EXPERT PICKS
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EXPERT PICKS
MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY, MAY 27, 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
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3. HE'S GOT SWAGGER
BEST HORSE IN THE RACE; LACKS OF PACE AN OBVIOUS CONCERN
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5. COOKE CREEK
HAS A TACTICAL ADVANTAGE IF HE'S RIGHT; WATCH FOR CLUES
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6. OUR DREAM RYE'D
POWERFUL WIN AT KEENELAND LAST OUT; CAN HE REPEAT IT?
Selections:
3-5/6/1-4-2
Race 2
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4. DOUBLE BARREL
AGGRESSIVELY PLACED; SHOULD GET THE RIGHT TRIP
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3. ASMODEUS
IN FORM & FITS WELL; POSITIONAL SPEED
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6. SILVER HEIST
WINLESS SINCE MAIDEN BREAKER; FITS WELL ON THE DROP
Selections:
4/3-6/2-1-5
Race 3
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3. MIAVANA
WELL-BRED FILLY LURES LUIS; PRICE IS RIGHT
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6. DAISY DUKE
4TH AS THE FAVORITE IN A TOUGHER RACE ON DEBUT
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2. GRACE ON GRACE
LESSON LEARNING DEBUT; CAN STEP FORWARD
Selections:
3-6/2-5/8-7
Race 4
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2. TAXED
CLASS OF THE FIELD; DISTANCE SUITS
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1. UNIFYING
ROUGH START COST HER IN LAST; VERY CAPABLE
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3. BRAGANZA
RUNS BIG AT CD; RELISHES ELONGATED SPRINTS
Selections:
2/1-3/7
Race 5
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13. KUPUNA
ADDED BEND NOT A CONCERN; RACE SETS UP FOR HIM
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5. CLASSIC CAUSEWAY
CUTS BACK OUT OF MARATHON; FIRED A BULLET WORK FOR THIS
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12. FIVE STAR GENERAL
DOESN'T NEED THE LEAD; GIVES IT ALL HE'S GOT
Selections:
13-5/12/11-6
Race 6
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5. HAVILDAR
KEEPING GOOD COMPANY; LIKE BLINKERS ADDITION
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1. BRIGADE COMMANDER
REINVENTED HIMSELF ON DIRT; BETTER THAN EVER NOW
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2. GLEN AIRY
HAS REALLY STEPPED UP HIS GAME; GIMMICKS
Selections:
5-1/2-8
Race 7
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4. LUDWIG
TROUBLED TRIP OFF THE BENCH WITH BETTER LAST OUT
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5. TWO EAGLES RIVER
TALENT IS THERE; FRESH START OFF SHARP WORKS
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2. COMISKEY PARK
VETERAN RETURNS OFF ONE OF HIS BEST PERFORMANCES YET
Selections:
4-5/2-9-1/8-3-6
Race 8
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9. HAPPY I AM
RAN BETTER THAN IT LOOKS IN ROXELANA; COMING INTO HER OWN
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5. SPIRIT WIND
SPEEDY & CLASSY; SET PACE IN G1 IN LAST
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3. CLEARLY UNHINGED
WON LAST FOR FUN; STILL HAS UPSIDE
Selections:
9-5-3/1-11
Race 9
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11. TERM
FUTURE APPEARS BRIGHT; MUST WORK A TRIP
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1. WORLD RECORD
JUST MISSED IN LESSON LEARNING DEBUT; MAIN THREAT
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12. HE'S A JOKER
WELL-BRED DEBUTER LOOKS READY OFF THE WORKS; WATCH TOTE
Selections:
11-1-12-2/8-6-4-5-9
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.
Tony Calo
Churchill Downs Racing Analyst as well as Turfway Park and Ellis Park Announcer.
Race 1
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6. OUR DREAM RYE'D
SHOULD WORK OUT A BEAUTIFUL TRIP, AND THERE ISN'T MUCH TO DEAL WITH IN THE OPENER
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1. HARLEEZY
HE HAS A LOOK WITH AGGRESIVE TACTICS, RACE LACKS PACE
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3. HE'S GOT SWAGGER
THIS IS THE PAST CLASS HORSE IN THE OPENER
Selections:
6/1-3/4-5
Race 2
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3. ASMODEUS
I'M DONE WITH THIS GUY IF HE DOES'NT WIN TODAY
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4. DOUBLE BARREL
GOOD FORM, BUT DIRT REMAINS A QUESTION
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5. GLUCKSTADT
IN GOOD FORM AND THAT IS ALWAYS A PLUS
Selections:
3-4/5-1/6
Race 3
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4. HAVEN'T A RED CENT
ENNIS 2ND TIME STARTER DISPLAYED PLENTY OF SPEED IN DEBUT
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6. DAISY DUKE
CLOSED INTO A SOFT PACE
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8. KISS CAM
RAN WELL ON DEBUT, BUT BENEFITTED FROM A GOOD SET UP
Selections:
4/6-8/2-7-5
Race 4
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2. TAXED
GOOD LUCK BEATING HER TODAY
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3. BRAGANZA
VERY NICE RETURN EFFORT OFF LENGTHY LAYOFF
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1. UNIFYING
RIGHT THERE RECENTLY VS. 2ND PICK
Selections:
2/3-1-7
Race 5
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11. ARCHIE THE GIZA
SHOULD GET A GOOD FLOW TO RUN INTO
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13. KAPUNA
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A BIG FAN OF THIS GUY
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12. FIVE STAR GENERAL
HE HAS THE ABILITY TO STAY CLOSE AND GET FIRST RUN
Selections:
11-13-12/5-6
Race 6
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2. GLEN AIRY
WIDE TRIP, NEEDED LAST START, I LIKE THE 1M BETTER FOR HIM
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1. BRIGADE COMMANDER
MIGHT PROVE TO BE THE BEST
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5. HAVILDAR
EQUIPMENT CHANGE ENHANCES CHANCES
Selections:
2/1-4-5/6-8
Race 7
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4. LUDWIG
GO WATCH HIS REPLAY, JOSE ORTIZ TAKES OVER $$$
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2. COMISKEY PARK
THIS GUY IS A TOUGH LIL RUNNER
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9. SURVEILLANCE
FITS REALLY NICELEY WITH THIS CAST
Selections:
4/2-9/5-10
Race 8
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1. ROYAL SPA
IT'S TIME TO RECOGNIZE ROYAL SPA
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9. HAPPY AM I
SHE WAS HUGE IN ROXELANA
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3. CLEARLY UNHINGED
AWESOME COMEBACK FOR A FILLY WHO RAN 2ND IN THE TEST IN 23
Selections:
1/9-3-11/6-5
Race 9
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1. WORLD RECORD
LOVE THE DEBUT, LET'S PUT HIM ON THE LEAD ASAP IN THIS SPOT
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6. TOP GUN ROCKET
HAS A BIG SHOT AFTER TROUBLED TRIP
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11. TERM
I LIKE THE WAY THIS GUY TRAVELS WITH A LOW HEAD CARRIAGE
Selections:
1/6-11-4-8
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