EXPERT PICKS

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EXPERT PICKS

THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024

Joe Kristufek

Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds and Twin Spires racing analyst Joe Kristufek began his career in his native Chicago, climbing the ladder at the local racing venues. The 1989 rivalry between Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence and his nemesis Easy Goer got Joe hooked on horse racing. A self-proclaimed "horse racing ambassador", Joe's industry experience spans from Dubai to Hong Kong to more than 35 tracks across North America.

Race 1
  • 7. MAYLEN

    FORGIVE LAST; CAPABLE AT A SQUARE PRICE

  • 1. CHIQUITA RENA

    IS WHAT SHE IS; MIGHT BE GOOD ENOUGH

  • 8. WEST COAST HARBOR

    TACTICAL EDGE IN RACE VOID OF SPEED

Selections:

7-1-8/3

Race 2
  • 1. MOR HAPPY HOURS

    RAIL DRAW + SPEED IN PACELESS RACE

  • 4. K'ANTHEIA

    BLINKS ON; MCPEEK GOOD WITH THIS KIND

  • 7. FASTA LAVISTA BABY

    RUNS HOT & COLD; RATES WITH A-GAME

Selections:

1-4-7/3-9-8

Race 3
  • 13. LONG NECK PAULA

    WELL-BRED $500K 2YO IN TRAINING BUY FOR WARD

  • 8. LA FANTASTICA

    SPRINT INFLUENCES + BULLET WORK FOR MR. STEVE

  • 4. MINTY

    BULLET GATE DRILL FOR THIS; LURES PRAT

Selections:

13-8/4-12

Race 4
  • 1. KAVOD

    RARE CLUNKER IN LAST; VERY CAPABLE

  • 6. ANGKOR

    MODEL OF CONSISTENCY; WELL DRAWN

  • 3. SCOTLAND

    LIKELY A SPRINGBOARD TO A STRETCH OUT

Selections:

1-6/3/4-5-2

Race 5
  • 4. ROCKY JOY

    STRETCHES OUT OFF NARROW LOSS; HIS RACE TO LOSE

  • 7. BRILLIANT BERTI

    SLOW START & WIDE FIRST TURN COST HIM IN DEBUT

  • 10. TAPIT FOR THE WIN

    TOSS OUT DEBUT; MAJOR RIGHT TO IMPROVE AT A PRICE

Selections:

4-7-10/8-9

Race 6
  • 4. UNDERHILL'S TAB

    IN FINE FORM & DISTANCE SUITS TO A TEE

  • 7. CLASSIC LEGACY

    CLOSER FINDS CLEAR SAILING; NEEDS PACE TO CHASE

  • 1. SHOPPER'S REVENGE

    STRETCHES OUT OFF NEEDED RUN; STILL HAS UPSIDE

Selections:

4/7-1/6

Race 7
  • 8. GENEROUS LOVER

    CUTS BACK TURF TO DIRT; DROPS INTO WIN SPOT

  • 2. CHANISA

    FITS WELL AT THIS LEVEL FOR TEAM ASMUSSEN

  • 5. THREE POLKS

    DROPS TO LOWEST LEVEL OFF THE BENCH

Selections:

8/4-5/1

Race 8
  • 1. DRIPPING GOLD

    PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE & SHOULD TRIP OUT

  • 3. SIR LONDON

    BETTER THAN HE LOOKS; SQUARE PRICE

  • 12. TALL BOY

    WON LOST START ON THIS COURSE UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES

Selections:

1-3-12/11-4-9

Race 9
  • 7. SHOOT IT TRUE

    DOMINANT DEBUT; TOUGH TO GO AGAINST

  • 3. THE QUEENS M G

    OVERCAME A TOUGH POST A ROUGH START TO WIRE DEBUT

  • 2. AKINMUSIRE

    SLOW START & WIDE TURN IN 3RD PLACE DEBUT

Selections:

7/3-2-6-1

Race 10
  • 5. BANGO

    IN POSITION TO BREAK CD'S ALL-TIME WIN RECORD

  • 2. SURVELLIANCE

    IN FINE FORM; MAIN THREAT TO THE CHALK

  • 7. O BESOS

    BANGO'S STABLEMATE WILL BE RUNNING LATE

Selections:

5/2-7/1

RACE 11
  • 2. CHURCHTOWN

    MAJOR POST SHIFT; PRICE IS RIGHT

  • 6. ICE CHOCOLAT (BRZ)

    MAJOR TRAFFIC TROUBLE AS BEATEN FAVORITE IN LAST

  • 9. CARL SPACKLER (IRE)

    VERY TALENTED; 4YO STILL HAS UPSIDE

Selections:

2-6-9/4-10

12
  • 3. MUCHO MOJO

    STRONG SECOND THE LAST TIME AT THIS TRIP

  • 7. AMERICAN HERO

    UP AND DOWN LIKE A YO-YO; WATCH TOTE

  • 2. MY ROMEO LIMA

    FORWARD RUNNING STYLE MAKES HIM A PLAYER HERE

Selections:

3-7/2/8

Kevin Kilroy

Kevin Kilroy is a racing and handicapping analyst covering the racing at Churchill Downs, Colonial Downs, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds and Turfway Park.

