EXPERT PICKS

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

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
RACE 2
RACE 3
RACE 4
RACE 5
RACE 6
RACE 7
RACE 8

Tony Calo

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

Race 1
  • 8. SANSONE

    TROUBLED EFFORT VS. FORT SAM; ROYALLY BRED

Selections:

8/12-11/3

Race 2
  • 4. HOME GAME

    SHE IS VERY QUICK AND WAS GAME IN DEFEAT TO A COMEBACK WINNER

Selections:

4-5/7-9-10

Race 3
  • 5. GOAL ORIENTED

    SUPER NICE DEBUT, BRED FOR LONGER RACES

Selections:

5-6-3/8-10

Race 4
  • 13. NEW KING

    IT'S GOOD TO BE KING

Selections:

13/9-3-6

Race 5
  • 7. TAX IMPLICATIONS

    RAN ON SUPER NICELY IN MOST RECENT AND HAD A STRONG GALLOP OUT

Selections:

7-6/5-2

Race 6
  • 3. CALIFORNIA BURRITO

    TROUBLED RUBY TRIP; CUTSBACK AND CAN FINISH WITH A FLOURISH

Selections:

3-2/5-1

Race 7
  • 8. ROGUE LIGHTNING

    EURO RAN WELL IN NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT; OFF TURF MOVES HIM UP

Selections:

8/7-6/9-1-11

Race 8
  • 7. MINDFRAME

    VERY TALENTED COLT; ONE OF THE BEST OF HIS GENERATION

Selections:

7-11-10/2-6-3

Race 9
  • 9. GIOCOSO

    HAS RUN WELL ON TURF AND HIS RUBY WAS PRETTY GOOD

Selections:

9-5-10/3-7-2

Race 10
  • 8. WAYS AND MEANS

    BIG OPPURTUNITY TO BECOME THE TOP F&M SPRINTER

Selections:

8-1/9-7-15-2

Race 11
  • 9. MERCANTE

    HE GOT REALLY GOOD THIS WINTER IN FLORENCE Y'ALL

Selections:

9-8-1/7-6/4-10-3

Race 12
  • 18. SOVEREIGNTY

    I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THIS GUY FLIES HOME, AND BETTER PRICE THAN JOURNALISM

Selections:

18-8/9-1-21/-3-11-17-13-14-12-16-19

Race 13
  • 3. FURIO

    ROUTE FOUNDATION AND A SENSATIONAL WORK FOR THIS AFFAIR

Selections:

3-14/9-11/7-2

Race 14
  • 12. PURSUITNEVERSLEEPS

    SUPER DEBUT VS. A REAL NICE HORSE

Selections:

12/13-5/10-9-8-14

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

RACES                                           10
'A' COLUMN WINS 5
'A' COLUMN WIN % 50%
TOP PICK WINS 4
2ND 4
3RD 0
WIN % 40 %
WPS % 80 %
$2 ROI $2.89
$6 WPS ROI $8.48

FOLLOW FOR UPDATES AND EXCLUSIVES

Missed something? Catch up on past Churchill Downs news