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Churchill Downs Picks & Predictions — April 26, 2026

Sunday, April 26, 20269 racesChurchill Downs

Here's our expert breakdown of today's 9-race card at Churchill Downs. We've identified 3 standout races with strong plays — see our analysis below. Full card picks for all 9 races are available to TrackWiz subscribers.

Best Bets

Race 1

2026-04-26T16:45:00

Starter Allowance · 1 1/16 mi · Dirt

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — Nogradi looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win5NogradiML 9/5

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 88.8 for Race 1. Career win rate of 40% shows consistency. Ridden by Jose L. Ortiz, trained by Keri Brion. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 12.66 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 25% win rate and finished in the money in 60% of races. 3 wins and placed in 3 of 3 races on Dirt tracks. Has placed in the last 3 races. Has placed in 4 of the last 6 races. Has 3 wins and placed in 4 of 6 of Medium Distance races. Ranked 2nd in workouts over last month at 11.90 sec/furlong. Has WON 3 races in a row! Horse won last time it raced. 03/11/2026. Horse won last time raced at today's surface/distance. Horse appears in today's Top 50 Horses List. Jockey appears in today's Top 50 Jockeys List.

place6Cant Stop MunningsML 7/2

Rating board at 75.9. Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 12.46 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 57% of races.

show1C McGriffML 6/1

Rating board at 75.6. Ridden by Joel Rosario. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.42 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 17% win rate and finished in the money in 49% of races.

Race 2

2026-04-26T17:14:00

Maiden Special Weight · 4 1/2 fur · Dirt

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — Cardio Cat looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win7Cardio CatML 3/1

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 56.7 for Race 2. Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., trained by Steven M. Asmussen. For past year, Jockey has a 26% win rate and finished in the money in 61% of races. Ranked 1st in workouts over last month at 11.67 sec/furlong. Jockey appears in today's Top 50 Jockeys List.

⚡ Longshot2Storm DivaML 8/1

Rating board at 48.3. Ridden by Jose L. Ortiz. For past year, Jockey has a 25% win rate and finished in the money in 60% of races. For past year, Jockey & Trainer Combo has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 49% of races.

Race 3

2026-04-26T17:43:00

Maiden Claiming · 6 1/2 fur · Dirt

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — State Charmer looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win10State CharmerML 3/1

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 87.1 for Race 3. Ridden by Luis Saez, trained by Timothy E. Hamm. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 12.67 sec/furlong. Claiming Price Decreased from $32000 to $20000.

place9Flashy AviatorML 6/1

Rating board at 51.7. Ridden by Ben Curtis.

⚡ Longshot2Rocky WorldML 10/1

Rating board at 40.6. Ridden by Summer Pauly. For past year, Jockey has a 23% win rate and finished in the money in 72% of races. Claiming Price Decreased from $50000 to $20000.

Our top picks for today focus on races with clear edges in speed figures, trainer form, and track bias. These are the spots where we see the most value on the board.

Full Card Analysis

Race 4

Claiming · 7 fur · Dirt

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — Kid Twist looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win7Kid TwistML 9/2

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 84.9 for Race 4. Ridden by Adam Beschizza, trained by John Ennis. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 12.42 sec/furlong. 1 wins and placed in 4 of 6 races on Dirt tracks. Has placed in the last 2 races. Has placed in 4 of the last 6 races. Has 1 wins and placed in 4 of 6 of Sprint races. 1 wins and placed in 2 of 2 races at Churchill Downs. Ranked 3rd in workouts over last month at 12.07 sec/furlong.

⚡ Longshot2VersedML 15/1

Rating board at 57.6 • 25% career wins. Ridden by Edgar Morales. Ranked 2nd for recent race speed at 12.38 sec/furlong. 2 wins and placed in 5 of 7 races on Dirt tracks.

