EXPERT PICKS

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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
  • 1. NO CONSEQUENCES

    PEDIGREE SAYS YES TO DIRT; FINISHING PUNCH

  • 7. GIFT GORGEOUS

    SLIDING DOWN THE CLASS LADDER; FINDS CLEAR SAILING

  • 2. DEFAULT

    PROVEN ON DIRT; SHOULD GET THE RIGHT TRIP

Selections:

1-7-2-5-6

Race 2
  • 6. JAY VEE BEE

    FRESH, FIT & READY + WELL SPOTTED WITH BUG

  • 3. MY ROMEO LIMA

    DROPS ANOTHER NOTCH & STRETCHES BACK OUT TO PREFERRED TRIP

  • 2. AMERICAN HERO

    WILL BLINKERS PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED WAKE UP CALL?

Selections:

6-3-2/5-4/1

Race 3
  • 2. DOCTOR NASH

    DOES HIS BEST WORK AT CD; CAPABLE OF A FORWARD TRIP

  • 5. HE'S GOT THIS

    DECENT EFFORTS VS. BETTER; TOSS OUT LAST

  • 6. THE REDS

    PLODDER USUALLY SNEAKS A SHARE; AGAINST ON TOP

Selections:

2-5/6-1-3-4

Race 4
  • 1. BLING

    SHOULD SIT A DREAMY, POCKET TRIP

  • 5. IMPLICATED

    SCRATCHED FOR THIS; THE MAIN THREAT

  • 3. RO TOWN

    ON A SERIOUS ROLL, BUT FACES A MUCH TOUGHER TASK HERE

Selections:

1/5/3/6

Race 5
  • 4. SMART WITH HEART

    MIGHT TRIP OUT; SQUARE PRICE IN PUZZLER

  • 1. GROVE ST.

    LIGHTLY RACED & AGGRESSIVELY PLACED

  • 6. R QUEEN CANDY

    OFF THREE MONTHS SINCE CLAIMED; DIRT DEBUT

Selections:

4-1-6-3/7-5

Race 6
  • 1. GOURMET

    DROPS A NOTCH & CUTS BACK; SHOULD BE TOUGH

  • 8. YES TO CHAMPAGNE

    DISTANCE SUITS ON DROP; FINDS CLEAR SAILING

  • 5. CLASSIC MYSTERY

    BETTER THAN SHE LOOKS & PLACEMENT SHOWS CONFIDENCE

Selections:

1/8/5-6

Race 7
  • 6. BALANTYNE

    PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE; ROUGH TRIP AT TP LAST OUT

  • 7. GAME KEEPER

    IS WHAT HE IS; MIGHT BE GOOD ENOUGH TODAY

  • 4. GAME WARDEN

    TOSSES BLINKS ASIDE; GRINDER

Selections:

6-7-4/8-3

Race 8
  • 9. JUNIOR BUG

    OVERDUE FOR A WIN; LIKE HIS CHANCES VS. THESE

  • 4. CHANCE

    MODEL OF CONSISTENCY; TOUGH TO DISMISS

  • 3. J J'S JOKER

    TRYING TO FIND HIS NICHE; CAPABLE

Selections:

9/4-3/1-5-8/2

Race 9
  • 6. DISSOLVED

    SHOULD APPRECIATE MOVE TO TURF FOR TOUGH TEAM

  • 7. TAPIT SHOES

    GETS A FRESH START IN TURF DEBUT

  • 5. IDRATHERBEBLESSED

    PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE ON TURF; IF OTHERS FAIL...

Selections:

6-7-5/3-2/4

Race 10
  • 8. REAGAN

    TRAINING SHARPLY OFF A LONG LAYOFF; WATCH TOTE CLUES

  • 7. CAPITAL CONNECTION

    HAS RUN WELL IN ALL THREE STARTS; PROCESS OF ELIMINATION

  • 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
  • 5. INSPECTOR PENNY

    PUT AWAY 6-5 PRESSER IN LAST

  • 2. DEFAULT

    CALSS RELIEF FOR FULL SIBLING TO INJUNCTION

  • 4. BEAUTIFUL MANDATE

    MOVES UP IN CLASS = POSITIVE SIGNAL

Selections:

5,2,4/6,1

Race 2
  • 2. AMERICAN HERO

    HIS BEST WINS FOR FUN... WORTH A STAB

  • 6. JAY VEE BEE

    CAMERA SHY BUT CONSISTENT

  • 5. STIRDAPOT

    LIKLEY FRONT RUNNER COULD GET BOLD

Selections:

2,6,5/1,3

Race 3
  • 2. DOCTOR NASH

    CLASS RELIEF AND LOVES CD

  • 6. THE REDS

    STRONG LATE PACE FIGS FOR AMOSS EXACTA

  • 1. OUTLIER

    SHARP ON MAY 2 SIGNALS HE COULD RUN HIS BEST

Selections:

2/6,1/5,4

Race 4
  • 1. BLING

    GRADED STAKE PREP FOR THIS RACE

  • 3. RO TOWN

    VERSATILE FILLY WILL TRY TO WIRE THE FIELD

  • 5. IMPLICATED

    CLASS AND PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE

Selections:

1/3/5/6

Race 5
  • 6. R QUEEN CANDY

    SPOTTED FOR THE WIN

  • 4. SMART WITH HEART

    STEPPED FORWARD IN LAST

  • 7. SHE’S A SECRET

    WILL HAVE A CHANCE AT COMFORTABLE

Selections:

