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 1.6 3-1
9 9 Winston Ave 4.50 1.9 4-1
8 8 Bourbon Dream 5.00 2.2 4-1
6 6 Cromwell 6.00 2.8 5-1
5 5 Get Them Roses 15.00 8.1 15-1
10 10 Midnight Playboy 15.00 8.1 15-1
1 1 Bhatia 15.00 8.1 15-1
4 4 Ingleborough 20.00 11 21-1
7 7 Time to Strike 20.00 11 21-1
2 2 Stakeholder 20.00 11 21-1

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
4 4 Memory 4.50 1.6 3-1
9 9 Our Moneyman 6.00 2.2 4-1
1 1 Out of the Woods 6.00 2.2 4-1
6 6 Make My Day 8.00 3 6-1
2 2 Sovereign Law 8.00 3 6-1
11 11 Lincoln’s Law 10.00 3.9 7-1
7 7 Very Connected 12.00 4.7 9-1
10 10 J J Grey 15.00 5.9 11-1
3 3 Steel 20.00 7.9 15-1
12 12 Spirit of Royal 30.00 12 23-1
5 5 Seal Bay 30.00 12 23-1

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
6 6 Who Dey 4.50 1.7 3-1
10 10 Vibe 6.00 2.4 5-1
5 5 John Hancock 6.00 2.4 5-1
9 9 Keewaydin 8.00 3.4 6-1
14 14 Bullard 12.00 5.3 10-1
1 1 Arro Smash 15.00 6.8 13-1
2 2 Vamos Carlitos 15.00 6.8 13-1
4 4 Comport 15.00 6.8 13-1
13 13 Attache 20.00 9.2 17-1
8 8 Racing Driver 20.00 9.2 17-1
11 11 Aleman 30.00 14 26-1
3 3 Special Caliber 30.00 14 26-1
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
4 4 Ways and Means 1.60 1 2-1
5 5 Splendora 2.00 1.1 2-1
2 2 Haulin Ice 4.00 1.7 3-1
1 1 Usha 4.50 1.8 3-1
6 6 R Disaster 6.00 2.2 4-1
3 3 Autumn Evening 20.00 6 11-1

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
3 3 My Boy Prince 2.50 1 2-1
9 9 Litigation 3.00 1.2 2-1
7 7 Yellow Card 4.50 1.7 3-1
10 10 Joe Shiesty 6.00 2.2 4-1
8 8 Mondogetsbuckets 8.00 2.8 5-1
5 5 Possiblemente 10.00 3.5 7-1
6 6 Its Bourbon Thirty 15.00 5.1 10-1
1 1 Wendelssohn 15.00 5.1 10-1
4 4 Full Disclosure 30.00 10 19-1
2 2 Bear River 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
4 4 Be You 3.50 1.2 2-1
6 6 Tour Player 4.00 1.4 3-1
10 10 Capital Idea 5.00 1.7 3-1
7 7 Will Take It 8.00 2.9 5-1
11 11 Moonlight 8.00 2.9 5-1
1 1 Brotha Keny 15.00 5.4 10-1
9 9 Scotland 20.00 7.3 14-1
3 3 Banjo Chris 20.00 7.3 14-1
5 5 Prince of Power 30.00 11 21-1
8 8 Bernin Hot 30.00 11 21-1

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 1.5 3-1
3 3 Portfolio Duration (GB) 4.00 1.7 3-1
5 5 Classic Q 6.00 2.6 5-1
9 9 Maggie Go (ARG) 8.00 3.5 7-1
4 4 Temptable (GB) 8.00 3.5 7-1
1 1 Italian Soiree 10.00 4.4 8-1
7 7 Movin’ On Up 12.00 5.3 10-1
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
6 6 Crude Velocity 2.50 1 2-1
1 1 Englishman 3.00 1.1 2-1
2 2 Trouble Calling 5.00 1.6 3-1
7 7 Crown the Buckeye 6.00 1.8 3-1
8 8 Creole Chrome 8.00 2.3 4-1
10 10 Great White 12.00 3.2 6-1
11 11 One More Freud 15.00 3.9 7-1
5 5 Stop the Car 20.00 5.1 10-1
4 4 Secured Freedom 20.00 5.1 10-1
9 9 Lockstocknpharoah 20.00 5.1 10-1
3 3 Work 50.00 12 23-1
12 12 Baytown Dreamer 50.00 12 23-1

