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SUNDAY, JUNE 14

CHURCHILL DOWNS TODAY WITH  KAITLIN BENSON, KEVIN KILROY & MEGAN DEVINE AT 11:45 AM ET

FIRST POST: 12:45 PM PM ET

DERBY CITY SIX JACKPOT CARRYOVER = $64,110 (RACES 4-9)

JACKPOT 8 CARRYOVER = $164,832 (FINAL RACE OF THE DAY, 10 OR MORE HORSES)

Kaitlin Benson

Kaitlin Benson is currently a reporter and analyst at Churchill Downs, Turfway Park, and Colonial Downs. Kaitlin is also well versed in international races including stops on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in Europe and Asia.

RACE 1

  • 1. BHATIA

    FIGURES TO GET A SIMILAR SET UP AS LAST OUT

Selections:

1-5/2/3

RACE 2

  • 2. ELIDA'S ANGEL (IRE)

    BY FAR THE BEST BRED FOR THE DISTANCE

Selections:

2/7/5-9

RACE 3

  • 7. I HAD THAT ONE TOO

    FITS NICELY AT THE LEVEL & HAS AFFINITY FOR THIS SURFACE

Selections:

7/3/6-1

RACE 4

  • 7. DISPERSION

    MOST UPSIDE IN A WIDE OPEN GROUP

Selections:

7-3-1/5

RACE 5

  • 7. LUNAR LOOP

    CUT BACK TO 7 FURLONGS SHOULD SUIT WELL

Selections:

7-3-2/8

RACE 6

  • 10. THIS IS YOUR TIME

    WILL MOVE FORWARD 2ND START OF THE SEASON, HAS AN AGE EDGE HERE

Selections:

10-11/8/2

RACE 7

  • 5. VESTURE

    NEW HORSE SINCE SPRINTING OVER THE GRASS

Selections:

5-3-8/6

RACE 8

  • 8. KILLA SALLY

    LOVES TWO TURNS NO MATTER THE SURFACE

Selections:

8/6-3-7

9

  • 7. HEARTBEAT

    HOT BARN HAS BEEN INTENT ON GETTING HER BACK ON TURF

Selections:

7-4/9/11

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

  • 5. C MCGRIFF

    BIG EFFORT AGAINST SOLID GROUP LAST OUT; SHOULD WORK OUT GREAT TRIP

Selections:

5/2-1/3-4

Race 2

  • 2. ELIDA'S ANGEL

    TOP & BOTTOM BRED FOR DISTANCE; SOLID DEBUT

Selections:

2-8/1-6-9

Race 3

  • 5. CORA'S LEGACY

    HAS MORE TACTICAL SPEED THAN WAS EMPLOYED LAST OUT

Selections:

5-2-1-7/3

Race 4

  • 1. GOOD MOJO

    BETTER POST TO SHOW EARLY SPEED; SPOTTED FOR THE WIN

Selections:

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

Race 5

  • 2. NOROOMFORMISCHIEF

    WORKS GIVE ME CONFIDENCE TO DRAW A LINE THROUGH THE LAST

Selections:

2-4-5/1-3-6-9/7

Race 6

  • 2. STELLENBOSCH

    ROLLING LIKE A GOOD THING IN THE A.M. FOR BAFFERT

Selections:

2-4-11/8-7

Race 7

  • 6. HEART HEADED

    MAKER CLAIMS BACK/CUTS BACK; FORM PATTERN SUGGESTS HE COULD BE BACK TO HIS A GAME

Selections:

6-4-3/2-5-8

Race 8

  • 4. ALAS

    SHARP DRILL INSIDE BRICKLIN AHED OF FIRST START FOR BRISSET

Selections:

4-3/2-8-5/7-6-1

Race 9

  • 6. PROMISEMEANEMPIRE

    FLYING IN THE A.M.; SHIRER HAS STRONG% MOVING TO GRASS

Selections:

6-4/5-7/3-2-9

Tony Calo

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

RACE 1
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Race 6
Race 7
Race 8
Race 9

JOE K'S 2026 SPRING STATS THRU 6-13

RACES                                           230
'A' COLUMN WINS 121
'A' COLUMN WIN % 52.6%
TOP PICK WINS 63
2ND 46
3RD 38
WIN % 27.4%
WPS % 63.9%
$2 ROI $1.81
$6 WPS ROI $5.55

KAITLIN'S 2025 FALL STATS

RACES                                           73
'A' COLUMN WINS 36
'A' COLUMN WIN % 49.3%
TOP PICK WINS 15
2ND 13
3RD 8
WIN % 20.5%
WPS % 49.3%
$2 ROI $1.44
$6 WPS ROI $4.98

KILROY'S 2026 SPRING STATS THROUGH 6-12

RACES                                           191
'A' COLUMN WINS 111
'A' COLUMN WIN % 58%
TOP PICK WINS 41
2ND 34
3RD 35
WIN % 21%
WPS % 58%
$2 TOP PICKS ROI $1.50
$6 WPS ROI $4.79

TONY'S 2026 SPRING MEET THRU 6-14-2026

RACES                                           250
'A' COLUMN WINS 132
'A' COLUMN WIN % 52.8%
TOP PICK WINS 79
2ND 43
3RD 28
WIN % 31.6%
WPS % 58%
$2 ROI $2.12
$6 WPS ROI $5.70

EXPERT PICKS AND YOU

Professional handicappers analyze races and suggest top horses with insightful analysis. Additionally offering specific bets like Win, Exacta, or Trifecta tickets for consideration. These picks often include reasoning, such as a horse’s recent performance, speed figures, or trainer success. For a beginner, they are helpful because they explain why a horse is a good choice and can help add confidence instead of guessing.

For a first-time bettor, “expert picks” from TwinSpires, Churchill Downs, and Kentucky Derby are simply guidance tools to help you choose horses more confidently. Simulcast, or track analysts, tend to be laser focused with day-to-day familiarity of each horse and TwinSpires expert picks are typically the most detailed from written and data based approaches.

Churchill Downs expert picks can be found in the race program. They list horses in ranked order for each race, often without much explanation due to program succinctness. Think of these as a quick references or starting points if you don’t want to do deep research.

Kentucky Derby expert picks are broader and come from many sources, including media analysts and racing insiders. They focus on the biggest race and often highlight top contenders, favorites, and longshots. Because there are many opinions, you’ll often see differences between experts.

The key for beginners is not to follow any single pick blindly. Instead, use them together. If multiple sources agree on a horse, that can be a strong signal. Expert picks are best used to narrow your choices, not make decisions for you, helping you bet smarter while still enjoying the experience.

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