EXPERT PICKS
KENTUCKY DERBY DAY — SATURDAY, MAY 4, 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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6. HOUSE UNITED
LESSON LEARING DEBUT; BLINKERS ON
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1. EVAN ON EARTH
BANGO'S LITTLE BROTHER IS ON EDGE FOR THIS
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2. PURE FORCE
COX DEBUTER IS BRED TO ROUTE, MAYBE EVEN TURF
Selections:
6-1/2-3
Race 2
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6. SCYLLA
TACITUS'S BABY SISTER LOOKS LIKE A STANDOUT HERE
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5. GUNESH
SHARP WIN ON THE MOVE TO DIRT LAST OUT
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8. COPPA GIRL
HAS RAW TALENT; TRYING TO FIND HER NICHE
Selections:
6/5-8/11-10-2
Race 3
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6. NULLIFY
IMPROVED OUT OF NOWHWERE; PRICE IS RIGHT
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11. MINDFRAME
MIND BLOWING DEBUT; MUCH TOUGHER TASK
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3. ELEPHANTS EAR
TALENTED & PROFESSIONAL; WILL RUN HIS RACE
Selections:
6/5-8/11-10-2
Race 4
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7. KUPUNA
TOUGH LOSS IN THIS RACE LAST YEAR; BIG WIN AT EVD
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6. DENINGTON
WON AT THIS TRIP; SHOULD HAVE PACE TO CHASE
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6. BEST ACTOR
CUTBACK WORKS IN HIS FAVOR; SHOULD TRIP OUT
Selections:
7-2-6/11-1
Race 5
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8. MISCHIEF MAGIC
STORMED HOME AFTER SLOW START IN SHAKERTOWN
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4. MOTORIOUS
MODEL OF CONSISTENCY; THE TRIP IS KEY
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1. CANDY MAN ROCKET
MIGHT LIKE TURF; FORWARD, INSIDE TRIP
Selections:
8-4/1-7-12-10
Race 6
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10. VAHVA
TRAFFIC TROUBLE COST HER IN THE G1 MADISON
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7. ALVA STARR
SPEEDY, VERSATILE & GAME
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9. RED CARPET READY
MUST RESPECT HER PERFECT 3 FOR 3 RECORD AT CD
Selections:
10-7/9-2-5
Race 7
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11. COPPICE
EXCITING EURO IMPORT; STRONG TEAM
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7. EVVIE JETS
GOT REALLY GOOD AT THE END OF LAST YEAR
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6. DELAHAYE
HAD TO WORK TO WIN THE BENSON; STILL HAS UPSIDE
Selections:
11-7-6-2/3
Race 8
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8. TOP CONOR
SET A HOT PACE IN THE BLUE GRASS; CUT BACK IS KEY
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9. FROSTY INDULGENCE
BETTER THAN IT LOOKS 3RD IN LAFAYETTE; LONGSHOT CHANCE
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12. NASH
A BIT OF AN ENIGMA; POST NO PICNIC
Selections:
8-9/12-11-2-7
Race 9
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11. CUGINO
BLINKERS ON COULD BE A GAME CHANGER
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5. LEGEND OF TIME
TOUGH TO PLAY AGAINST APPLEBY EURO IMPORTS
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14. AGATE ROAD
FIERCENESS' SPARRING PARTNER WANTS TURF
Selections:
11-5-14/6-10
Race 10
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4. MR. WIRELESS
GOING TO TAKE THAT RECENT WIN AT FG AT FACE VALUE
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10. GUN PILOT
SHOULD BE IN POSITION IF GOOD ENOUGH
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6. ZOZOS
TWO FOR TWO AT CD; FRESH, FIT & READY
Selections:
4/10-6/9-11-2
RACE 11
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6. I'M VERY BUSY
INCREDIBLE TURN OF FOOT; RUNS THEM OVER
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11. NAVAL POWER
GOOD AS ANY HERE; MUST OVERCOME POST
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1. INTEGRATION
ADVANTAGEOUS RAIL DRAW; FITS WELL
Selections:
6-11-1/10-4-5
12th Race
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2. SIERRA LEONE
INTIMIDATING CLOSER PROVES TOUGH TO DENY
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4. CATCHING FREEDOM
KEEPS GETTING BETTER; MORE TACTICAL THAN YOU THINK
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17. FIERCENESS
