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Churchill Downs Derby Day — May 2, 2026 — Quick Reference Card
Race 1 — 11:00 AM | 1870f Dirt | Maiden Special Weight
Powershift (11) is the top selection from an outside draw with strong works and elite connections. Winston Ave (9) and Silent Way (3) are the main dangers, with SILENT WAY offering jockey-upgrade value. Bhatia (1) is the deepest longshot worth a token inclusion in exotics.
Race 2 — 11:32 AM | 1870f Dirt | Optional Claiming $125K NW1X
Taptastic (8) is the clear single with elite barn backing at 3-1. Memory (4) and Out Of The Woods (1) are the main threats, with Sovereign Law (2) worth noting as a Cox barn longshot at 8-1.
Race 3 — 12:05 PM | 1760f Dirt | Optional Claiming $80K NW2X
Praetor (12) is the favorite from a top operation and closes into an honest pace. John Hancock (5) and Who Dey (6) fill the secondary spots, with Vamos Carlitos (2) a minor longshot angle at 15-1.
Race 4 — 12:38 PM | 1540f Dirt | Grade 1 Duchess of Coolmore Turf Sprint
Ways And Means (4) and Splendora (5) share morning-line favoritism in a six-horse field — the pace set up by Haulin Ice (2) and Usha (1) favors both. R Disaster (6) is the best longshot given a favorable post in the straight sprint.
Race 5 — 1:12 PM | 1210f Turf | Grade 2 Turf Sprint
My Boy Prince (3) is the public choice from an ideal draw on the Churchill lawn. Litigation (9) and Yellow Card (7) round out the top three, with Mondogetsbuckets (8) the best value at 8-1 given the pace setup.
Race 6 — 1:53 PM | 1760f Dirt | Listed Knicks Going Stakes
Dragoon Guard (2) is the single from a clean inside draw. Tour Player (6) and Be You (4) are the principal dangers, with Capital Idea (10) worth including in trifectas at 5-1.
Race 7 — 2:38 PM | 1760f Turf | Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile
Sweet Rebecca (2) is the morning-line favorite from a premium inner-turf draw. Portfolio Duration (3) and Pin Up Betty (8) are the main dangers, with Classic Q (5) offering the best value in the field at 6-1.
Race 8 — 3:23 PM | 1760f Dirt | Grade 2 Derby Day Mile
Crude Velocity (6) is the favorite but Crown The Buckeye (7) at 6-1 is the better value play closing into a contested pace. Englishman (1) rounds out the primary exacta coverage, and Creole Chrome (8) at 8-1 is the top value longshot.
Race 9 — 4:06 PM | 1870f Turf | Grade 1 American Turf Stakes
Stark Contrast (4) is the single from an ideal post for the turf route. Remember Mamba (12) and Greenwich Village (8) are the primary dangers, with Honey Dutch (9) the most interesting longshot at 12-1.
Race 10 — 4:50 PM | 1540f Dirt | Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes
Knightsbridge (6) at 2-1 is the best single on the undercard from a clean mid-draw. Cornucopian (2) and Imagination (7) are the top threats, with Banishing (10) the lone longshot worth a trifecta flyer at 12-1.
Race 11 — 5:39 PM | 1980f Turf | Grade 1 Turf Classic Stakes
Rhetorical (6) is the morning-line favorite backed by a proven trainer-jockey combination for the Churchill turf route. Program Trading (4) and Test Score (9) are the co-secondary dangers, with Make Me King (10) at 6-1 the best value and Asbury Park (3) a secondary longshot angle as the second Chad Brown entry.
Race 12 — 6:57 PM | 2200f Dirt | Grade 1 Kentucky Derby
Further Ado (18) is the buzz horse of Derby Week and the top selection despite a wide post. Commandment (6) is arguably better positioned from post 6 and represents the sharper value play from the same barn, while Renegade (1) at 4-1 is the morning-line call with top connections. Secondary consideration goes to Chief Wallabee (12), The Puma (9), and Emerging Market (15), with Danon Bourbon (7) and So Happy (8) the most interesting longshots in a wide-open 24-horse field.
Race 13 — 8:00 PM | 1430f Dirt | Optional Claiming $125K NW1X
Buetane (10) is the dominant post-Derby single at 2-1. Gilded Bandit (8) is the main threat at 3-1 and the best exacta partner, with Noble Affair (11) and Hulkamania (5) rounding out exotic coverage.
Race 14 — 8:33 PM | 1540f Dirt | Maiden Special Weight
Find No Fault (8) is the closing-race selection from a favorable draw. Interrogator (3) and Act Of Parliament (7) fill the secondary spots, with Big Jake (9) at 8-1 the best single value on the closing card.
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