Pick Pony Picks – Consensus Expert Picks for Churchill Downs, May 8, 2026.


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Consensus Expert Picks

Consensus rankings based on 6 experts. Scoring: 1st pick = 4 pts, 2nd = 3 pts, 3rd = 2 pts, 4th = 1 pt. Agreement % = share of experts that included each horse.

Race 1

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Win:4 – Argan (1-1)5/683.3%18 pts
Place:6 – Gypsan (3-1)4/666.7%8 pts
Show:1 – Animal Fries (4-1)3/650.0%11 pts

Alternatives

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Alt 1:5 – Temporarilyforever (12-1)3/650.0%7 pts
Alt 2:2 – Cora's Legacy (4-1)2/633.3%4 pts
Alt 3:3 – Night Cry (10-1)1/616.7%2 pts

Race 2

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Win:2 – Wish Carefully (2-1)5/683.3%18 pts
Place:1 – Fast Joker (4-1)4/666.7%13 pts
Show:5 – Phenomenal Dream (2-1)3/650.0%9 pts

Alternatives

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Alt 1:4 – Romantic Lead (4-1)3/650.0%5 pts
Alt 2:3 – Aubrey's Max (8-1)2/633.3%4 pts
Alt 3:6 – Tisum (20-1)1/616.7%1 pts

Race 3

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Win:7 – Mister Banderas (1-1)6/6100.0%17 pts
Place:5 – Gallo De Fuego (4-1)4/666.7%10 pts
Show:1 – Livehappy (8-1)3/650.0%12 pts

Alternatives

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Alt 1:6 – Aerate (3-1)2/633.3%6 pts
Alt 2:3 – You Belong Here (6-1)2/633.3%4 pts
Alt 3:4 – Catamount (15-1)1/616.7%1 pts
Alt 4:2 – Odorico (15-1)0/60.0%0 pts

Race 4

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Win:1 – Toast The Star (3-1)5/683.3%18 pts
Place:9 – Fancy Lady (2-1)4/666.7%14 pts
Show:8 – Victor Valley (8-1)2/633.3%5 pts

Alternatives

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Alt 1:2 – Yes Julia (20-1)2/633.3%3 pts
Alt 2:5 – Cheddar (4-1)2/633.3%3 pts
Alt 3:14 – Cardiff Reef (12-1)1/616.7%4 pts
Alt 4:6 – Cearnach (10-1)1/616.7%2 pts
Alt 5:7 – Beau Cup (15-1)1/616.7%1 pts
Alt 6:12 – Spare Me (5-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 7:4 – Fashion Quest (15-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 8:3 – Fregata (20-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 9:11 – Amazon Time (20-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 10:10 – Anna Of Austria (20-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 11:13 – Vivianite (10-1)0/60.0%0 pts

Race 5

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Win:4 – Big Dig (1-1)6/6100.0%20 pts
Place:6 – Sassy Princess (2-1)5/683.3%15 pts
Show:2 – Cervaro Della Sala (4-1)3/650.0%8 pts

Alternatives

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Alt 1:3 – Sweet Note (6-1)3/650.0%5 pts
Alt 2:1 – Ce La Vi Charli (15-1)1/616.7%2 pts
Alt 3:5 – Mom's Cheesecake (8-1)0/60.0%0 pts

Race 6

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Win:3 – Bracelet (2-1)6/6100.0%18 pts
Place:4 – Somethinabouther (3-1)4/666.7%8 pts
Show:8 – Lady Ilze (8-1)3/650.0%11 pts

Alternatives

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Alt 1:2 – Exclusive Star (6-1)2/633.3%7 pts
Alt 2:1 – Saratoga Special (4-1)2/633.3%4 pts
Alt 3:5 – Contrary (15-1)1/616.7%2 pts
Alt 4:9 – Liam In The Dust (15-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 5:6 – Fantastical (20-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 6:7 – Sanctify (30-1)0/60.0%0 pts

Race 7

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Win:9 – Tilt A Twirl (2-1)5/683.3%18 pts
Place:4 – Eleos (4-1)4/666.7%12 pts
Show:2 – Itchy (4-1)4/666.7%11 pts

Alternatives

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Alt 1:3 – Cerberus (6-1)3/650.0%7 pts
Alt 2:5 – Bandstand (15-1)2/633.3%2 pts
Alt 3:7 – Sparked (10-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 4:1 – Knicks N Stones (20-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 5:6 – Chairmanoftheboard (12-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 6:8 – Captain Mercury (6-1)0/60.0%0 pts

Race 8

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Win:5 – Madaket Road (1-2)6/6100.0%22 pts
Place:4 – Tap Me A Song (4-1)5/683.3%10 pts
Show:1 – Editor (15-1)3/650.0%9 pts

Alternatives

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Alt 1:3 – Tom Cat Tuesday (20-1)2/633.3%6 pts
Alt 2:2 – Antrax (10-1)2/633.3%3 pts
Alt 3:6 – Ghost Tales (8-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 4:7 – Imagine John (12-1)0/60.0%0 pts

Race 9

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Win:3 – Exonerate (3-1)5/683.3%15 pts
Place:6 – Fancy Sailor (4-1)3/650.0%10 pts
Show:9 – Zakinthos (5-1)3/650.0%4 pts

Alternatives

PickHorseExpertsAgreementScore
Alt 1:11 – West End Kid (2-1)2/633.3%7 pts
Alt 2:1 – Time For America (8-1)1/616.7%4 pts
Alt 3:12 – Brave Force (20-1)1/616.7%3 pts
Alt 4:5 – Sunrise (15-1)1/616.7%3 pts
Alt 5:4 – Vintur (6-1)1/616.7%2 pts
Alt 6:8 – Mendels Mate (6-1)1/616.7%2 pts
Alt 7:13 – Chambersville (12-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 8:10 – Zeus's Echo (12-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 9:14 – Mischief Ride (30-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 10:7 – Classic Tap (15-1)0/60.0%0 pts
Alt 11:2 – Casa Cielo (15-1)0/60.0%0 pts

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