EXPERT PICKS

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EXPERT PICKS

TWILIGHT THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025

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

  • 4. WITS AND WAGERS

    FITS WELL ON THE DROP; READY OFF THE WORKS

  • 3. JACKIE'S LOVE

  • 5. SWEET CHABLIS

Selections:

4/3-5-6-1-7

RACE 2

  • 10. CHAMBOURCIN

    SOLID 3RD ON DEBUT; POST SHIFT

  • 8. GORRONO RANCH

  • 7. SOUNDSMISCHIEVOUS

Selections:

10-8/7-4/2-5

RACE 3

  • 1. SIXTYSEVEN MUSTANG

    JUST MISSED IN LAST; CAN OCCUPY THE POCKET

  • 7. FREE SPIN

  • 4. SOLE LUTE

Selections:

1-7/4-2-5

RACE 4

  • 3. BLAST FURNACE

    SHARP WORKS + LURES LUIS + OPEN RACE

  • 5. STORMTOWN

  • 9. FLING READY

Selections:

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

RACE 5

  • 6. PIERCE ELEVATED

    DIRT PEDIGREE; CUTS BACK WITH FINISHING PUNCH

  • 1. GENUINE STAR

  • 3. DON CORLEONE

Selections:

6-1-3/5-2-10-8

RACE 6

  • 7. ART FAIR

    BETTER THAN EVER; SPEED + STAMINA

  • 8. SUITED AND BOOTED

  • 9. CHARBONNAY

Selections:

7-8/9-4-6-10

RACE 7

  • 9. LOVE AND POETRY

    SOLID 2ND IN TOUGH LACOMBE; RESTED & READY

  • 10. DOUBLE VELOCITY

  • 8. ANNELLE

Selections:

9/10-8-1-2

RACE 8

  • 7. GERLIN'S EMPIRE

    MODEL OF CONSISTENCY; FITS LIKE A GLOVE

  • 12. AUSTIN HIGH

  • 6. WILL NOT BE SWAYED

Selections:

7/12-6-2-3-10-11

Tony Calo

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

Race 1

  • 6. MISS PEABODY

    SPEED IN SHORTER RACES AND SEEMS LIKE A GOOD FIT AT THIS LEVEL

Selections:

6/2-5-8-1-4

Race 2

  • 8. GORRONO RANCH

    CAN AVENGE ODDS ON DEBUT DEFEAT

Selections:

8-10/7-4/2-1

Race 3

  • 7. FREE SPIN

    TACTICAL EDGE VS. GROUP OF LATE RUNNERS

Selections:

7-4/1-2

Race 4

  • 1. OUR STARRY NIGHT

    HELD HIS OWN IN WORK WITH TETIAROA

Selections:

1/2-4-6-9

Race 5

  • 10. LE CHIFFRE

    HE IS QUICK, PERHAPS LAYOFF AND CLASS DROP GET HIM HOME

Selections:

10-3-9-6/8-1-7

Race 6

  • 4. OUR FAVORITE SON

    SPEED OF THE SPEED, RECENT WORK WAS SOLID RATIONING EARLY ENERGY

Selections:

4-8/6-7-3-10

Race 7

  • 9. LOVE AND POETRY

    RAN INTO A SHARP FILLY WHO THEN RAN 3RD TO NITROGEN

Selections:

9/2-1-10-7

Race 8

  • 12. AUSTIN HIGH

    GOOD LOOKING DEBUT WINNER AT TP

Selections:

12-7-6-8-5

JOE'S STATS 2025 SPRING MEET -- THROUGH 5-3-25

RACES                                           46
'A' COLUMN WINS 25
'A' COLUMN WIN % 54.3%
TOP PICK WINS 16
2ND 3
3RD 6
WIN % 34.8%
WPS % 54.3%
$2 ROI $2.30
$6 WPS ROI $5.52

KAITLIN'S STATS FOR THE 2025 SPRING MEET

RACES                                          
'A' COLUMN WINS
'A' COLUMN WIN %
TOP PICK WINS
2ND
3RD
WIN %
WPS %
$2 ROI
$6 WPS ROI

KILROY'S STATS 2025 SPRING MEET through 5-3

RACES                                           58
'A' COLUMN WINS 33
'A' COLUMN WIN % 57%
TOP PICK WINS 10
2ND 9
3RD 8
WIN % 17%
WPS % 47%
$2 ROI $1.04
$6 WPS ROI $4.07

TONY'S STATS 2025 SPRING MEET through 5-3

RACES                                           58
'A' COLUMN WINS 25
'A' COLUMN WIN % 43%
TOP PICK WINS 18
2ND 9
3RD 4
WIN % 31%
WPS % 53%
$2 ROI $3.14
$6 WPS ROI $6.34

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