Race 1
  • 3. IUKA MISS

    LOOKS READY/CLASS RELIEF

  • 8. WEST COAST AHRBOR

    SPEED TO BE LOOSE ON LEAD

  • 5. PAYNT YOUR WAY

    HALF TO MORELLO COULD BE DANGEROUS

Selections:

3, 8, 5/4, 1

Race 2
  • 3. VALERIE BLUE

    TOUGH GO AGAINST A GOOD ONE LAST OUT

  • 1. MOR HAPPY HOURS

    NATURAL SPEED AND GUTSY

  • 7. FASTA LAVISTA BABY

    DANGEROUS IF CAN GET THE DISTANCE

Selections:

3, 1, 7/8, 9

Race 3
  • 7. KEYANA

    OMAHA BEACH FILLY LOOKS LIVE

  • 4. MINTY

    SURFACE A QUESTION, PRECOCITY IS NOT

  • 8. LA FANTASTICA

    HALF TO SPEED BOAT BEACH

Selections:

7, 4, 8, 13/1, 6, 12

Race 4
  • 3. SCOTLAND

    TACTICAL WINNER BACK AT ONE TURN

  • 4. CLOSETHEGAME SUGAR

    BEAT GOOD FIELD LAST OUT, LOOKS READY TO ROLL

  • 6. ANGKOR

    IN THE MIX THROUGHOUT

Selections:

3/4/6, 1, 5

Race 5
  • 1. LUCCHESI

    GAME IN THE A.M. & GETS LONGER

  • 4. ROCKY JOY

    GUTSY & LIKELY TO THE LEAD

  • 7. BRILLIANT BERTI

    SHOULD BE READY TO ROLL NOW

Selections:

1, 4, 7/9, 14/11

Race 6
  • 7. CLASSIC LEGACY

    AGAINST THE TRACK IN LAST TWO

  • 6. CASTLEWARDEN

    MOVING WELL WITH CATCHING FREEDOM IN A.M.

  • 1. Shopper's Revenge

    LIKELY TO IMPROVE OFF LAST FOR A PIECE

Selections:

7, 6/1, 2/4

Race 7
  • 8. GENEROUS LOVER

    IMPRESSIVE IN NOLA

  • 2. CHANISA

    CONSISTENT ITM

  • 6. SASSY WALKER

    FLASHED TALENT & BACK ON DIRT

Selections:

8/2, 6/4, 1, 5

Race 8
  • 11. FREEDOM'S WAY

    TOUGH START & AGASINST FLOW IN LAST

  • 5. RECKONING FORCE

    SHARP DRILL/NEW EQUIPMENT

  • 4. RISK MANAGER

    WIDE AND IN TOUGH LAST

Selections:

11, 5, 4/ 7, 9/ 6

Race 9
  • 7. SHOOT IT TRUE

    ULTRA IMPRESSIVE DEBUT AND DRILL

  • 2. Akinmusire

    GOOD LATE KICK IF RACE FALLS APART

  • 5. JET SWEEP JOE

    THROUGH THE WIRE IN DEBUT WIN

Selections:

7/2, 5, 9/4

Race 10
  • 5. BANGO

    BANGO POISED TO BREAK RECORD WITH 12 LOCAL WINS

  • 7. O BESOS

    STABLEMATE KICKS LATE FOR PLACE

  • 1. NECKER ISLAND

    FRESH FOR A GOOD EFFORT

Selections:

5/7/1, 2, 6

RACE 11
  • 5. HARLAN ESTATE

    PACE MELTDOWN POTENTIAL

  • 4. SMOKIN T

    GAME SPLIT IN FINAL STAGES--ROLLING

  • 3. ICE CHOCOLAT (BRZ)

    BIG EXCUSE LAST TIME

Selections:

5, 4, 6 /7, 8

Race 12
  • 10. PIKE PLACE

    GOOD SPOT FOR VERSATILE RUNNER

  • 4. HARLEEZY

    RECENT DRILL IMPRESSED ME ENOUGH TO STAB

  • 5. MR. PETERKIN

    MOVES UP IN CLASS = CONFIDENCE

Selections:

10, 4, 5, 7/8,

Tony Calo

Churchill Downs Racing Analyst as well as Turfway Park and Ellis Park Announcer.

