Churchill Downs Horse Racing Picks for Saturday, May 18, 2024

Below is a table for each race of the day. The table is ordered by our algorythmically calculated expected order of finish. Our program takes into account past performances, workout times, speed ratings, recency, and breeder/jockey data amoung other data points.

Using the “Expected” column, the lower number is better. When there is a clear lowest value, we like that horse best to win. In situations where many horses share low numbers, we like those horses equally well. If no horse is under 3, the results are less clear to us and bettors should examine the race more closely.

Using the “Value” column, we present the minimum payout we would recommend betting the particular horse. Look for higher-paying odds than those listed if you like that horse.

Scratches are notated and will be updated as available.

RACE NUMBER 1 (Maiden Claiming) – Maiden Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
Baytown Butterfly 0 0-1
6 6 Baytown Amy Rose 8.00 1 2-1
4 4 Bottoms Up 12.00 1.8 3-1
5 5 Baytown Butterfly 3.00 3.2 6-1
3 3 American City 12.00 3.3 6-1
1 1 Herb Elias 2.50 4.5 9-1
7 7 Case Ace 8.00 5.3 10-1
2 2 Dedos 1.80 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 2 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
4 4 Cloudy Holiday 8.00 1 2-1
5 5 Sugar Hook 10.00 2.9 5-1
2 2 Green Light 2.50 3.7 7-1
6 6 Sardis 3.50 4.1 8-1
3 3 Cabernaydo 8.00 4.4 8-1
8 8 Accident 15.00 4.6 9-1
11 11 Ak Sar Ben Derby 20.00 4.7 9-1
10 10 Bookie Brent 12.00 5.4 10-1
7 7 Spin It 10.00 6 11-1
9 9 Call Me Cassius 15.00 7.1 13-1
1 1 Unbridled Pleasure 12.00 8.8 17-1
15 15 My Boy Tony 8.00 SCRATCH
16 16 Very Satisfactory 12.00 SCRATCH
14 14 Double Neat 12.00 SCRATCH
12 12 American Memories 10.00 SCRATCH
13 13 Half Dome (IRE) 12.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 3 (Claiming) – Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
6 6 Midnight Tango 4.00 1 2-1
1 1 Rock Star Doctor 2.50 2.5 5-1
3 3 The Club 3.00 3.4 6-1
5 5 Caribbean Night 10.00 4.7 9-1
2 2 Red Sun Dress 4.00 4.8 9-1
4 4 Dreaming Always 3.50 6 11-1

RACE NUMBER 4 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
1 1 Disarm 0.80 1 2-1
4 4 Baba Voss 4.00 1.9 4-1
5 5 Onthestage 12.00 3 6-1
6 6 Texas Red Hot 10.00 3.9 7-1
3 3 Alejandro 6.00 SCRATCH
2 2 Howling Time 3.50 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 5 (Claiming) – Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
8 8 Shuffle Dance 6.00 1 2-1
6 6 Western Command 5.00 1.6 3-1
4 4 True Jedi 4.00 1.7 3-1
1 1 Sutherland 8.00 2.9 5-1
2 2 Fan the Fire 3.00 4.4 8-1
5 5 Pico d’Oro 3.50 7.7 14-1
3 3 Oncoming Train 6.00 7.8 15-1
7 7 Bettering 15.00 8 15-1

RACE NUMBER 6 (Maiden Claiming) – Maiden Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
9 9 Ice Time 2.50 1 2-1
13 13 Sagittarius 5.00 1.7 3-1
5 5 Active Duty 3.00 2 4-1
2 2 Auden 20.00 3.8 7-1
1 1 Strasse 10.00 4.4 8-1
4 4 Sir Rock 10.00 4.5 8-1
8 8 Master of the Nite 20.00 4.7 9-1
12 12 Now Ima Believer 15.00 5.5 10-1
10 10 Puckster 12.00 5.8 11-1
3 3 Laughnowcrylater 20.00 8.3 16-1
7 7 Vigano 6.00 SCRATCH
11 11 Moving to Kentucky 10.00 SCRATCH
6 6 Admiral Hall 12.00 SCRATCH
14 14 Uncle Tuffy 6.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 7 (Louisville S.) – Louisville S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
8 8 Bold Act (IRE) 1.00 1 2-1
9 9 The Grey Wizard (IRE) 12.00 2.2 4-1
10 10 Utah Beach 3.50 3.2 6-1
6 6 Reckoning Force 12.00 4.7 9-1
2 2 King Curlin 30.00 4.8 9-1
5 5 Quadra Island 30.00 4.8 9-1
7 7 Sugoi 20.00 5.7 11-1
11 11 Strong Tide 30.00 6.1 12-1
4 4 Guntown 30.00 6.5 12-1
1 1 Starting Over 4.00 SCRATCH
3 3 Avenue 12.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 8 (Claiming) – Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
1 1 Fifty Cent Dollars 4.00 1 2-1
7 7 Kitodan 15.00 2.5 5-1
4 4 Background 3.50 3 6-1
3 3 Accidental Hero 10.00 3 6-1
6 6 American Blaze 10.00 3.8 7-1
5 5 Santos Dumont 8.00 4 8-1
2 2 Elusive Target 15.00 4.6 9-1
8 8 Trident Hit 6.00 SCRATCH
9 9 O P Firecracker 3.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 9 (Allowance) – Allowance

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
3 3 Motown Dynamic 3.50 1 2-1
6 6 Virasana 2.50 1.2 2-1
1 1 Marmalade Skye 5.00 2.4 4-1
5 5 Huntress for Hire 3.00 2.6 5-1
7 7 Dazzlingdominika 15.00 4.6 9-1
8 8 Cozee Rags 8.00 4.6 9-1
4 4 Into Love 12.00 4.7 9-1
2 2 Fluent 10.00 8 15-1

RACE NUMBER 10 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
8 8 Highway Robber 3.00 1 2-1
9 9 Escape Artist 6.00 2.4 5-1
1 1 Loyal Company 15.00 3.5 7-1
10 10 Fair Dinkum 5.00 4.1 8-1
5 5 Packs a Wahlop 10.00 4.3 8-1
3 3 Gray’s Fable 4.00 5 9-1
6 6 Clyde’s Got a Gun 15.00 5.4 10-1
2 2 Scoobie Quando 15.00 6 11-1
14 14 Tiberius Mercurius 15.00 6.3 12-1
7 7 Lincoln Highway 15.00 6.9 13-1
12 12 Powerful 30.00 7.7 15-1
4 4 Malibu Springs 12.00 9.1 17-1
13 13 Split the Wickets 20.00 SCRATCH
11 11 Big Dreaming 8.00 SCRATCH
15 15 The Prince’s Spur 4.00 SCRATCH
16 16 Extra Anejo 1.20 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 11 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
5 5 Letstalkaboutme 2.50 1 2-1
8 8 Mischievousness 3.00 2.3 4-1
1 1 Alicit Intention 3.50 3.6 7-1
6 6 Sanctify 10.00 3.9 7-1
3 3 Wine and Waves 8.00 4 8-1
4 4 Baby Avery 10.00 4.7 9-1
2 2 Time for Magic 15.00 5.3 10-1
7 7 Defining Joy 6.00 SCRATCH

Picks are based on historical performance and match-up. Keep up to date on late scratches and other changes – those are not taken into consideration. Sports from the Basement provides no warranty on these suggestions and readers should make picks at their own risk.