IF HE GETS THE TRIP HE WANTS, IT COULD BE LIGHTS OUT
Selections:
2-4-17/7-15-8/12-11-19
Race 13
Selections:
2/7-9/1-11-6
14th race
Selections:
12-8-1-3/6
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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1. EVAN ON EARTH
BIG A.M. MOVES FOR BANGO'S BROTHER
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5. LOU'S LEGACY
TRIP TROUBLE IN LAST
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6. HOUSE UNITED
GAVE FIELD 4 LENGTHS IN LAST AND RAN WELL AGAINST FLOW
Selections:
1,5/6,2,7
Race 2
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6. SCYLLA
TOUGH TRIP AT KEE
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1. NAVY GOAT
NICE RALLY AGSINT THE BIAS IN LAST
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4. STEEL RACER
FORWARD AND COULD GET ANOTHER EASY TRIP
Selections:
6/1/4,2,5
Race 3
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9. INVIGORATED
A.M. DRILLS SAY HE MOVES FORWARD OFF 1ST EFFORT
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2. CORNISHMAN
BIG GUY GETTING BETTER WITH EACH RACE
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4. ANTHEM KING
HONOR MARIE'S WORKMATE
Selections:
9,2/4,1/3
Race 4
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2. DENINGTON
PACE SETUP HE NEEDS
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10. FIVE STAR GENERAL
NEVER QUITS BUT RIGHT DISTANCE?
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7. KUPUNA
SHOWED SOMETHING NEW IN LAST
Selections:
2,10,7/8,11/6
Race 5
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14. COGBURN
IF READY IS DANGEROUS; IRAD UP SAYS IT'S ON
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4. MOTORIOUS
ONE OF THE BEST IN THIS DIVISION
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13. EAMMON
LATE SURGE IS DANGEROUS
Selections:
14,4,13/7,8
Race 6
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1. THREE WITCHES
VALUE TO GO AGSINT OBVIOUS TWO
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3. FLYING CONNECTION
POISED TO MOVE FORWARD OFF SNEAKY GOOD LAST
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10. VAHVA
ANOTHER TOUGH DRAW BUT ALWAYS GOOD
Selections:
1,3/10,7
Race 7
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7. EVVIE JETS
BACK AFTER BIG SUMMER
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6. DELAHYAE
BENSON A KEY RACE
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3. CHILI FLAG
WILL FIRE BUT 1 MILE HIS BEST DISTANCE?
Selections:
7,6/3,11/12
Race 8
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8. TOP CONOR
BIG BLUE GRASS AND ONE TURN MAKES SENSE
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12. NASH
BACK TO ONE TURN & ROLLING LATE
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1. CARBONE
FORM CYCLING BACK TO TOP
Selections:
8/12,1/2,7
Race 9
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13. CAN GROUP
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6. NEAT
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9. NOTED
Selections:
13,6,9,11/4,11,5
Race 10
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9. THREE TECHNIQUE
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4. MR. WIRELESS
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2. TEJANO TWIST
Selections:
9,4,2/8,11
RACE 11
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6. I'M VERY BUSY
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1. INTEGRATION
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3. CELLIST
Selections:
6/1,3,11
Race 12
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17. FIERCENESS
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4. CATCHING FREEDOM
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18. STRONGHOLD
Selections:
17/4/18/7/19,16,15,12
RACE 13
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2. DISCRETE MISCHIEF
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7. JEFFERSON STREET
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14. YELLOW CARD
Selections:
2/7/14,12/8
RACE 14
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3. GUN PARTY
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8. D'ORO UNBRIDLED
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6. BANNED FOR LIFE
Selections:
3/8,6,10,11,12
Tony Calo
Churchill Downs Racing Analyst as well as Turfway Park and Ellis Park Announcer.
