Expert Picks | Churchill Downs (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

• 4. MUSICAL MISCHIEF

  GOOD 2ND BEHIND SHOTGUN HOTTIE; STAND OUT

• 5. LEXA

  SCORED A SHARP WIN HERE IN SEPT.

• 1. FLASHY LASS

  USUALLY RUNS HER RACE; RO$ARIO

RACE 2

• 5. BOURBON'S FAULT

  GETS A FRESH START; SHARP WORKS + BLINKERS OFF

• 7. STINGER BEE

  FRESH, FIT, READY & STILL HAS SOME UPSIDE

• 9. BANNED FOR LIFE

  HAS HAD HIS UPS AND DOWNS; TOUGH WITH A-GAME

RACE 3

• 1. DEMOLITION DUKE

  AFFINIITY FOR THE GRASS & TWO TURNS -- FIRST TIME DOING BOTH

• 11. SINGLE DOT YACHT

  PROVEN ROUTER GETS HIS FIRST TURF TEST

• 12. FUNNYFLAME

  GAVE AMERICAN WINNER BRILLIANT BERTIE A RUN FOR HIS MONEY

RACE 4

• 4. SO THERE SHE WAS

  BIG 2ND BEHIND TALENTED WINNER IN DEBUT; INVADES WITH PURPOSE

• 6. VODKA WITH A TWIST

  PRIVATE PURCHASE FOLLOWING IMPRESSIVE MAIDEN BREAKER

• 5. ADEERA

  DREW OFF TO EASY WIN IN DEBUT, BUT DIDN'T BEAT MUCH IN THE PROCESS

RACE 5

• 1. MUFASA

  TRAINING LIKE A GOOD HORSE FOR U.S. DEBUT

• 6. W W CANDY

  LATE CLOSING VETERAN CAN PICK UP PLENTY OF PIECES

• 7. IMPLEMENTATION

  SHARP WORKS FOR THIS; FITS LIKE A GLOVE

  See Also

  Event Information | Churchill Downs

RACE 6

• 1. WORLD RECORD

  AN ABSOLUTE MONSTER; SKY IS THE LIMIT

• 5. CARBONE

  TRIP SUITS; SHOULD HAVE A FAST PACE TO CLOSE INTO

• 2. OTTO THE CONQUEROR

  THE MOST SEASONED AND PROVEN OF THE CONTENDERS

RACE 7

• 10. LAT LONG

  RAN EVEN BETTER THAN IT LOOKS LAST OUT; NINE FURLONGS SUITS

• 9. CAROLO RAPIDO

  SLOW START & WIDE TRIP COST HIM LAST OUT AT MTH

• 7. CORNISHMAN

  2ND BEHIND A MONSTER IN LAST; NINE FURLONGS SHOULD SUIT

RACE 8

• 9. WALKATHON

  MOVED TOO SOON WITH BETTER LAST OUT

• 5. FOREVER AFTER ALL

  COMING INTO HER OWN FOR BRENDAN

• 7. BE MY SUNSHINE

  TROUBLED 4TH IN MINT JULEP; SQUARE PRICE HERE

RACE 9

• 2. IVAN THE GREAT

  RACED GREENLY ON DEBUT BUT CLOSED LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN; BLINKERS ON

• 5. BODACIOUS

  RAN FAST IN ROMPING DEBUT; TRAINER HAS WON THIS RACE

• 7. ENDURING SPIRIT

  IMPRESSIVE SECOND OUT WINNER SHOULD APPRECIATE THE ADDED GROUND

RACE 10

• 6. EXTRA ANEJO

  TREMENDOUS COMEBACK WIN; TRIP SUITS TO A TEE

• 1. TUMBARUMBA

  LA-BRED IS ALWAYS READY TO RUMBLE

• 3. ZOZOS

  THE ONE TO BEAT ON PAPER, BUT HAS REACHED HIS CEILING

RACE 11

• 11. TENNESSEE LAMB

  SHARP RETURN WORKS + LASIX + LUIS + TURF PEDIGREE + PRICE IN OPEN RACE

• 8. AHANDFULOFCANDY

  2ND IN SLOPPY TRACK DEBUT WHEN INTENDED FOR TURF

• 13. BOLT ACTION

