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
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7. MAYLEN
FORGIVE LAST; CAPABLE AT A SQUARE PRICE
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1. CHIQUITA RENA
IS WHAT SHE IS; MIGHT BE GOOD ENOUGH
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8. WEST COAST HARBOR
TACTICAL EDGE IN RACE VOID OF SPEED
Selections:
7-1-8/3
Race 2
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1. MOR HAPPY HOURS
RAIL DRAW + SPEED IN PACELESS RACE
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4. K'ANTHEIA
BLINKS ON; MCPEEK GOOD WITH THIS KIND
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7. FASTA LAVISTA BABY
RUNS HOT & COLD; RATES WITH A-GAME
Selections:
1-4-7/3-9-8
Race 3
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13. LONG NECK PAULA
WELL-BRED $500K 2YO IN TRAINING BUY FOR WARD
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8. LA FANTASTICA
SPRINT INFLUENCES + BULLET WORK FOR MR. STEVE
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4. MINTY
BULLET GATE DRILL FOR THIS; LURES PRAT
Selections:
13-8/4-12
Race 4
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1. KAVOD
RARE CLUNKER IN LAST; VERY CAPABLE
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6. ANGKOR
MODEL OF CONSISTENCY; WELL DRAWN
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3. SCOTLAND
LIKELY A SPRINGBOARD TO A STRETCH OUT
Selections:
1-6/3/4-5-2
Race 5
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4. ROCKY JOY
STRETCHES OUT OFF NARROW LOSS; HIS RACE TO LOSE
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7. BRILLIANT BERTI
SLOW START & WIDE FIRST TURN COST HIM IN DEBUT
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10. TAPIT FOR THE WIN
TOSS OUT DEBUT; MAJOR RIGHT TO IMPROVE AT A PRICE
Selections:
4-7-10/8-9
Race 6
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4. UNDERHILL'S TAB
IN FINE FORM & DISTANCE SUITS TO A TEE
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7. CLASSIC LEGACY
CLOSER FINDS CLEAR SAILING; NEEDS PACE TO CHASE
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1. SHOPPER'S REVENGE
STRETCHES OUT OFF NEEDED RUN; STILL HAS UPSIDE
Selections:
4/7-1/6
Race 7
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8. GENEROUS LOVER
CUTS BACK TURF TO DIRT; DROPS INTO WIN SPOT
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2. CHANISA
FITS WELL AT THIS LEVEL FOR TEAM ASMUSSEN
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5. THREE POLKS
DROPS TO LOWEST LEVEL OFF THE BENCH
Selections:
8/4-5/1
Race 8
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1. DRIPPING GOLD
PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE & SHOULD TRIP OUT
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3. SIR LONDON
BETTER THAN HE LOOKS; SQUARE PRICE
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12. TALL BOY
WON LOST START ON THIS COURSE UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES
Selections:
1-3-12/11-4-9
Race 9
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7. SHOOT IT TRUE
DOMINANT DEBUT; TOUGH TO GO AGAINST
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3. THE QUEENS M G
OVERCAME A TOUGH POST A ROUGH START TO WIRE DEBUT
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2. AKINMUSIRE
SLOW START & WIDE TURN IN 3RD PLACE DEBUT
Selections:
7/3-2-6-1
Race 10
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5. BANGO
IN POSITION TO BREAK CD'S ALL-TIME WIN RECORD
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2. SURVELLIANCE
IN FINE FORM; MAIN THREAT TO THE CHALK
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7. O BESOS
BANGO'S STABLEMATE WILL BE RUNNING LATE
Selections:
5/2-7/1
RACE 11
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2. CHURCHTOWN
MAJOR POST SHIFT; PRICE IS RIGHT
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6. ICE CHOCOLAT (BRZ)
MAJOR TRAFFIC TROUBLE AS BEATEN FAVORITE IN LAST
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9. CARL SPACKLER (IRE)
VERY TALENTED; 4YO STILL HAS UPSIDE
Selections:
2-6-9/4-10
12
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3. MUCHO MOJO
STRONG SECOND THE LAST TIME AT THIS TRIP
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7. AMERICAN HERO
