Holland's North American Free Racing Picks for Aug. 18

Find free expert picks by Tim Holland for Presque Isle Downs, Louisiana Downs, Canterbury Park and Mountaineer.

Presque Isle Downs

Race 5

Trainer Stokes has been winning with 45% of his runners that have not raced for 90+ days and adds blinkers to #3 Busch Latte (10-1), who has shown little in two previous starts over the track and distance, most recently in early October. Son of Cairo Prince is a half-brother to four winners and recent works include a bullet 5-furlong move in :59 for Stokes, who won with five of his first six starters at this meet. $80K yearling purchase may show more with Spieth taking the mount.

Louisiana Downs

Race 4

Maidens on grass include #2 Cabo Polonio (6-1), who gave way to finish unplaced after chasing the early leaders in his debut on the main track at Lone Star earlier this month. Dark bay should take to grass being by Hard Spun and out of a mare by Galileo and trainer Asmussen wins with 21% of his second-time starters. Colt can show more with Lasix added under Dominguez, who has won with 33% of his rides for the barn in the past two months.

Canterbury Park

Race 8

#5 Moon Nights (10-1) debuts for trainer Silva, who wins with 9% of his first-time starters. Filly has a good win-early pedigree and posted a quick 3-furlong work in :35 3/5 a week ago for Silva, who wins with 14% of his runners overall in maiden claiming events. Dark bay could win at first asking at this low level with Valenzuela aboard.

Mountaineer

Race 4

James Chapman has done well at this meet winning with six of his 17 runners and sends out #7 My Alimony (6-1), a debuting daughter of freshman sire Brody’s Cause, who has made a good start to his stallion career. Dark bay’s works include a good 4-furlong move from the gate in :48 and Chapman wins with 14% of his runners overall in maiden special weight events. Filly appears ready for a good first outing under Hernandez, who has won with three of his last six rides for this barn.