongest plays on any card today. He is 4/5 on the morning line for good reason. He towers over this maiden field with the best speed and the best supporting numbers. Trainer Radosevich has a live one.

Betting suggestion: Game and Smart as a confident win bet. Use as a single in multi-race wagers. The price will be short, but the edge is enormous.

Race 8 | Starter Allowance | 6 Furlongs Dirt | 3:31 PM ET

Poppy’s Pride (Post 2) has a clear advantage here and brings the best overall package. At 9/2 on the morning line, he offers solid value as the top choice. Prince of Pennies (Post 3) and Ismybusiness (Post 5) are closely matched for the place and show spots.

Betting suggestion: Poppy’s Pride to win, keyed over Prince of Pennies, Ismybusiness, Don’t Stop (Post 1), and Tonight (Post 4) in the trifecta. The 2-through-5 spots are tightly packed.

Turf Paradise – Desert Heat

Race 6 | Allowance Optional Claiming $25,000 | 6.5 Furlongs Dirt | 3:35 PM MT

The best race on the Turf Paradise card, and it is a fun one. You’reinthearmynow (Post 7) and Improbable Bet (Post 5) are dead even at the top, both projecting the same speed figure. But Improbable Bet brings a stronger supporting profile at a juicier 10/1 morning line, and that is the overlay of the day. Perfect Prankster (Post 2) rounds out a competitive top three.

Betting suggestion: Improbable Bet is the best value play on any card today at 10/1. Use him on top and underneath You’reinthearmynow in exacta boxes. Add Perfect Prankster for the trifecta.

Race 7 | Claiming $8,500 | 8 Furlongs Turf | 4:05 PM MT

Vorpal (Post 9) has a clear edge as the top horse and the best supporting profile on turf. At 9/2, he is well-spotted. The competitive middle of this field includes House of Lords (Post 4), Law Abiding (Post 5), Dear Santa (Post 7), Summer Lover (Post 3), and Delian League (Post 1), all within a length of each other on paper, making for an exciting exotic race.

Betting suggestion: Vorpal on top in exactas, spreading wide underneath. The trifecta could pay big given the bunched field below him.

Will Rogers Downs – Oklahoma Picks

Race 2 | Allowance | 5.5 Furlongs Dirt | 3 yo Statebred | 1:42 PM CT

Western Man (Post 5) is the dominant play at Will Rogers today. Even money on the morning line, and he deserves it. Best speed, best supporting profile, top jockey-trainer combination. How About Bob (Post 3) is the only horse with a realistic shot to upset.

Betting suggestion: Western Man as a single everywhere. Build your Will Rogers multi-race wagers around him.

Race 7 | Claiming $10,000 | 8 Furlongs Dirt | 4:07 PM CT

I Am Grodd (Post 7) gets the top call, but Coastal Brink (Post 4) and Shadowless (Post 3) are right on his heels. This is a three-deep race with very little separating the contenders.

Betting suggestion: A three-horse exacta box with I Am Grodd, Coastal Brink, and Shadowless is the smart play. Any of these three could win.

Best Bets of the Day – The Aces

Top Win Bet: Easy Action – Parx Race 8 (Post 3). Massive edge, generous price.

Best Value Play: Improbable Bet – Turf Paradise Race 6 (Post 5). Co-top horse at 10/1? Yes, please.

Most Likely Winner: Game and Smart – Mahoning Valley Race 4 (Post 1). Short price, but the safest play on any card.

Stakes Spotlight: Lotsandlotsofcandy – Fair Grounds Race 8, Mardi Gras Stakes (Post 7). Class of the field in the richest race of the day.

Multi-Race Anchor: Mister Banderas – Fair Grounds Race 2 (Post 5). The strongest single on the Fair Grounds card for your pick sequences.

Good luck out there. Play smart, manage your bankroll, and remember the best bet is always the one you can afford to lose.

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