EXPERT PICKS

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EXPERT PICKS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2025 — 11 RACES, 1 PM ET

Pick Five (races 1, 4 & 7), Derby City Six Jackpot CARRYOVER = $209,655 (race 6) & $3 Late Pick 3 (race 9) all with a LOW 15% TAKEOUT.

Churchill Downs Today with Joe K, Tony & Ren at 11:45 am ET

Joe Kristufek

Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Fair Grounds and Twin Spires' senior producer & 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 the game. A self-proclaimed "horse racing ambassador", Joe's industry experience spans from Dubai to Hong Kong to roughly 40 tracks across North America.

RACE 1
  • 1. COLT FORTY SEVEN

    CUTS BACK TURF TO DIRT WITH FOUNDATION; SHOULD OFFER VALUE

  • 3. TINGUS PINGUS

  • 7. PERFECT AUDIBLE

Selections:

1-3/7-5-4

RACE 2
  • 5. BROOKLYN DREW

    MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT LAST OUT OFF THE JACOBSEN CLAIM

  • 4. MOM'S CHEESECAKE

  • 3. CAROLINA CANDY

Selections:

5-4/3-1-6-2

RACE 3
  • 3. ALTA AVENUE

    TROUBLE IN LAST; CUTBACK HELPS THE CAUSE

  • 7. MISS MO MAGIC

  • 6. BERLINWIN

Selections:

3/7-6-4

RACE 4
  • 4. NORTHERN INVADER

    SITS RIGHT OFF THE SPEED; SHOULD FIRE FRESH

  • 5. EPIC RIDE

  • 2. KAPUNA

Selections:

4-5/2-1-6-7

RACE 5
  • 8. CLASSIC ROCK

    DEBUT WAS BETTER THAN IT LOOKS; SHARP WORKS

  • 5. GOOD MOJO

  • 10. D BIGALOW

Selections:

8-5-10/4-2

RACE 6
  • 7. ROMAN ROGUE

    DALLAS LURES TYLER FOR DEBUT; OUTSIDE POST IS KEY

  • 1. HIMOTHY

  • 2. MIDNIGHT ROCKET

Selections:

7-1/2-8-5-6

RACE 7
  • 2. CLIFFS

    RAN BIG AT SARATOGA; FIRES FRESH FOR CHERIE

  • 4. GIRLS ROCK

  • 8. MODERN SOUND

Selections:

2/4-8-1-10

RACE 8
  • 2. MESQUITE

    STRETCHES OUT OFF BETTER THAN IT LOOKS DEBUT IN KEY RACE

  • 11. GRAND SLAM SAM

  • 8. LIBERTY VALANCE

Selections:

2-11/8-13/12-10-7

RACE 9
  • 4. ITS BOURBON THIRTY

    TOUGH LUCK DEFEAT IN LAST; TABLE SET HERE

  • 3. FLOODLITES

  • 2. BEER RUN

Selections:

4-3-2/5-10-7-6

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. COLT FORTY SEVEN

    FACING MUCH EASIER ON THE CUTBACK/SURFACE SWITCH

Selections:

1-4-3/5-2-7

Race 2
  • 3. CAROLINA CANDY

    HAS BEEN SHARP/WON AFTER LAYOFF IN PAST

Selections:

3/4-6/1-5-2

Race 3
  • 3. ALTA AVENUE

    CUTBACK MAKES SENSE AFTER SOLID/TROUBLED TRY GOING TWO TURNS

Selections:

3-7/2-6/4-5-1

Race 4
  • 4. NORTHERN INVADER

    TALENTED 5YO IS FRESH, TACTICAL, & CONSISTENT

Selections:

4/6-5-7

Race 5
  • 8. CLASSIC ROCK

    IMPRESSED ME IN TOUGH DEBUT TRIP; EXACTA WITH GOOD MOJO

Selections:

8-5/4-10

Race 6
  • 1. HIMOTHY

    YAUPON COLT BEEN SUSTAINING STRONG MOVES IN A.M.

Selections:

1/7-8/6-4-3

Race 7
  • 8. MODERN SOUND

    OVERCAME TOUGH POST TO RUN HUGE AT KEE

Selections:

8-2/9-3-1-4

Race 8
  • 8. LIBERTY VALANCE

    CONTINUES TO IMPRESS IN A.M.

Selections:

8-2-10/11-13-6

Race 9
  • 4. IT'S BOURBON THIRTY

    HANDILY WORKED OUT TRIP, VERY GAME; SHOW ME THE PHOTO FROM 10-16

Selections:

4-5/2/9-6-7

JOE K'S 2025 FALL STATS THROUGH 11-7-35

RACES                                           41
'A' COLUMN WINS 24
'A' COLUMN WIN % 58.5%
TOP PICK WINS 16
2ND 6
3RD 5
WIN % 39%
WPS % 65.9%
$2 ROI $2.27
$6 WPS ROI $5.51

KAITLIN'S STATS FOR THE 2025 SEPTEMBER MEET

RACES                                           72
'A' COLUMN WINS 34
'A' COLUMN WIN % 47.2%
TOP PICK WINS 14
2ND 11
3RD 13
WIN % 19.4%
WPS % 52.8%
$2 ROI $2.01
$6 WPS ROI $5.42

KILROY'S 2025 FALL STATS THROUGH 11-1

RACES                                           42
'A' COLUMN WINS 22
'A' COLUMN WIN % 52%
TOP PICK WINS 11
2ND 5
3RD 1
WIN % 26%
WPS % 41%
$2 TOP PICKS ROI $1.80
$6 WPS ROI $4.51

TONY'S FALL STATS 2025 THROUGH 11-5

RACES                                           60
'A' COLUMN WINS 30
'A' COLUMN WIN % 50%
TOP PICK WINS 10
2ND 12
3RD 11
WIN % 16.7%
WPS % 55%
$2 ROI .97
$6 WPS ROI $4.06

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