Today’s Picks › Fairmount Park Picks
- Races
- 8
- Surfaces
- 8 Dirt
- First post
- 1:30local time
- Top purse · Race 6
- OC 20k/N3L
- Best Bet · Race 4
- 1First Bid Holds a big edge on recent speed over this group
- Value play · Race 1
- 4Dark Bart Overlooked at long odds last time out
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Race-by-race picks
- 8Top pickIfyouneedmecallmeMartinez B · Martin Dawn
Why Ifyouneedmecallme: Coming off the best race of the current form cycle. Finished 2nd in his last start, 3½ lengths behind the winner. Comes back fresh after a 5-month break.
Value play4 Dark Bart
Dismissed at 18-1 in his last start, but fits this field. Just ran a sharply improved race. Was only 4 lengths from winning last time.
Trackside Edge: full top three with win estimates, pace notes and confidence for this race. Unlock
- 2Top pickJust Squeezing ByWales T · Watkins James M
Why Just Squeezing By: Brings the best recent figures into the race. Broke through with a win in her last start. Quickest from the gate in a dirt sprint that tends to favor speed.
Value play4 Taxday Peyton
The public let her go at 19-1 last out, and the ratings say that was a mistake. Drops from a $20,000 claimer to $5,000. Likes Fairmount Park, with 2 wins here.
Trackside Edge: full top three with win estimates, pace notes and confidence for this race. Unlock
- 3Top pickEl PeligroAranguren J · Higgins Dennis
Why El Peligro: Has run faster lately than anything else in here, and it isn't close. Can use his gate speed to get first run in this sprint. Finds a softer field today.
Value play6 Smooth N Silky
Went off at 18-1 last time but rates as a real contender here. Second-best recent figures in the field. Steps down in class off a optional claimer.
Trackside Edge: full top three with win estimates, pace notes and confidence for this race. Unlock
- 1Top pickFirst BidBendezu A · Clay Pat
Why First Bid: Holds a big edge on recent speed over this group. Won last time out in a handicap. Bullet work on Sep 29, best of 10 at the distance.
Trackside Edge: full top three with win estimates, pace notes and confidence for this race. Unlock
- 11Top pickClassic TiramisuTavares J · Delong Ben
Why Classic Tiramisu: Only one horse in here has run faster lately. Comes in off a win. Finished in the top three in 5 of 6 recent races.
Value play6 Jack's Yellow Rose
Dismissed at 23-1 in her last start, but fits this field. Narrowly the fastest on recent figures. Was only 4 lengths from winning last time.
Trackside Edge: full top three with win estimates, pace notes and confidence for this race. Unlock
- 7Top pickItdontcomeeasySantiago V · Becker Scott
Why Itdontcomeeasy: Took a big step forward last time. Broke through with a win in his last start. Has the most early speed in a short dirt race.
Value play3 Coolthing
The public let him go at 15-1 last out, and the ratings say that was a mistake. Just ran a sharply improved race. Closer than it looks last out, beaten just 2½ lengths in 4th.
Trackside Edge: full top three with win estimates, pace notes and confidence for this race. Unlock
- 1Top pickCantooAranguren J · Wainwright John C
Why Cantoo: Last start was a clear jump forward for her. Holds a small speed edge in a bunched-up field. Was only 9 lengths from winning last time.
Value play3 Natalia's Rap
The public let her go at 14-1 last out, and the ratings say that was a mistake. Drops from a $10,000 claimer to $6,250. Has won 2 times over this track.
Trackside Edge: full top three with win estimates, pace notes and confidence for this race. Unlock
- 7Top pickBold and AmbitiousArrieta R · Perkinson CC
Why Bold and Ambitious: Nobody else in the field has run as fast as her lately. Took a big step forward last time. Takes the class drop into maiden claiming company.
Value play11 Cupie Cutie
Went off at 34-1 last time but rates as a real contender here. Trending the right way, with each of her last three better than the one before. Ran 2nd last out, beaten a nose.
Trackside Edge: full top three with win estimates, pace notes and confidence for this race. Unlock
More picks for Tuesday, October 20
Fairmount Park picks archive
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Updated Oct 18, 2026