Churchill Downs Horse Racing Picks for Saturday, May 2, 2026

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 Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
11 11 Powershift 3.00 1 2-1
3 3 Silent Way 4.00 1.7 3-1
5 5 Get Them Roses 15.00 2 4-1
6 6 Cromwell 6.00 2.5 5-1
2 2 Stakeholder 20.00 4.1 8-1
8 8 Bourbon Dream 5.00 4.2 8-1
7 7 Time to Strike 20.00 5.3 10-1
4 4 Ingleborough 20.00 5.7 11-1
9 9 Winston Ave 4.50 SCRATCH
10 10 Midnight Playboy 15.00 SCRATCH
1 1 Bhatia 15.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 2 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
8 8 Taptastic 3.00 1 2-1
9 9 Our Moneyman 6.00 2.8 5-1
3 3 Steel 20.00 3.3 6-1
11 11 Lincoln’s Law 10.00 3.5 7-1
4 4 Memory 4.50 4 7-1
1 1 Out of the Woods 6.00 4.3 8-1
2 2 Sovereign Law 8.00 4.5 9-1
12 12 Spirit of Royal 30.00 6.3 12-1
6 6 Make My Day 8.00 6.4 12-1
7 7 Very Connected 12.00 6.7 13-1
5 5 Seal Bay 30.00 8.7 16-1
10 10 J J Grey 15.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 3 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
12 12 Praetor 3.00 1 2-1
5 5 John Hancock 6.00 1.4 3-1
9 9 Keewaydin 8.00 5.6 11-1
4 4 Comport 15.00 6.2 12-1
6 6 Who Dey 4.50 6.4 12-1
10 10 Vibe 6.00 6.6 13-1
13 13 Attache 20.00 6.8 13-1
14 14 Bullard 12.00 6.9 13-1
8 8 Racing Driver 20.00 7.7 14-1
2 2 Vamos Carlitos 15.00 7.9 15-1
11 11 Aleman 30.00 8.3 16-1
1 1 Arro Smash 15.00 9.4 18-1
3 3 Special Caliber 30.00 9.9 19-1
7 7 Mitochondria 30.00 14 26-1

RACE NUMBER 4 (Derby City Distaff S. Presented By Ford) – Derby City Distaff S. Presented By Ford

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
1 1 Usha 4.50 1 2-1
6 6 R Disaster 6.00 1.4 3-1
5 5 Splendora 2.00 2 4-1
4 4 Ways and Means 1.60 2.2 4-1
3 3 Autumn Evening 20.00 4.6 9-1
2 2 Haulin Ice 4.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 5 (Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. Presented By Accenture) – Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. Presented By Accenture

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
7 7 Yellow Card 4.50 1 2-1
3 3 My Boy Prince 2.50 1 2-1
10 10 Joe Shiesty 6.00 2.3 4-1
1 1 Wendelssohn 15.00 4.4 8-1
2 2 Bear River 30.00 4.4 8-1
9 9 Litigation 3.00 4.9 9-1
8 8 Mondogetsbuckets 8.00 5.3 10-1
5 5 Possiblemente 10.00 6.1 12-1
6 6 Its Bourbon Thirty 15.00 7.6 14-1
4 4 Full Disclosure 30.00 10 19-1

RACE NUMBER 6 (Knicks Go Overnight S. Presented By L&n Federal Credit Union) – Knicks Go Overnight S. Presented By L&n Federal Credit Union

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
2 2 Dragoon Guard 3.00 1 2-1
10 10 Capital Idea 5.00 3.6 7-1
4 4 Be You 3.50 4.6 9-1
11 11 Moonlight 8.00 5.5 10-1
7 7 Will Take It 8.00 5.6 11-1
6 6 Tour Player 4.00 5.8 11-1
3 3 Banjo Chris 20.00 6.1 11-1
5 5 Prince of Power 30.00 6.2 12-1
9 9 Scotland 20.00 6.3 12-1
8 8 Bernin Hot 30.00 SCRATCH
1 1 Brotha Keny 15.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 7 (Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S.) – Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
2 2 Sweet Rebecca 2.50 1 2-1
8 8 Pin Up Betty 3.50 2.3 4-1
7 7 Movin’ On Up 12.00 2.4 5-1
5 5 Classic Q 6.00 3.8 7-1
3 3 Portfolio Duration (GB) 4.00 4.3 8-1
4 4 Temptable (GB) 8.00 5.9 11-1
9 9 Maggie Go (ARG) 8.00 7.2 14-1
1 1 Italian Soiree 10.00 7.4 14-1
6 6 Vina Arana (IRE) 20.00 9 17-1

RACE NUMBER 8 (Pat Day Mile S. Presented By Sap) – Pat Day Mile S. Presented By Sap