UP AND DOWN LIKE A YO-YO; WATCH TOTE
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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
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3. IUKA MISS
LOOKS READY/CLASS RELIEF
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8. WEST COAST AHRBOR
SPEED TO BE LOOSE ON LEAD
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5. PAYNT YOUR WAY
HALF TO MORELLO COULD BE DANGEROUS
Selections:
3, 8, 5/4, 1
Race 2
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3. VALERIE BLUE
TOUGH GO AGAINST A GOOD ONE LAST OUT
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1. MOR HAPPY HOURS
NATURAL SPEED AND GUTSY
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7. FASTA LAVISTA BABY
DANGEROUS IF CAN GET THE DISTANCE
Selections:
3, 1, 7/8, 9
Race 3
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7. KEYANA
OMAHA BEACH FILLY LOOKS LIVE
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4. MINTY
SURFACE A QUESTION, PRECOCITY IS NOT
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8. LA FANTASTICA
HALF TO SPEED BOAT BEACH
Selections:
7, 4, 8, 13/1, 6, 12
Race 4
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3. SCOTLAND
TACTICAL WINNER BACK AT ONE TURN
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4. CLOSETHEGAME SUGAR
BEAT GOOD FIELD LAST OUT, LOOKS READY TO ROLL
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6. ANGKOR
IN THE MIX THROUGHOUT
Selections:
3/4/6, 1, 5
Race 5
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1. LUCCHESI
GAME IN THE A.M. & GETS LONGER
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4. ROCKY JOY
GUTSY & LIKELY TO THE LEAD
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7. BRILLIANT BERTI
SHOULD BE READY TO ROLL NOW
Selections:
1, 4, 7/9, 14/11
Race 6
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7. CLASSIC LEGACY
AGAINST THE TRACK IN LAST TWO
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6. CASTLEWARDEN
MOVING WELL WITH CATCHING FREEDOM IN A.M.
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1. Shopper's Revenge
LIKELY TO IMPROVE OFF LAST FOR A PIECE
Selections:
7, 6/1, 2/4
Race 7
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8. GENEROUS LOVER
IMPRESSIVE IN NOLA
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2. CHANISA
CONSISTENT ITM
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6. SASSY WALKER
FLASHED TALENT & BACK ON DIRT
Selections:
8/2, 6/4, 1, 5
Race 8
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11. FREEDOM'S WAY
TOUGH START & AGASINST FLOW IN LAST
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5. RECKONING FORCE
SHARP DRILL/NEW EQUIPMENT
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4. RISK MANAGER
WIDE AND IN TOUGH LAST
Selections:
11, 5, 4/ 7, 9/ 6
Race 9
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7. SHOOT IT TRUE
ULTRA IMPRESSIVE DEBUT AND DRILL
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2. Akinmusire
GOOD LATE KICK IF RACE FALLS APART
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5. JET SWEEP JOE
THROUGH THE WIRE IN DEBUT WIN
Selections:
7/2, 5, 9/4
Race 10
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5. BANGO
BANGO POISED TO BREAK RECORD WITH 12 LOCAL WINS
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7. O BESOS
STABLEMATE KICKS LATE FOR PLACE
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1. NECKER ISLAND
FRESH FOR A GOOD EFFORT
Selections:
5/7/1, 2, 6
RACE 11
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5. HARLAN ESTATE
PACE MELTDOWN POTENTIAL
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4. SMOKIN T
GAME SPLIT IN FINAL STAGES--ROLLING
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3. ICE CHOCOLAT (BRZ)
BIG EXCUSE LAST TIME
Selections:
5, 4, 6 /7, 8
Race 12
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10. PIKE PLACE
GOOD SPOT FOR VERSATILE RUNNER
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4. HARLEEZY
RECENT DRILL IMPRESSED ME ENOUGH TO STAB
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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
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7. MAYLEN
INTRIGUING LONG SHOT HAS A COUPLE OF RACES WORTH STRONG CONSIDERATION