6,4,7/1,3,5

Race 6
  • 7. SONGMAKER

    ENCORE TO IMPRESSIVE DEBUT

  • 8. YES TO CHAMPAGNE

    PROVEN ON THE DIRT BUT COULD BE A FIRST STEP TOWARDS TURF

  • 6. AMY Z

    RAN BETTER THAN LOOKS IN LAST

Selections:

7/8,6/1

Race 7
  • 6. BALANTYNE

    PROVEN AT THE DISTANCE

  • 3. B SUDD

    SHOULD GET A COMFORTABLE FORWARD TRIP

  • 5. ROUTE RUNNER

    SON OF GUN RUNNER MAKES 2ND 4YO START

Selections:

6,3/5/8,4

Race 8
  • 1. LUNDBERG

    VALUE PLAY COULD BE IN FRONT AT EVERY CALL

  • 9. JUNIOR BUG

    ALWAYS DANGEROUS AT CD

  • 4. CHANCE

    BIG RUN IN LAST BUT NEEDS PACE TO CLOSE INTO

Selections:

1,9/4,6/3

RACE 9
  • 4. APOLLO RISING

    IF DIRT FORM TRANSLATES, COULD ROMP

  • 6. DISSOLVED

    1/2 TO SUBCONSCIOUS SHOULD LOVE THE SURFACE

  • 7. TAPIT SHOES

    IF DIRT FORM TRANSLATES, COULD ROMP

Selections:

4,6/7,2,5

RACE 10
  • 9. HOLD MY BOURBON

    WET BEHIND THE EARS/TOUGH STRETCH GO IN LAST

  • 6. GLACIAL POWER

    RAN WELL BUT AGAINST THE FLOW IN LAST

  • 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
  • 6. LA PICASITA

    ATTENDED QUICK PACE IN RECENT, A RACE IN WHICH SHE NEEDED

  • 7. GIFT GORGEOUS

    BENEFITS GREATLY WITH THIS NICE OUTSIDE POST

  • 2. DEFAULT

    ATTRACTS JOSE ORTIZ, ENOUGH SAID

Selections:

6-7/2-3

Race 2
  • 3. MY ROMEO LIMA

    SHOULD SIT A BEAUTIFUL TRIP

  • 5. STIRDAPOT

    WILL TAKE THEM AS FAR AS HE CAN

  • 4. BARNABY

    COMES INTO THIS RACE ON A WINNING NOTE

Selections:

3/5-4/6

Race 3
  • 2. DOCTOR NASH

    HE REALLY LIKES THIS CD STRIP

  • 6. THE REDS

    EASIEST ASSIGNMENT IN QUITE SOME TIME

  • 3. YONO

    HE IS VERY SHARP, BUT HIS FAST TRACK RECORD ISN'T THAT INSPIRING

Selections:

2/6-3/5

Race 4
  • 3. RO TOWN

    SPEEDY AND SHARP

  • 1. BLING

    VERY NICE HORSE, SHE'S THE ONE TO BEAT

  • 5. IMPLICATED

    ANOTHER FILLY WHO FITS VERY NICELY IN THIS AFFAIR

Selections:

3/1/5-4

Race 5
  • 7. SHES A SECRET

    HAS WON OFF A LAYOFF AND OVER THE SURFACE IN THE PAST

  • 4. SMART WITH HEART

    SHE'S A THREAT NEAR THE LEAD

  • 3. MARKSWOMAN

    THIRD PICK BY DEFAULT

Selections:

7-4/3-1-5

Race 6
  • 1. GOURMET

    INHERITS THE ROLE OF MY TOP PICK

  • 8. YES TO CHAMPAGNE

    HAS RUN WELL OVER THE SURFACE IN THE PAST

  • 4. CHARM OF THE SONG

    HAS CLOSED OVER GP STRIP, WILL BE RUNNING ON

Selections:

1/8/4-5-6

Race 7
  • 6. BALANTYNE

    I LIKE HIS DIRT FAST TRACK RECORD

  • 8. RUNNING FOR JOY

    HAS WON ROUTING AT CD IN THE PAST

  • 3. B SUDD

    SPEED STRETCHING OUT

Selections:

6/8-3/4-7-5

Race 8
  • 1. LUNDBERG

    LONGSHOT PLAY OF THE DAY HAS PLENTY OF SPEED IN A RACE VOID OF PACE

  • 4. CHANCE

    HE WILL BE ROLLING, WILL HE GET ENOUGH PACE

  • 5. G T FIVE HUNDRED

    COULD BE IN A GREAT SPOT TURNING FOR HOME

Selections:

1/4/5-9

Race 9
  • 6. DISSOLVED

    HAS GOOD TURF BLOOD

  • 3. CAROOM

    IN WITH A CHANCE AT A NICE PRICE

  • 2. ATHENS MOON

    FIGURES TO BE FORWARDLY POSITIONED

Selections:

6/3-2/5-4

Race 10
  • 4. SAHALAT

    MY BEST BET OF THE DAY

  • 7. CAPITAL CONNECTION

    MAJOR THREAT TO MY TOP PICK

  • 2. SEND CASH

    DEBUT RUNNER FOR COX

Selections:

4/7-2/5-1-9

JOE'S TOP PICK STATS FOR SPRING MEET 2024 THRU:

RACES                                          
WINS
2ND
3RD
WIN %
WPS %
$2 ROI*

KEVIN'S TOP PICK STATS FOR SPRING MEET 2024 THRU:

RACES                                          
WINS
2ND
3RD
WIN %
WPS %
$2 ROI*

TONY'S TOP PICK STATS FOR SPRING MEET 2024 THRU:

RACES                                          
WINS
2ND
3RD
WIN %
WPS %
$2 ROI*

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