EXPERT PICKS

Looking for Kentucky Derby Future Wager? Click here to get access the Future Wager Pools >> 

Get daily Expert Picks for all of Churchill Downs Racing and wager with TwinSpires.

EXPERT PICKS

Sign up for the Expert Pick Email Newsletter 🔗 >>

Sign Up

Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Churchill Downs Today with Joe, Kevin & Kaitlin at noon ET

First post: 1 pm ET

Derby City Six carryover = $53,803 (races 5-10, 15% takeout)

Jackpot 8 carryover = $422,166 (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
RACE 2
RACE 3
RACE 4
RACE 5
RACE 6
RACE 7
RACE 8
RACE 9
RACE 10

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
Race 2
Race 3
Race 4
Race 5
Race 6
Race 7

  • 8. SOCIAL HOUR

    CHASED INSIDE WITH RUN AS FAVE IN LAST RACE

Selections:

8-6-3/7-10-9

Race 8

  • 6. GLORY ME

    WELL-BRED, WORKING SHARP AND DEVAUX 23% AFTER 180+ DAYS OFF

Selections:

6/2-5-7/1

Race 9

  • 4. TIMELAPSE

    SHARP FROM GATES IN DEBUT AND SHOULD BE FIT TO SEE IT OUT TODAY

Selections:

4-3/7-9/5-1

Tony Calo

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

Race 8
Race 9
Race 10

JOE K'S '26 FALL MEET STATS THRU 11-1-26

RACES                                           33
'A' COLUMN WINS 18
'A' COLUMN WIN % 54.5%
TOP PICK WINS 9
2ND 6
3RD 2
WIN % 27.8%
WPS % 51.5%
$2 ROI $1.98
$6 WPS ROI $5.86

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                                           106
'A' COLUMN WINS 58
'A' COLUMN WIN % 54%
TOP PICK WINS 25
2ND 12
3RD 16
WIN % 24%
WPS % 50%
$2 TOP PICKS ROI $1.92
$6 WPS ROI $4.96

TONY'S 2026 SEMPTEMBER STATS

RACES                                           97
'A' COLUMN WINS 44
'A' COLUMN WIN % 45%
TOP PICK WINS 31
2ND 23
3RD 9
WIN % 31%
WPS % 65%
$2 ROI $2.28
$6 WPS ROI $6.01

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.

FOLLOW FOR UPDATES AND EXCLUSIVES

Missed something? Catch up on past Churchill Downs news