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3. IUKA MISS
BIG TIME CLASS DROP ENHANCES CHANCES
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1. CHIQUITA REINA
DECENT RUN IN THE PAST OVER CD STRIP
Selections:
7/3-1/8
Race 2
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1. MOR HAPPY HOURS
SHOULD BE IN A PROMINENT POSITION THROUGHT ON THE CLASS DROP
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3. VALERIE BLUE
GOOD SOLID FIT AT A NICE PRICE
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4. K'ANTHEIA
LOTS OF QUESTION MARKS SURROUNDING THE FAVORITE
Selections:
1-3/4-7-8/6-9
Race 3
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8. LA FANTASTICA
HALF TO SPEED BOAT BEACH, HOPING SHE'S AS QUICK
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13. LONG NECK PAULA
WARD HAS BEEN DOMINATING TWO YEAR OLD RACES THIS SPRING IN KENTUCKY
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7. KEYANA
SHARP GATE DRILL ON 4/15 AT KEENELAND
Selections:
8-13/7-12/4
Race 4
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1. KAVOD
HOPING FOR A GATE TO WIRE SCORE AT A NICE PRICE
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3. SCOTLAND
LOTS OF TALENT, FIRST START OFF THE BENCH
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6. ANGKOR
ANOTHER HORSE WITH ABILITY ON THE COMEBACK
Selections:
1/3-6/4
Race 5
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4. ROCKY JOY
NICE TURF/ROUTE BLOOD, BIG IN DEFEAT IN MOST RECENT RACE
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9. THERMOSCOPE
LOVE THIS DEBUT RUNNERS BLOOD FOR PLETCHER
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3. HEART OF OSCAR
THREE YEAR OLD AGAINST ELDERS FOR 2024 DEBUT
Selections:
4/9-3/7-10
Race 6
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6. CASTLEWARDE
SHOULD GET A BEAUTIFUL TRIP FROM THE OUTSIDE
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1. SHOPPER'S REVENGE
SOLID COMEBACK BID, WILL BE CLOSING LATE
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7. CLASSIC LEGACY
RECENT FORM IS VERY SOLID
Selections:
6/1-7/4
Race 7
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2. CHANISA
HOPING SHE CAN OVERCOME MINOR PLACINGS
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4. NEUTRALIZE
WON DEBUT OVER CD OVAL
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1. IN COLOR
INTERSTING SPEED PLAY FROM RAIL
Selections:
2/4/1-8
Race 8
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5. RECKONING FORCE
LIVE LONG SHOT TRYING TO RECAPTURE GOOD TWO YEAR OLD FORM
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8. MIRANDA RIGHTS
FIRST 2024 START FOR A TALENTED EQUINE
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4. RISK MANAGER
BIG CLASS DROP FOR A LOGICAL PLAYER
Selections:
5/8-4/11-1
Race 9
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7. SHOOT IT TRUE
VERY TALENTED FILLY WITH IMMENSE ABILITY
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5. JET SWEEP JOE
ENCOURAGING START TO CAREER
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4. STRUMMIN
COULD REALLY BE CHARGING IN THE LANE
Selections:
7/5-4/9-1
RACE 10
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5. BANGO
GOING FOR THE CD RECORD AS THE HORSE WITH MOST WINS IN TRACK HISTORY
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6. BOURBON BASH
UP N COMER GETS CLASS TEST
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1. NECKER ISLAND
LOTS OF GOOD CD FORM, PRICE IS RIGHT
Selections:
5/6-1/4-7
RACE 11
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6. ICE CHOCOLAT
TON OF TROUBLE IN MOST RECENT FOR MY BEST BET
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9. CARL SPACKLER
TALENTED HORSE ON THE COMEBACK BID
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10. TALK OF THE NATION
ANOTHER GOOD LOOKING HORSE RETURNING TO ACTION
Selections:
6/9-10/4-2
RACE 12
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8. LONG CROW
LATE PLAYER WITH SOLID FOUNDATION
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3. MUCHO MOJO
MAOJOR PACE PLAYER ESPECIALLY WITH SCRATCHES
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2. MY ROMEO LIMA
SPEED KEEPS HIM IN THE RACE THROUGHOUT
Selections:
8-3/2/5
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