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

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
4 4 Stark Contrast 4.00 1 2-1
12 12 Remember Mamba 4.50 1.3 2-1
8 8 Greenwich Village 6.00 2 4-1
14 14 Final Score 8.00 3 6-1
7 7 Alpyland 8.00 3 6-1
5 5 Blackout Time 10.00 4 8-1
10 10 Vasy (IRE) 10.00 4 8-1
9 9 Honey Dutch 12.00 5 9-1
13 13 Thousandsticks 15.00 6.5 12-1
1 1 Street Beast 15.00 6.5 12-1
6 6 Black Hornet 20.00 9 17-1
2 2 Let’s Be Frank 30.00 14 26-1
3 3 Blinging It Back 30.00 14 26-1
11 11 Steel Imperium 30.00 14 26-1

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 1.6 3-1
7 7 Imagination 6.00 2.5 5-1
1 1 Disco Time 6.00 2.5 5-1
5 5 Disruptor 8.00 3.2 6-1
10 10 Banishing 12.00 4.6 9-1
11 11 Point Dume 15.00 5.7 11-1
9 9 Crazy Mason 15.00 5.7 11-1
4 4 Hall of Fame 20.00 7.5 14-1
8 8 T O Elvis 30.00 11 21-1
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
6 6 Rhetorical 2.50 1 2-1
9 9 Test Score 3.50 1.3 3-1
4 4 Program Trading (GB) 4.00 1.5 3-1
10 10 Make Me King (FR) 6.00 2.2 4-1
3 3 Asbury Park (GB) 8.00 2.8 5-1
7 7 Gold Phoenix (IRE) 10.00 3.5 7-1
5 5 Mercante 12.00 4.1 8-1
1 1 Corruption 15.00 5.1 10-1
2 2 Dashman 20.00 6.7 13-1
8 8 Astronomer 30.00 10 19-1

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
1 1 Renegade 4.00 1 2-1
6 6 Commandment 6.00 2 4-1
18 18 Further Ado 6.00 2 4-1
12 12 Chief Wallabee 8.00 3 6-1
9 9 The Puma 10.00 4 8-1
8 8 So Happy 15.00 6.5 12-1
15 15 Emerging Market 15.00 6.5 12-1
20 20 Fulleffort 20.00 9 17-1
11 11 Incredibolt 20.00 9 17-1
7 7 Danon Bourbon 20.00 9 17-1
14 14 Potente 20.00 9 17-1
13 13 Silent Tactic 20.00 9 17-1
19 19 Golden Tempo 30.00 14 26-1
2 2 Albus 30.00 14 26-1
10 10 Wonder Dean (JPN) 30.00 14 26-1
5 5 Right to Party 30.00 14 26-1
16 16 Pavlovian 30.00 14 26-1
21 21 Great White 50.00 24 45-1
23 23 Robusta 50.00 24 45-1
24 24 Corona de Oro 50.00 24 45-1
4 4 Litmus Test 50.00 24 45-1
22 22 Ocelli 50.00 24 45-1
3 3 Intrepido 50.00 24 45-1
17 17 Six Speed 50.00 24 45-1

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

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
10 10 Buetane 2.50 1 2-1
8 8 Gilded Bandit 3.00 1.2 2-1
11 11 Noble Affair 4.50 1.7 3-1
5 5 Hulkamania 8.00 3 6-1
1 1 Small Town 8.00 3 6-1
2 2 Heartily 12.00 4.5 8-1
9 9 Thunder Buck 15.00 5.6 10-1
6 6 Cruisin Chuck 15.00 5.6 10-1
4 4 Ring Curl 15.00 5.6 10-1
7 7 Sav’n Money 20.00 7.4 14-1
3 3 Red Lad 30.00 11 21-1

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

Expected Order of Finish

Prgm Post Name ML Expected Value
8 8 Find No Fault 4.50 1 2-1
3 3 Interrogator 6.00 1.8 3-1
7 7 Act of Parliament 6.00 1.8 3-1
5 5 Don’s Winner 8.00 2.8 5-1
9 9 Big Jake 8.00 2.8 5-1
14 14 Brave Pilot 8.00 2.8 5-1
1 1 Boylston 10.00 3.8 7-1
11 11 Great Moment 12.00 4.8 9-1
6 6 Prize Pick 12.00 4.8 9-1
4 4 Sleeping Warrior 15.00 6.4 12-1
10 10 Chianti Town 20.00 8.9 17-1
13 13 Noble Anthem 20.00 8.9 17-1
2 2 Bestball 30.00 14 26-1
12 12 Big Braciole 30.00 14 26-1

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.