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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

  • 6. HOUSE UNITED

    LESSON LEARING DEBUT; BLINKERS ON

  • 1. EVAN ON EARTH

    BANGO'S LITTLE BROTHER IS ON EDGE FOR THIS

  • 2. PURE FORCE

    COX DEBUTER IS BRED TO ROUTE, MAYBE EVEN TURF

Selections:

6-1/2-3

Race 2

  • 6. SCYLLA

    TACITUS'S BABY SISTER LOOKS LIKE A STANDOUT HERE

  • 5. GUNESH

    SHARP WIN ON THE MOVE TO DIRT LAST OUT

  • 8. COPPA GIRL

    HAS RAW TALENT; TRYING TO FIND HER NICHE

Selections:

6/5-8/11-10-2

Race 3

  • 6. NULLIFY

    IMPROVED OUT OF NOWHWERE; PRICE IS RIGHT

  • 11. MINDFRAME

    MIND BLOWING DEBUT; MUCH TOUGHER TASK

  • 3. ELEPHANTS EAR

    TALENTED & PROFESSIONAL; WILL RUN HIS RACE

Selections:

6/5-8/11-10-2

Race 4

  • 7. KUPUNA

    TOUGH LOSS IN THIS RACE LAST YEAR; BIG WIN AT EVD

  • 6. DENINGTON

    WON AT THIS TRIP; SHOULD HAVE PACE TO CHASE

  • 6. BEST ACTOR

    CUTBACK WORKS IN HIS FAVOR; SHOULD TRIP OUT

Selections:

7-2-6/11-1

Race 5

  • 8. MISCHIEF MAGIC

    STORMED HOME AFTER SLOW START IN SHAKERTOWN

  • 4. MOTORIOUS

    MODEL OF CONSISTENCY; THE TRIP IS KEY

  • 1. CANDY MAN ROCKET

    MIGHT LIKE TURF; FORWARD, INSIDE TRIP

Selections:

8-4/1-7-12-10

Race 6

  • 10. VAHVA

    TRAFFIC TROUBLE COST HER IN THE G1 MADISON

  • 7. ALVA STARR

    SPEEDY, VERSATILE & GAME

  • 9. RED CARPET READY

    MUST RESPECT HER PERFECT 3 FOR 3 RECORD AT CD

Selections:

10-7/9-2-5

Race 7

  • 11. COPPICE

    EXCITING EURO IMPORT; STRONG TEAM

  • 7. EVVIE JETS

    GOT REALLY GOOD AT THE END OF LAST YEAR

  • 6. DELAHAYE

    HAD TO WORK TO WIN THE BENSON; STILL HAS UPSIDE

Selections:

11-7-6-2/3

Race 8

  • 8. TOP CONOR

    SET A HOT PACE IN THE BLUE GRASS; CUT BACK IS KEY

  • 9. FROSTY INDULGENCE

    BETTER THAN IT LOOKS 3RD IN LAFAYETTE; LONGSHOT CHANCE

  • 12. NASH

    A BIT OF AN ENIGMA; POST NO PICNIC

Selections:

8-9/12-11-2-7

Race 9

  • 11. CUGINO

    BLINKERS ON COULD BE A GAME CHANGER

  • 5. LEGEND OF TIME

    TOUGH TO PLAY AGAINST APPLEBY EURO IMPORTS

  • 14. AGATE ROAD

    FIERCENESS' SPARRING PARTNER WANTS TURF

Selections:

11-5-14/6-10

Race 10

  • 4. MR. WIRELESS

    GOING TO TAKE THAT RECENT WIN AT FG AT FACE VALUE

  • 10. GUN PILOT

    SHOULD BE IN POSITION IF GOOD ENOUGH

  • 6. ZOZOS

    TWO FOR TWO AT CD; FRESH, FIT & READY

Selections:

4/10-6/9-11-2

RACE 11

  • 6. I'M VERY BUSY

    INCREDIBLE TURN OF FOOT; RUNS THEM OVER

  • 11. NAVAL POWER

    GOOD AS ANY HERE; MUST OVERCOME POST

  • 1. INTEGRATION

    ADVANTAGEOUS RAIL DRAW; FITS WELL

Selections:

