EXPERT PICKS
SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024
Joe Kristufek
Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds and Twin Spires 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 horse racing. A self-proclaimed "horse racing ambassador", Joe's industry experience spans from Dubai to Hong Kong to more than 35 tracks across North America.
Race 1
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1. NO CONSEQUENCES
PEDIGREE SAYS YES TO DIRT; FINISHING PUNCH
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7. GIFT GORGEOUS
SLIDING DOWN THE CLASS LADDER; FINDS CLEAR SAILING
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2. DEFAULT
PROVEN ON DIRT; SHOULD GET THE RIGHT TRIP
Selections:
1-7-2-5-6
Race 2
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6. JAY VEE BEE
FRESH, FIT & READY + WELL SPOTTED WITH BUG
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3. MY ROMEO LIMA
DROPS ANOTHER NOTCH & STRETCHES BACK OUT TO PREFERRED TRIP
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2. AMERICAN HERO
WILL BLINKERS PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED WAKE UP CALL?
Selections:
6-3-2/5-4/1
Race 3
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2. DOCTOR NASH
DOES HIS BEST WORK AT CD; CAPABLE OF A FORWARD TRIP
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5. HE'S GOT THIS
DECENT EFFORTS VS. BETTER; TOSS OUT LAST
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6. THE REDS
PLODDER USUALLY SNEAKS A SHARE; AGAINST ON TOP
Selections:
2-5/6-1-3-4
Race 4
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1. BLING
SHOULD SIT A DREAMY, POCKET TRIP
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5. IMPLICATED
SCRATCHED FOR THIS; THE MAIN THREAT
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3. RO TOWN
ON A SERIOUS ROLL, BUT FACES A MUCH TOUGHER TASK HERE
Selections:
1/5/3/6
Race 5
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4. SMART WITH HEART
MIGHT TRIP OUT; SQUARE PRICE IN PUZZLER
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1. GROVE ST.
LIGHTLY RACED & AGGRESSIVELY PLACED
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6. R QUEEN CANDY
OFF THREE MONTHS SINCE CLAIMED; DIRT DEBUT
Selections:
4-1-6-3/7-5
Race 6
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1. GOURMET
DROPS A NOTCH & CUTS BACK; SHOULD BE TOUGH
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8. YES TO CHAMPAGNE
DISTANCE SUITS ON DROP; FINDS CLEAR SAILING
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5. CLASSIC MYSTERY
BETTER THAN SHE LOOKS & PLACEMENT SHOWS CONFIDENCE
Selections:
1/8/5-6
Race 7
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6. BALANTYNE
PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE; ROUGH TRIP AT TP LAST OUT
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7. GAME KEEPER
IS WHAT HE IS; MIGHT BE GOOD ENOUGH TODAY
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4. GAME WARDEN
TOSSES BLINKS ASIDE; GRINDER
Selections:
6-7-4/8-3
Race 8
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9. JUNIOR BUG
OVERDUE FOR A WIN; LIKE HIS CHANCES VS. THESE
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4. CHANCE
MODEL OF CONSISTENCY; TOUGH TO DISMISS
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3. J J'S JOKER
TRYING TO FIND HIS NICHE; CAPABLE
Selections:
9/4-3/1-5-8/2
Race 9
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6. DISSOLVED
SHOULD APPRECIATE MOVE TO TURF FOR TOUGH TEAM
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7. TAPIT SHOES
GETS A FRESH START IN TURF DEBUT
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5. IDRATHERBEBLESSED
PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE ON TURF; IF OTHERS FAIL...
Selections:
6-7-5/3-2/4
Race 10
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8. REAGAN
TRAINING SHARPLY OFF A LONG LAYOFF; WATCH TOTE CLUES
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7. CAPITAL CONNECTION
HAS RUN WELL IN ALL THREE STARTS; PROCESS OF ELIMINATION
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4. SAHALAT
BIG TICKET ITEM MAKES FIRST START FOR BULL; TOUGH TO GAUGE
Selections:
8-7/4-9/2-3
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
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5. INSPECTOR PENNY
PUT AWAY 6-5 PRESSER IN LAST
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2. DEFAULT
CALSS RELIEF FOR FULL SIBLING TO INJUNCTION
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4. BEAUTIFUL MANDATE
MOVES UP IN CLASS = POSITIVE SIGNAL
Selections:
5,2,4/6,1
Race 2
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2. AMERICAN HERO
HIS BEST WINS FOR FUN... WORTH A STAB
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6. JAY VEE BEE
CAMERA SHY BUT CONSISTENT
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5. STIRDAPOT
LIKLEY FRONT RUNNER COULD GET BOLD
Selections:
2,6,5/1,3
Race 3
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2. DOCTOR NASH
CLASS RELIEF AND LOVES CD
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6. THE REDS
STRONG LATE PACE FIGS FOR AMOSS EXACTA
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1. OUTLIER
SHARP ON MAY 2 SIGNALS HE COULD RUN HIS BEST
Selections:
2/6,1/5,4
Race 4
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1. BLING
GRADED STAKE PREP FOR THIS RACE
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3. RO TOWN
VERSATILE FILLY WILL TRY TO WIRE THE FIELD
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5. IMPLICATED
CLASS AND PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE
Selections:
1/3/5/6
Race 5
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6. R QUEEN CANDY