Race 1
  • 7. MAYLEN

    INTRIGUING LONG SHOT HAS A COUPLE OF RACES WORTH STRONG CONSIDERATION

  • 3. IUKA MISS

    BIG TIME CLASS DROP ENHANCES CHANCES

  • 1. CHIQUITA REINA

    DECENT RUN IN THE PAST OVER CD STRIP

Selections:

7/3-1/8

Race 2
  • 1. MOR HAPPY HOURS

    SHOULD BE IN A PROMINENT POSITION THROUGHT ON THE CLASS DROP

  • 3. VALERIE BLUE

    GOOD SOLID FIT AT A NICE PRICE

  • 4. K'ANTHEIA

    LOTS OF QUESTION MARKS SURROUNDING THE FAVORITE

Selections:

1-3/4-7-8/6-9

Race 3
  • 8. LA FANTASTICA

    HALF TO SPEED BOAT BEACH, HOPING SHE'S AS QUICK

  • 13. LONG NECK PAULA

    WARD HAS BEEN DOMINATING TWO YEAR OLD RACES THIS SPRING IN KENTUCKY

  • 7. KEYANA

    SHARP GATE DRILL ON 4/15 AT KEENELAND

Selections:

8-13/7-12/4

Race 4
  • 1. KAVOD

    HOPING FOR A GATE TO WIRE SCORE AT A NICE PRICE

  • 3. SCOTLAND

    LOTS OF TALENT, FIRST START OFF THE BENCH

  • 6. ANGKOR

    ANOTHER HORSE WITH ABILITY ON THE COMEBACK

Selections:

1/3-6/4

Race 5
  • 4. ROCKY JOY

    NICE TURF/ROUTE BLOOD, BIG IN DEFEAT IN MOST RECENT RACE

  • 9. THERMOSCOPE

    LOVE THIS DEBUT RUNNERS BLOOD FOR PLETCHER

  • 3. HEART OF OSCAR

    THREE YEAR OLD AGAINST ELDERS FOR 2024 DEBUT

Selections:

4/9-3/7-10

Race 6
  • 6. CASTLEWARDE

    SHOULD GET A BEAUTIFUL TRIP FROM THE OUTSIDE

  • 1. SHOPPER'S REVENGE

    SOLID COMEBACK BID, WILL BE CLOSING LATE

  • 7. CLASSIC LEGACY

    RECENT FORM IS VERY SOLID

Selections:

6/1-7/4

Race 7
  • 2. CHANISA

    HOPING SHE CAN OVERCOME MINOR PLACINGS

  • 4. NEUTRALIZE

    WON DEBUT OVER CD OVAL

  • 1. IN COLOR

    INTERSTING SPEED PLAY FROM RAIL

Selections:

2/4/1-8

Race 8
  • 5. RECKONING FORCE

    LIVE LONG SHOT TRYING TO RECAPTURE GOOD TWO YEAR OLD FORM

  • 8. MIRANDA RIGHTS

    FIRST 2024 START FOR A TALENTED EQUINE

  • 4. RISK MANAGER

    BIG CLASS DROP FOR A LOGICAL PLAYER

Selections:

5/8-4/11-1

Race 9
  • 7. SHOOT IT TRUE

    VERY TALENTED FILLY WITH IMMENSE ABILITY

  • 5. JET SWEEP JOE

    ENCOURAGING START TO CAREER

  • 4. STRUMMIN

    COULD REALLY BE CHARGING IN THE LANE

Selections:

7/5-4/9-1

RACE 10
  • 5. BANGO

    GOING FOR THE CD RECORD AS THE HORSE WITH MOST WINS IN TRACK HISTORY

  • 6. BOURBON BASH

    UP N COMER GETS CLASS TEST

  • 1. NECKER ISLAND

    LOTS OF GOOD CD FORM, PRICE IS RIGHT

Selections:

5/6-1/4-7

RACE 11
  • 6. ICE CHOCOLAT

    TON OF TROUBLE IN MOST RECENT FOR MY BEST BET

  • 9. CARL SPACKLER

    TALENTED HORSE ON THE COMEBACK BID

  • 10. TALK OF THE NATION

    ANOTHER GOOD LOOKING HORSE RETURNING TO ACTION

Selections:

6/9-10/4-2

RACE 12
  • 8. LONG CROW

    LATE PLAYER WITH SOLID FOUNDATION

  • 3. MUCHO MOJO

    MAOJOR PACE PLAYER ESPECIALLY WITH SCRATCHES

  • 2. MY ROMEO LIMA

    SPEED KEEPS HIM IN THE RACE THROUGHOUT

Selections:

8-3/2/5

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