6-11-1/10-4-5

12th Race

  • 2. SIERRA LEONE

    INTIMIDATING CLOSER PROVES TOUGH TO DENY

  • 4. CATCHING FREEDOM

    KEEPS GETTING BETTER; MORE TACTICAL THAN YOU THINK

  • 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

  • 1. EVAN ON EARTH

    BIG A.M. MOVES FOR BANGO'S BROTHER

  • 5. LOU'S LEGACY

    TRIP TROUBLE IN LAST

  • 6. HOUSE UNITED

    GAVE FIELD 4 LENGTHS IN LAST AND RAN WELL AGAINST FLOW

Selections:

1,5/6,2,7

Race 2

  • 6. SCYLLA

    TOUGH TRIP AT KEE

  • 1. NAVY GOAT

    NICE RALLY AGSINT THE BIAS IN LAST

  • 4. STEEL RACER

    FORWARD AND COULD GET ANOTHER EASY TRIP

Selections:

6/1/4,2,5

Race 3

  • 9. INVIGORATED

    A.M. DRILLS SAY HE MOVES FORWARD OFF 1ST EFFORT

  • 2. CORNISHMAN

    BIG GUY GETTING BETTER WITH EACH RACE

  • 4. ANTHEM KING

    HONOR MARIE'S WORKMATE

Selections:

9,2/4,1/3

Race 4

  • 2. DENINGTON

    PACE SETUP HE NEEDS

  • 10. FIVE STAR GENERAL

    NEVER QUITS BUT RIGHT DISTANCE?

  • 7. KUPUNA

    SHOWED SOMETHING NEW IN LAST

Selections:

2,10,7/8,11/6

Race 5

  • 14. COGBURN

    IF READY IS DANGEROUS; IRAD UP SAYS IT'S ON

  • 4. MOTORIOUS

    ONE OF THE BEST IN THIS DIVISION

  • 13. EAMMON

    LATE SURGE IS DANGEROUS

Selections:

14,4,13/7,8

Race 6

  • 1. THREE WITCHES

    VALUE TO GO AGSINT OBVIOUS TWO

  • 3. FLYING CONNECTION

    POISED TO MOVE FORWARD OFF SNEAKY GOOD LAST

  • 10. VAHVA

    ANOTHER TOUGH DRAW BUT ALWAYS GOOD

Selections:

1,3/10,7

Race 7

  • 7. EVVIE JETS

    BACK AFTER BIG SUMMER

  • 6. DELAHYAE

    BENSON A KEY RACE

  • 3. CHILI FLAG

    WILL FIRE BUT 1 MILE HIS BEST DISTANCE?

Selections:

7,6/3,11/12

Race 8

  • 8. TOP CONOR

    BIG BLUE GRASS AND ONE TURN MAKES SENSE

  • 12. NASH

    BACK TO ONE TURN & ROLLING LATE

  • 1. CARBONE

    FORM CYCLING BACK TO TOP

Selections:

8/12,1/2,7

Race 9

  • 13. CAN GROUP

  • 6. NEAT

  • 9. NOTED

Selections:

13,6,9,11/4,11,5

Race 10

  • 9. THREE TECHNIQUE

  • 4. MR. WIRELESS

  • 2. TEJANO TWIST

Selections:

9,4,2/8,11

RACE 11

  • 6. I'M VERY BUSY

  • 1. INTEGRATION

  • 3. CELLIST

Selections:

6/1,3,11

Race 12

  • 17. FIERCENESS

  • 4. CATCHING FREEDOM

  • 18. STRONGHOLD

Selections:

17/4/18/7/19,16,15,12

RACE 13

  • 2. DISCRETE MISCHIEF

  • 7. JEFFERSON STREET

  • 14. YELLOW CARD

Selections:

2/7/14,12/8

RACE 14

  • 3. GUN PARTY

  • 8. D'ORO UNBRIDLED

  • 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

  • 6. HOUSE UNITED

    DEBUT RUN HAD TO BE BENEFICIAL AFTER UNEVENTFUL TRIP

  • 1. EVAN ON EARTH

    PRETTY SOLID COMPANY LINES, AND YOUNGER SIBLING TO BANGO

  • 2. PURE FORCE

    COX/JUDDMONTE WITH PERHAPS ANOTHER BEAST

Selections:

6/1-2/357

Race 2

  • 6. SCYLLA

    LOOKS SUPER IMPOSING IN THIS SPOT

  • 11. VICTORIOUS

    LAST RACE NOT A TRUE REPRESENTATION OF HER TALENT

  • 8. COPPA GIRL

    LONE WET TRACK RACE WAS HUGE

Selections:

6/11-8/3

Race 3

  • 11. MINDFRAME

    COULD BE A FUTURE SUPERSTAR

  • 2. CORNISHMAN

    SOLID HORSE IN A VERY COOL RACE

  • 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

  • 2. DENNINGTON

    RACE LOADED WITH PACE, HE COULD BE ROLLING LATE

  • 6. BEST ACTOR

    THE HORSE TO BEAT, SOLID RESUME

  • 6. KAPUNA

    HE HAS BEEN IN MY STABLE MAIL FOR QUITE SOME TIME

Selections:

2-6/7/1-8-10

Race 5

  • 4. MOTORIOUS

    HE CAN FLAT OUT FLY IN THE LANE

  • 8. MISCHIEF MAGIC

    ANOTHER EURO ON THE DERBY CARD THAT WILL ADORE THE WET TURF

  • 3. COPPOLA

    UNDEFEATED HERE ON CD TURF, INSIDE SPEED TO BE A FACTOR

Selections:

4-8/2-10-12-14

Race 6

  • 10. VAHVA

    SUPER TALENTED FILLY DRAWN PERFECTLY TO THE OUTSIDE

  • 7. ALVA STARR

    ANOTHER FILLY WHO IS A BIG TIME RUNNER

  • 1. THREE WITCHES

    SOLID THIRD IN F&M BC SPRINT

Selections:

10-7/1-9/3-2

Race 7

  • 11. COPPICE

    4TH TO INSPIRAL TO CONCLUDE 2023 CAMPAIGN,

  • 3. CHILI FLAG

    THE OTHER EURO SHOULD RELLISH NON FIRM TURF

  • 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

  • 11. VLAHOS

    PROMISING DEBUT FOR A BIG STRONG INDIVIDUAL

  • 12. NASH

    MAJOR PLAYER DESERVES TOP BILLING

  • 3. NORTHERN FLAME

    BIG PRICE HAS SOME SOLID RACES ON PAPER

Selections:

11-12/3-1-8/5-7

Race 9

  • 5. LEGEND OF TIME

    THE LONE EURO HAS WON FOUR OF FIVE STARTS

  • 9. NOTED

    ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL TRIP IN RUBY

  • 14. AGATE ROAD

    CAN UNLEASH A GOOD LATE KICK

Selections:

5/9-14/3461011

Race 10

  • 10. GUN PILOT

    STRONG FINISH FOR A HORSE WHO I THINK IS IMPROVING

  • 6. ZOZOS

    I'VE ALWAYS LIKED THIS GUY

  • 4. MR. WIRELESS

    SUPER HUGE WIN RECENTLY, WORTH A GOOD LOOK

Selections:

10/6-4/2-7-11

Race 11

  • 11. NAVAL POWER

    ABSOLUTE BEAST, POST ONLY DRAWBACK

  • 7. WEBSLINGER

    PRETTY COOL HORSE AT A NICE PRICE

  • 5. PROGRAM TRADING

    HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG IN FIVE STARTS, 2024 DEBUT

Selections:

11/7-5-1/6-4

Race 12

  • 2. SIERRA LEONE

    WILL BE COMING WITH A BIG RUN

  • 17. FIERCENESS

    BEST RACE WINS IN EMPHATIC STYLE

  • 8. JUST A TOUCH

    HORSE WITH A LOT OF ABILITY AND UPSIDE

Selections:

2-17-5/4-7/21

Race 13

  • 2. DISCREET MISCHIEF

    LOTS OF TALENT IN HIS CORNER

  • 7. JEFFERSON STREET

    VERY TALENTED HORSE WHO WON IN FINE FASHION

  • 11. PERFECT PRANKSTER

    LONG SHOT IS WORTH STRONG CONSIDERATION

Selections:

2-7/11-14/6

RACE 14

  • 3. GUN PARTY

    NICE UP AND COMER IN A GREAT DERBY NIGHTCAP

  • 6. BANNED FOR LIFE

    SHORTENS UP AFTER A PRETTY GOOD COMPETETIVE AFFAIR

  • 1. DIVE BOMBER

    COX WITH ANOTHER RUNNER WITH TALENT

Selections:

3/6-1/12-8-10

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