  PROVEN ON THE TURF, BUT NOT YET AROUND TWO TURNS

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

• 4. MUSICAL MISCHIEF

  FASTEST IF SHE HOLDS FORM

• 5. LEXA

  FRESH FROM A BARN THAT DOES WELL OFF THE BENCH

• 1. FLASHY LASS

  CONSISTENT BUT HARD TO TRUST ON TOP

Race 2

• 10. JUSTIFREAK

  TODAY COULD BE THE DAY HE REALIZES ALL THE TALENT HE SHOWED OVER THE WINTER

• 9. BANNED FOR LIFE

  BACK ON FAST TRACK AND AT HIS BEST DISTANCE

• 4. THINK BIG

  GODOLPHIN DEBUTER ATTRACTS IRAD

RACE 3

• 11. SINGLE DOT YAHT

  4YO FORM HAS BEEN EXCELLENT AND TURF MAKES SENSE

• 2. UNLEASH THE POWER

  HOT PACE SHOULD SET THE TABLE FOR HIM TO RIDE RAIL AND KICK HOME

• 12. FUNNYFLAME

  HANDLED THE HOT PACE IN HIS LAST, FINISHING 2ND TO BRILLIANT BERTI

Race 4

• 4. SO THERE SHE WAS

  HAS BEEN OUT-WORKING IVAN THE GREAT

• 6. VODKA WITH A TWIST

  WON WHAT LOOKS TO BE A KEY RACE LAST OUT

• 5. ADEERA

  SHOULD BE BETTER AT 6 FURLONGS

RACE 5

• 1. MUFASA (CHI)

  SCINTILLATING WORKTAB FOR THIS 8-TIME WINNER

• 7. IMPLEMENTATION

  WORKS SUGGEST HE SHOULD BE IN TOP FORM

• 4. SQUIRE CREEK

  CLAIM AND QUICK COMEBACK INTRIGUES ME ENOUGH AT 14-1 OR HIGHER

RACE 6

• 1. WORLD RECORD

  HE HASN'T SHOWN US EVERYTHING YET; BEST BET

• 5. CARBONE

  IT'S HIS DAY TO OUTSHINE OTTO

• 4. HOLD MY BOURBON

  TOUGH TRIP AND TURF LAST OUT

RACE 7

• 7. CORNISHMAN

  BIG FELLA HAS HAD THE TIME HE NEEDS TO MATURE INOT HIS BODY

• 10. LAT LONG

  WORKING WELL AFTER NICE 2ND TO DRAGOON GUARD

• 2. GUN PARTY

  GOOD SPACING AFTER BEATING A NICE GROUP ON DERBY NIGHT

RACE 8

• 7. BE MY SUNSHINE

  EXCUSE IN LAST AND WORKING SHARP

• 2. HEAVENLY SUNDAY

  DOMINANT FRONT RUNNER BACK ON FIRM

• 5. FOREVER AFTER ALL

  AGAINST RACE FLOW IN LAST; MULTIPLE TOUGH SPOTS 2 BACK

RACE 9

• 5. BODACIOUS

  GOOD SPACING, HUGE WORKS AFTER BIG DEBUT

• 7. ENDURING SPIRIT

  WAS VERY SHARP IN WIN

• 12. MO HAIR SAM

  EXCUSES AND ADDED DISTANCE SHOULD HELP THIS OFF THE APCE RUNNER

RACE 10

• 9. CAGLIOSTRO

  CUTBACK SHOULD SUIT HIM; NICE WORK WITH PYRENEES AHEAD OF THIS

• 6. EXTRA ANEJO

  HUGE 4YO DEBUT, BUT WAS A PERFECT TRIP

• 8. HAPPY AMERICAN

  RAN SO WELL ON THE CUTBACK LAST OUT

RACE 11

• 11. TENNESSEE LAMB

  FULL TO DACK JANIEL WHO MOVED FORWARD NICELY FROM 2 TO 3

• 1. VARVATOS

  HALF TO co*ckTAIL MOMENTS WHO FREAKED ON DEBUT

• 8. AHANDFULOFCANDY

  NICE DEBUT; TURF THE ONLY QUESTION

Tony Calo

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

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