Race Selections for Churchill Downs on Saturday, 26th April

Twitter Twitter Facebook Email## Mr. Ed's Churchill Downs Picks for Saturday, April 26, 2025:

KEENELAND WRAP-UP: Opening Day was canceled due to a monsoon. Much of Closing Day was run in heavy rain. Significant meet events included Flavien Prat winning the riding title with 20 victories and Brandon Walsh leading all trainers with 10 trips to the Winner's Circle. spring meets are unpredictable weather-wise! As for the final day, Prat won a pair of races, and Chad Brown led trainers with three victories. The average $2 Win ticket returned $9. Mr. Ed posted a winning exacta for the second consecutive day. On to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby.

WELCOME TO CHURCHILL DOWNS: With the Kentucky Derby a week away, the historic Louisville, KY, track kicks off its annual Spring Meet with a challenging, evening 10-race card. Featured is Race 9, the $200K Roxelana Stakes for fillies and mares, 4YOs & up. Eight females will compete with #2 SANDY BOTTOM, the morning line favorite at 5-2. The traditional evening card kicks off at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m.PT. Here are Mr. Ed's exclusive picks for VSiN.

Mr. Ed's Selections at Churchill Downs for Saturday, 04/26

Race 1 (5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT) - $45K CLAIMING for 4YOs & up going 6 furlongsMr. Ed likes either of these: #7 SYNTHESIS (7-2 morning line) veteran sprinter picks up Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride for the David Jacobson barn; #8 HOODLUM (3-1) for Al Stall Jr. with Luis Saez aboard. Both have strong track records, with Synthesis boasting Win and Place over the track. CHURCHILL SELECTIONS: $5 Daily Double of 7,8/5,7 ($20)

Race 2 (5:28 p.m. ET/2:28 p.m. PT) - $141K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going a mile on turfI like two to complete the Double: #5 MISSION OF JOY (9-5 morning line) for the formidable team of Graham Motion and Irad Ortiz Jr., classy; and #7 NO MO CANDY (2-1) with Frankie Dettori riding for Saffie Joseph Jr., has won three of four.

Race 4 (6:26 p.m. ET/3:26 p.m. PT) - $127K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 6 furlongsMr. Ed likes three: #3 SAM'S TREASURE (3-1 morning line) for the proven team of Wesley Ward and Joel Rosario; #6 SUNDANCE FEATURE (2-1), Luis Saez retains mount, and #7 LORD I WONDER (6-1) for superior Kentucky trainer Al Stall Jr.CHURCHILL SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)

Race 5 (6:57 p.m. ET/3:57 p.m. PT) - $58K CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mileMy choice is favorite #4 CAROLO RAPIDO (5-2 morning line) for Michael Maker and up-and-coming rider Luan Machado. A substantial class drop could lead to victory.CHURCHILL SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)

Race 6 (8:04 p.m. ET/5:04 p.m. PT) - $67K MAIDEN CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 61⁄2 furlongsMr. Ed's LONGSHOT OF THE DAY: Al Stall Jr. sends out #9 DAIQUIRI SOMMELIER (10-1 morning line), switches rider to youngster Luan Machado and drops to claiming price. The longshot might surprise racetrack veterans! CHURCHILL SELECTION: $5 to Win, Place & Show. ($15)

Race 8 (9:09 p.m. ET/6:09 p.m. PT) - $76K CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & up going 1 1/16-mile on the turfI like #4 BREAD TO RUN (9-2 morning line), moving from dirt to turf and stretching out for trainer Rudy Brisset with rider switch to Luis Saez. Lots of potential here! CHURCHILL SELECTION: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)

Races 8-10 (9:09 p.m. ET/6:09 p.m. PT) - $1 PICK 3R8: 1,4,8,9R9: 2,5,7R10: 3,8,10 ($36)TOTAL WAGERS: $131

MR. ED'S DERBY HALF DOZEN:(in no particular order)

With a week to go till the Run for the Roses, Mr. Ed, after hours of research, has narrowed his top selections down to six excellent 3YOs. In his humble opinion, Mr. Ed believes there are no more than a half-dozen quality entrants with a legitimate chance of winning the mile-and-a-quarter contest. Connections of the remaining 14 thoroughbreds can afford an exclusive suite on Millionaire's Row for themselves and a dozen friends, guests, family, and business associates. Mint juleps will flow freely as lobster, shrimp, and crab cakes are consumed by the dozen. Mr. Ed has been there, once a lifetime ago. Trust me; unless someone else is footing the hefty bill ($1K & up per person), stay home, and watch the race on a 90" TV screen with friends, a bottle of Buffalo Trace, bar mix, and sprigs of fresh mint. Enough said - it's time to thin the herd. Here is my shortlist of probable Kentucky Derby winners (subject to change):

CITIZEN BULL - Baffert's best, but suspect West Coast figures.EAST AVENUE - from hot Walsh barn; beaten by a nose in the Blue Grass.PUBLISHER - A rare maiden from Asmussen; thoroughly tested.BURNHAM SQUARE - I've been on him, off him; running style fits.JOURNALISM - Mr. Ed earned his diploma the hard knocks way.TAPPAN STREET - Lightly raced by Cox; can only get better.

Despite the unpredictable weather during the spring racing meet, Mr. Ed's picks for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, a week away, include 'Tappan Street' as a horse that can only get better, following Reggie Cox's training.
In the Roxelana Stakes at Churchill Downs, the favorite is 'Sandy Bottom' with odds of 5-2, but experts suggest considering #2 in the race, 'Sam's Treasure', with a proven track record and a strong team behind it.
The traditional evening card at Churchill Downs features Race 9, the Roxelana Stakes, and Race 8, a claiming race for fillies and mares on the turf. In Race 8, experts pick 'Bread to Run' (9-2 morning line) as a longshot with great potential, moving from dirt to turf and switching riders to Luis Saez.
For sports enthusiasts, the average $2 Win ticket during the 2025 Churchill Downs meet returned $9, highlighting the excitement and odds associated with horse-racing.
In Race 5 of the meet, Mr. Ed's pick is 'Carolo Rapido' (5-2 morning line) as the favorite, dropping in class and with a promising rider, Luan Machado, on board. The expert predicts a substantial chance for victory in this race.