Race 1
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6. HOUSE UNITED
DEBUT RUN HAD TO BE BENEFICIAL AFTER UNEVENTFUL TRIP
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1. EVAN ON EARTH
PRETTY SOLID COMPANY LINES, AND YOUNGER SIBLING TO BANGO
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2. PURE FORCE
COX/JUDDMONTE WITH PERHAPS ANOTHER BEAST
Selections:
6/1-2/357
Race 2
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6. SCYLLA
LOOKS SUPER IMPOSING IN THIS SPOT
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11. VICTORIOUS
LAST RACE NOT A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF HER TALENT
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8. COPPA GIRL
LONE WET TRACK RACE WAS HUGE
Selections:
6/11-8/3
Race 3
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11. MINDFRAME
COULD BE A FUTURE SUPERSTAR
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2. CORNISHMAN
SOLID HORSE IN A VERY COOL RACE
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1. CARTUCHO
THIS RACE WILL PROVE TO BE A KEY RACE WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE
Selections:
11/2-1-9/3
Race 4
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2. DENNINGTON
RACE LOADED WITH PACE, HE COULD BE ROLLING LATE
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6. BEST ACTOR
THE HORSE TO BEAT, SOLID RESUME
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6. KAPUNA
HE HAS BEEN IN MY STABLE MAIL FOR QUITE SOME TIME
Selections:
2-6/7/1-8-10
Race 5
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4. MOTORIOUS
HE CAN FLAT OUT FLY IN THE LANE
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8. MISCHIEF MAGIC
ANOTHER EURO ON THE DERBY CARD THAT WILL ADORE THE WET TURF
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3. COPPOLA
UNDEFEATED HERE ON CD TURF, INSIDE SPEED TO BE A FACTOR
Selections:
4-8/2-10-12-14
Race 6
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10. VAHVA
SUPER TALENTED FILLY DRAWN PERFECTLY TO THE OUTSIDE
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7. ALVA STARR
ANOTHER FILLY WHO IS A BIG TIME RUNNER
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1. THREE WITCHES
SOLID THIRD IN F&M BC SPRINT
Selections:
10-7/1-9/3-2
Race 7
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11. COPPICE
4TH TO INSPIRAL TO CONCLUDE 2023 CAMPAIGN,
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3. CHILI FLAG
THE OTHER EURO SHOULD RELLISH NON FIRM TURF
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1. AG BULLET
UNDEFEATED ON TURF IN FOUR STARTS, HOWEVER THEY WERE ALL RUN OVER FIRM COURSES IN CALIFORNIA
Selections:
11/3-1/7-6-5
Race 8
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11. VLAHOS
PROMISING DEBUT FOR A BIG STRONG INDIVIDUAL
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12. NASH
MAJOR PLAYER DESERVES TOP BILLING
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3. NORTHERN FLAME
BIG PRICE HAS SOME SOLID RACES ON PAPER
Selections:
11-12/3-1-8/5-7
Race 9
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5. LEGEND OF TIME
THE LONE EURO HAS WON FOUR OF FIVE STARTS
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9. NOTED
ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL TRIP IN RUBY
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14. AGATE ROAD
CAN UNLEASH A GOOD LATE KICK
Selections:
5/9-14/3461011
Race 10
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10. GUN PILOT
STRONG FINISH FOR A HORSE WHO I THINK IS IMPROVING
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6. ZOZOS
I'VE ALWAYS LIKED THIS GUY
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4. MR. WIRELESS
SUPER HUGE WIN RECENTLY, WORTH A GOOD LOOK
Selections:
10/6-4/2-7-11
Race 11
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11. NAVAL POWER
ABSOLUTE BEAST, POST ONLY DRAWBACK
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7. WEBSLINGER
PRETTY COOL HORSE AT A NICE PRICE
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5. PROGRAM TRADING
HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG IN FIVE STARTS, 2024 DEBUT
Selections:
11/7-5-1/6-4
Race 12
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2. SIERRA LEONE
WILL BE COMING WITH A BIG RUN
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17. FIERCENESS
BEST RACE WINS IN EMPHATIC STYLE
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8. JUST A TOUCH
HORSE WITH A LOT OF ABILITY AND UPSIDE
Selections:
2-17-5/4-7/21
Race 13
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2. DISCREET MISCHIEF
LOTS OF TALENT IN HIS CORNER
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7. JEFFERSON STREET
VERY TALENTED HORSE WHO WON IN FINE FASHION
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11. PERFECT PRANKSTER
LONG SHOT IS WORTH STRONG CONSIDERATION
Selections:
2-7/11-14/6
RACE 14
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3. GUN PARTY
NICE UP AND COMER IN A GREAT DERBY NIGHTCAP
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6. BANNED FOR LIFE
SHORTENS UP AFTER A PRETTY GOOD COMPETETIVE AFFAIR
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1. DIVE BOMBER
COX WITH ANOTHER RUNNER WITH TALENT
Selections:
3/6-1/12-8-10
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