SPOTTED FOR THE WIN
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4. SMART WITH HEART
STEPPED FORWARD IN LAST
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7. SHE’S A SECRET
WILL HAVE A CHANCE AT COMFORTABLE
Selections:
6,4,7/1,3,5
Race 6
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7. SONGMAKER
ENCORE TO IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
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8. YES TO CHAMPAGNE
PROVEN ON THE DIRT BUT COULD BE A FIRST STEP TOWARDS TURF
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6. AMY Z
RAN BETTER THAN LOOKS IN LAST
Selections:
7/8,6/1
Race 7
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6. BALANTYNE
PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE
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3. B SUDD
SHOULD GET A COMFORTABLE FORWARD TRIP
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5. ROUTE RUNNER
SON OF GUN RUNNER MAKES 2ND 4YO START
Selections:
6,3/5/8,4
Race 8
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1. LUNDBERG
VALUE PLAY COULD BE IN FRONT AT EVERY CALL
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9. JUNIOR BUG
ALWAYS DANGEROUS AT CD
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4. CHANCE
BIG RUN IN LAST BUT NEEDS PACE TO CLOSE INTO
Selections:
1,9/4,6/3
RACE 9
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4. APOLLO RISING
IF DIRT FORM TRANSLATES, COULD ROMP
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6. DISSOLVED
1/2 TO SUBCONSCIOUS SHOULD LOVE THE SURFACE
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7. TAPIT SHOES
IF DIRT FORM TRANSLATES, COULD ROMP
Selections:
4,6/7,2,5
RACE 10
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9. HOLD MY BOURBON
WET BEHIND THE EARS/TOUGH STRETCH GO IN LAST
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6. GLACIAL POWER
RAN WELL BUT AGAINST THE FLOW IN LAST
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7. CAPITAL CONNECTION
HONEST FORWRD RUNNER WHO COULD SEE OUT THE CUTBACK
Selections:
9,6/7,5/2,4
Tony Calo
Churchill Downs Racing Analyst as well as Turfway Park and Ellis Park Announcer.
Race 1
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6. LA PICASITA
ATTENDED QUICK PACE IN RECENT, A RACE IN WHICH SHE NEEDED
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7. GIFT GORGEOUS
BENEFITS GREATLY WITH THIS NICE OUTSIDE POST
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2. DEFAULT
ATTRACTS JOSE ORTIZ, ENOUGH SAID
Selections:
6-7/2-3
Race 2
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3. MY ROMEO LIMA
SHOULD SIT A BEAUTIFUL TRIP
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5. STIRDAPOT
WILL TAKE THEM AS FAR AS HE CAN
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4. BARNABY
COMES INTO THIS RACE ON A WINNING NOTE
Selections:
3/5-4/6
Race 3
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2. DOCTOR NASH
HE REALLY LIKES THIS CD STRIP
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6. THE REDS
EASIEST ASSIGNMENT IN QUITE SOME TIME
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3. YONO
HE IS VERY SHARP, BUT HIS FAST TRACK RECORD ISN'T THAT INSPIRING
Selections:
2/6-3/5
Race 4
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3. RO TOWN
SPEEDY AND SHARP
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1. BLING
VERY NICE HORSE, SHE'S THE ONE TO BEAT
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5. IMPLICATED
ANOTHER FILLY WHO FITS VERY NICELY IN THIS AFFAIR
Selections:
3/1/5-4
Race 5
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7. SHES A SECRET
HAS WON OFF A LAYOFF AND OVER THE SURFACE IN THE PAST
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4. SMART WITH HEART
SHE'S A THREAT NEAR THE LEAD
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3. MARKSWOMAN
THIRD PICK BY DEFAULT
Selections:
7-4/3-1-5
Race 6
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1. GOURMET
INHERITS THE ROLE OF MY TOP PICK
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8. YES TO CHAMPAGNE
HAS RUN WELL OVER THE SURFACE IN THE PAST
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4. CHARM OF THE SONG
HAS CLOSED OVER GP STRIP, WILL BE RUNNING ON
Selections:
1/8/4-5-6
Race 7
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6. BALANTYNE
I LIKE HIS DIRT FAST TRACK RECORD
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8. RUNNING FOR JOY
HAS WON ROUTING AT CD IN THE PAST
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3. B SUDD
SPEED STRETCHING OUT
Selections:
6/8-3/4-7-5
Race 8
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1. LUNDBERG
LONGSHOT PLAY OF THE DAY HAS PLENTY OF SPEED IN A RACE VOID OF PACE
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4. CHANCE
HE WILL BE ROLLING, WILL HE GET ENOUGH PACE
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5. G T FIVE HUNDRED
COULD BE IN A GREAT SPOT TURNING FOR HOME
Selections:
1/4/5-9
Race 9
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6. DISSOLVED
HAS GOOD TURF BLOOD
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3. CAROOM
IN WITH A CHANCE AT A NICE PRICE
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2. ATHENS MOON
FIGURES TO BE FORWARDLY POSITIONED
Selections:
6/3-2/5-4
Race 10
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4. SAHALAT
MY BEST BET OF THE DAY
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7. CAPITAL CONNECTION
MAJOR THREAT TO MY TOP PICK
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2. SEND CASH
DEBUT RUNNER FOR COX
Selections:
4/7-2/5-1-9
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