Delta Downs Picks: Sam’s Town Stakes (1/17/2026)

Delta Downs Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 4:45 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $28k; 5 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #6 MY VISION (5-2): Prime Win Player. Favorable class relief in this spot. Race sets up perfectly.
• #9 REGAL TIME (7-2): Contender. Top connections on the circuit with Del-Cid and Averett.
• #1 CUT N DANCER (5-1): Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
• #5 GO HOT GIRL (9-2): Underneath. Bloodlines fit this race. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 6 – 9 – 1 – 5

The Plays

Win: #6 at 3-1

Exacta: 6 / 9,1,5

Delta Downs Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 5:15 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $36k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

• #6 JUST NATE (5-1): Longshot play of the day. Barn has been solid. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
• #4 SMARTY'S BACK (7-2): Major Player. Well bred for this race. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #5 WEEKENDSANDWHISKEY (5-2): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
• #1 DOWNTOWN MOTOWN (12-1): Underneath. Should still have enough if the reserves if there in the final furlong. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 6 – 4 – 5 – 1

The Plays

Win: #6 at 6-1

Exacta: 6 / 4,5

Delta Downs Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 5:43 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $19k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

• #9 DIXIE STRONG (8-1): Top pick. Race may setup for this runner. Solid breeding for this spot.
• #3 C F JIMMY RAY (7-2): Major Player. Thornton and Balderas team up on this one. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
• #8 ANALITICO (8-1): Contender. May be able find the right setup. Barn has been sending out runners.
• #1 LEWIS MEMORIAL (6-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.

Selections: 9 – 3 – 8 – 1

The Plays

Win: #9 at 9-1

Exacta: 9 / 3,8

Delta Downs Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 6:11 PM CT; Claiming $14.5k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

• #5 TIFF WITH JIMMY (10-1): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Barn has been solid.
• #2 CHIP SHORTAGE (20-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
• #9 SELECTIVELY SWEET (5-2): Contender. Previous success in similar race types. Likely in the mix early.
• #7 CLEVER RACE (5-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 9 – 7

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-1

Exacta: 5 / 2,9,7

Pick 3 (races 4-6): #5,2 with #6,5 with #1

Delta Downs Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 6:39 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $36k; 5 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

• #6 AWESOME MAGIC (7-2): Top pick. Races competitive with the top contenders.
• #5 CARDINAL CUSHING (9-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
• #4 RECKLESS LOVE (5-1): Contender. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race.
• #3 KINGSCLIFF (5-2): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 6 – 5 – 4 – 3

The Plays

Win: #6 at 4-1

Exacta: 6 / 5,4,3

Delta Downs Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 7:04 PM CT; Orleans Stakes $100k; 5 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

• #1 HILLERITO (9-5): Best bet of the card. Barn has been solid. Should be able to work out a trip. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #9 SASSI STRUTTER (5-1): Contender. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Can run with these.
• #5 TWIRL AROUND (6-1): Contender. Could wear these ones down late.
• #8 GLORIETTE (12-1): Fringe Contender. Competitive enough in recent efforts. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 1 – 9 – 5 – 8

The Plays

Win: #1 at 9-5

Exacta: 1 / 9,5

Delta Downs Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 7:32 PM CT; Claiming $18k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #8 EVE OF EVE (2-1): Prime Win Player. Barn has been solid. Top connections on the circuit with Del-Cid and Alberto.
• #3 CONGRATS CADET (5-1): Contender. Looks fast enough off previous efforts. Likely to get forward position.
• #9 MO DIXIE DIVA (12-1): Fringe Contender. Likely in the mix early.
• #7 GAP DADDY (12-1): Fringe Contender. Shouldn't be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 8 – 3 – 9 – 7

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-2

Exacta: 8 / 3,9

Delta Downs Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 8:00 PM CT; Sam's Town Stakes $100k; 5 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #7 DEVIL'S TOWER (10-1): Prime Win Player. Stamina to outlast the competition. Melancon and Hernandez team up on this one.
• #1 OLD HOMESTEAD (5-2): Contender. Top connections on the circuit with Del-Cid and Brinkman. Trainer is having a great meet.
• #3 THE DONEGAL CLAN (6-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Not likely to be short in the stretch.
• #2 GO CAPTAIN (9-2): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer's horses have been running.

Selections: 7 – 1 – 3 – 2

The Plays

Win: #7 at 5-1

Exacta: 7 / 1,3

Delta Downs Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 8:28 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $24.5k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

• #7 DUKE OF ORLEANS (10-1): Top pick. Should be able to work out a trip. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance.
• #8 ALL HONORS (3-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #3 CAPTAIN BLOOD (5-1): Major Player. Speed figs match up nicely. Barn has been sending out runners.
• #9 JUSTICE FOR JOHNNY (6-1): Major Player. Could be griding down the competition late. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.

Selections: 7 – 8 – 3 – 9

The Plays

Win: #7 at 5-1

Exacta Box: 7 / 8 / 3