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Sunday, September 20, 2026
Post Time: 12:45 PM ET
Churchill Downs Today w/Joe, Kevin & Kaitlin at 11:45 AM ET
Derby City Six starts carryover = $62,024 (races 5-10) (15% takeout)
Jackpot 8 carryover = $378,489 (race 10 with 10 or more horses)

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

  • 9. LOOKISM

    FORGIVE KYD CLUNKER; CUTS BACK & DROPS

Selections:

9-11-4-12-7

RACE 2

  • 5. JUSTIFREAK

    BACK ON TRACK; ENTERED BACK TO REPEAT

Selections:

5/8-4/3-2

RACE 3

  • 7. WAR AND MAJESTY

    FORGIVE LAST; PLENTY OF FOUNDATION

Selections:

7-3-8-4-6-10-11

RACE 4

  • 2. WEST COAST DREAM

    IMPROVED WITH EVERY START; THE ONE TO BEAT

Selections:

2/5-1-4-3-6

RACE 5

  • 1. FITZGERALD

    COMING OUT PARTY TWO BACK; SLOP EXCUSE

Selections:

1-6-9-5-7

RACE 6

  • 10. DON'T TELL MOM

    THREW IT DOWN BUT FELL JUST SHORT IN PROMISING DEBUT

Selections:

10/7-3-9-8

RACE 7

  • 4. TRAMUNTANA

    TURF DEBUT AT INDY WAS VISUALLY IMPRESSIVE; PRICE SHOT

Selections:

4-5-12/6-8

RACE 8

  • 1. MILKWEED

    SNEAKY WORKS IN OHIO; LUIS LURED TO THE SADDLE

Selections:

1-9-8-4-11

RACE 9

  • 5. SHOW OF FORCE

    BETTER THAN EVER; SHOULD TRIP OUT

Selections:

5-7-6-10-8-3

RACE 10

  • 3. THE FINAL SECRET

    2ND BEST BEHIND TALENTED WINNER IN PROMISING DEBUT

Selections:

3-9-6-10-12

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

  • 11. DENIAL

    BARN DOES WELL WITH 2YOS; LOOKING FOR A PIRCE IN WHAT SEEMS TO BE WIDE OPEN RACE

Selections:

11-6-1/10-12

Race 2

  • 4. ANTHRAX

    FACED MONSTER AT CNL; BACK TO BEST DISTANCE; USING BOTH MUNOZ HORSES

Selections:

4-6/7-5-8

Race 3

  • 4. STORMIN THE BEACH

    DID THE DIRTY WORK AND STILL HUNG ON FOR 2ND; SHOULD MOVE FORWARD

Selections:

4-10-3/8-11

Race 4

  • 4. CARA FELCE

    BARN HAS TAKEN TIME WITH HER AFTER CLAIM; PROTECTS TODAY

Selections:

4-2-5/6-1

Race 5

  • 7. REFINED DESIGN

    LOOKS TO BE IN GOOD POSITION TO EMPLOY STRONG STRETCH KICK AT THIS DISTANCE

Selections:

7-6/9-3-1

Race 6

  • 9. FORGIVE ME

    KEEPING GOOD A.M. COMPANY; WE'VE BEEN GETTNG PRICES ON WALSH 2YOS

Selections:

9-3-7/10

Race 7

  • 6. DEFINE

    EASIER SPOT AFTER MOVING FORWARD ON FIGURES IN DEL MAR OAKS

Selections:

6/10-1-8-5

Race 8

  • 4. TOP SELECTION

    LOOKING SOLID IN THE A.M.; WILLING TO TRUST AT SHORT PRICE

Selections:

4/1-9/8-1

Race 9

  • 2. OUT OF DEDUCTIONS

    PACKS A BIG PUNCH AT ONE MILE

Selections:

2-5/7-4/3-6

Race 10

  • 6. OH SHE SAID YES

    MOVING WELL IN A.M., ESPECIALLY DEEP IN WORKS; DEBUTS AT ONE MILE

Selections:

6-4-11/3-2-1

JOE K'S STATS THROUGH 9-13-26

RACES                                           27
'A' COLUMN WINS 18
'A' COLUMN WIN % 66.7%
TOP PICK WINS 9
2ND 3
3RD 3
WIN % 33.3%
WPS % 55.5%
$2 ROI $2.16
$6 WPS ROI $5.41

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 SEPTEMBER STATS

RACES                                           18
'A' COLUMN WINS 11
'A' COLUMN WIN % 61%
TOP PICK WINS 6
2ND 2
3RD 2
WIN % 33%
WPS % 55%
$2 TOP PICKS ROI $2.55
$6 WPS ROI $6.11

TONY'S 2026 SPRING MEET

RACES                                           348
'A' COLUMN WINS 171
'A' COLUMN WIN % 49%
TOP PICK WINS 94
2ND 56
3RD 39
WIN % 27%
WPS % 54%
$2 ROI $1.76
$6 WPS ROI $4.99

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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