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
1 1 Englishman 3.00 1 2-1
5 5 Stop the Car 20.00 1.8 3-1
8 8 Creole Chrome 8.00 2.4 4-1
6 6 Crude Velocity 2.50 2.7 5-1
7 7 Crown the Buckeye 6.00 3.5 7-1
11 11 One More Freud 15.00 4.1 8-1
9 9 Lockstocknpharoah 20.00 4.9 9-1
2 2 Trouble Calling 5.00 5.4 10-1
4 4 Secured Freedom 20.00 6.3 12-1
3 3 Work 50.00 6.9 13-1
12 12 Baytown Dreamer 50.00 8.7 16-1
10 10 Great White 12.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 9 (American Turf S.) – American Turf S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
8 8 Greenwich Village 6.00 1 2-1
12 12 Remember Mamba 4.50 2.3 4-1
4 4 Stark Contrast 4.00 3.1 6-1
1 1 Street Beast 15.00 4.3 8-1
13 13 Thousandsticks 15.00 4.8 9-1
10 10 Vasy (IRE) 10.00 4.9 9-1
14 14 Final Score 8.00 6.1 11-1
9 9 Honey Dutch 12.00 6.2 12-1
7 7 Alpyland 8.00 6.6 13-1
2 2 Let’s Be Frank 30.00 7.7 14-1
11 11 Steel Imperium 30.00 8.3 16-1
6 6 Black Hornet 20.00 8.9 17-1
3 3 Blinging It Back 30.00 10.1 19-1
5 5 Blackout Time 10.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 10 (Churchill Downs S. Presented By Ford) – Churchill Downs S. Presented By Ford

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
6 6 Knightsbridge 1.80 1 2-1
2 2 Cornucopian 3.50 2.7 5-1
7 7 Imagination 6.00 3.4 6-1
4 4 Hall of Fame 20.00 6 11-1
10 10 Banishing 12.00 6 11-1
11 11 Point Dume 15.00 8.4 16-1
5 5 Disruptor 8.00 8.5 16-1
1 1 Disco Time 6.00 9.2 17-1
8 8 T O Elvis 30.00 9.3 18-1
9 9 Crazy Mason 15.00 10 19-1
3 3 Macho Music 30.00 11 21-1

RACE NUMBER 11 (Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S.) – Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S.

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
4 4 Program Trading (GB) 4.00 1 2-1
7 7 Gold Phoenix (IRE) 10.00 1.2 2-1
6 6 Rhetorical 2.50 1.4 3-1
9 9 Test Score 3.50 1.5 3-1
5 5 Mercante 12.00 2 4-1
2 2 Dashman 20.00 2.7 5-1
1 1 Corruption 15.00 3.4 6-1
10 10 Make Me King (FR) 6.00 3.6 7-1
3 3 Asbury Park (GB) 8.00 4.8 9-1
8 8 Astronomer 30.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 12 (Kentucky Derby Presented By Woodford Reserve) – Kentucky Derby Presented By Woodford Reserve

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
14 14 Potente 20.00 1 2-1
12 12 Chief Wallabee 8.00 1.3 3-1
15 15 Emerging Market 15.00 1.5 3-1
10 10 Wonder Dean (JPN) 30.00 2 4-1
8 8 So Happy 15.00 2.6 5-1
1 1 Renegade 4.00 4.2 8-1
7 7 Danon Bourbon 20.00 5.8 11-1
6 6 Commandment 6.00 6.6 13-1
18 18 Further Ado 6.00 6.7 13-1
19 19 Golden Tempo 30.00 7.3 14-1
3 3 Intrepido 50.00 8.1 15-1
17 17 Six Speed 50.00 8.4 16-1
4 4 Litmus Test 50.00 9.1 17-1
23 23 Robusta 50.00 9.3 18-1
11 11 Incredibolt 20.00 11.5 22-1
16 16 Pavlovian 30.00 12.4 23-1
21 21 Great White 50.00 SCRATCH
2 2 Albus 30.00 13.7 26-1
22 22 Ocelli 50.00 14.2 27-1
13 13 Silent Tactic 20.00 SCRATCH
5 5 Right to Party 30.00 SCRATCH
24 24 Corona de Oro 50.00 SCRATCH
9 9 The Puma 10.00 SCRATCH
20 20 Fulleffort 20.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 13 (Allowance Optional Claiming) – Allowance Optional Claiming

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
11 11 Noble Affair 4.50 1 2-1
8 8 Gilded Bandit 3.00 1.4 3-1
10 10 Buetane 2.50 2.1 4-1
1 1 Small Town 8.00 2.9 5-1
2 2 Heartily 12.00 4.1 8-1
5 5 Hulkamania 8.00 4.4 8-1
9 9 Thunder Buck 15.00 4.5 8-1
4 4 Ring Curl 15.00 5.6 11-1
7 7 Sav’n Money 20.00 7.5 14-1
3 3 Red Lad 30.00 7.8 15-1
6 6 Cruisin Chuck 15.00 SCRATCH

RACE NUMBER 14 (Maiden Special Weight) – Maiden Special Weight

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
6 6 Prize Pick 12.00 1 2-1
8 8 Find No Fault 4.50 2.6 5-1
10 10 Chianti Town 20.00 4.1 8-1
7 7 Act of Parliament 6.00 5.2 10-1
13 13 Noble Anthem 20.00 5.4 10-1
9 9 Big Jake 8.00 5.4 10-1
2 2 Bestball 30.00 6 11-1
3 3 Interrogator 6.00 6.2 12-1
12 12 Big Braciole 30.00 7.2 14-1
1 1 Boylston 10.00 7.6 14-1
14 14 Brave Pilot 8.00 8.2 15-1
4 4 Sleeping Warrior 15.00 9.1 17-1
11 11 Great Moment 12.00 SCRATCH
5 5 Don’s Winner 8.00 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.