Race 5

Maiden Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — Calling On Heaven looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win3Calling On HeavenML 7/5

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 89.4 for Race 5. Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, trained by Michael J. Maker. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.33 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 57% of races. Placed in 3 of 5 races on Dirt tracks. Claiming Price Decreased from $30000 to $12500. Horse appears in today's Top 50 Horses List.

⚡ Longshot8BlazingML 15/1

Rating board at 29.5. Ridden by Danny Sheehy. Has not raced in 108 days, may just be looking for a race to tighten up. Claiming Price Decreased from $15000 to $12500.

Race 6

Allowance Optional Claiming · 5 1/2 fur · Turf

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — Run Curtis Run looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win3Run Curtis RunML 3/1

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 87.1 for Race 6. Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, trained by Michael J. Maker. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 11.36 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 57% of races. Has placed in 4 of the last 6 races. Has 1 wins and placed in 9 of 10 races at 5 1/2 fur. Placed in 2 of 2 races at Churchill Downs. Has not raced in 125 days, may just be looking for a race to tighten up. Ranked 3rd in workouts over last month at 12.04 sec/furlong. 3 wins and placed in 16 of 24 races on Turf tracks. Horse won last time raced at today's surface/distance.

⚡ Longshot7Sine Qua NonML 8/1

Rating board at 64.2 • 28% career wins. Ridden by Luis Saez. Has placed in the last 3 races. Has placed in 3 of the last 3 races.

Race 7

Claiming · 6 fur · Dirt

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — Sweet Bebsi looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win4Sweet BebsiML 8/5

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 73.5 for Race 7. Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., trained by Rodolphe Brisset. For past year, Jockey has a 26% win rate and finished in the money in 61% of races. Ranked 2nd in workouts over last month at 12.15 sec/furlong. Claiming Price Decreased from $30000 to $16000. Jockey appears in today's Top 50 Jockeys List.

place10Waffle House GangML 6/1

Rating board at 71.9 • 25% career wins. Ridden by Gerardo Corrales. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 12.61 sec/furlong. Has placed in 1 of the last 1 races.

show8MamarshaML 15/1

Rating board at 69.6. Ridden by Constantino Roman. 1 wins and placed in 4 of 6 races on Dirt tracks. Has placed in the last 4 races.

Race 8

Maiden Special Weight · 1 1/4 mi · Dirt

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — Tiernanogue looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win3TiernanogueML 7/2

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 86.3 for Race 8. Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, trained by Brendan P. Walsh. Ranked 3rd for recent race speed at 12.56 sec/furlong. For past year, Jockey has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 57% of races. For past year, Jockey & Trainer Combo has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 47% of races.

place2Stompin GrapesML 9/5

Rating board at 86.0. Ridden by Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.. Ranked 1st for recent race speed at 12.35 sec/furlong. Placed in 2 of 4 races on Dirt tracks.

⚡ Longshot6SartorialML 8/1

Rating board at 38.5. Ridden by Edgar Morales.

Race 9

Allowance · 1 1/16 mi · Turf

Clear separation at the top of the rating board — Midway Memories looks standout with daylight to the rest.

win1Midway MemoriesML 4/1

Tops the TrackWiz rating board at 85.6 for Race 9. Career win rate of 25% shows consistency. Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., trained by Chad C. Brown. For past year, Jockey has a 26% win rate and finished in the money in 61% of races. For past year, Jockey & Trainer Combo has a 25% win rate and finished in the money in 61% of races. Has placed in the last 2 races. Has placed in 2 of the last 3 races. Has 1 wins and placed in 4 of 5 of Medium Distance races. 1 wins and placed in 4 of 5 races on Turf tracks. Horse won last time raced at today's surface/distance. Jockey appears in today's Top 50 Jockeys List.

place5SnipsnippitysnipML 9/2

Rating board at 75.8. Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. For past year, Jockey has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 57% of races. For past year, Jockey & Trainer Combo has a 19% win rate and finished in the money in 47% of races.

show3BrilliantlyML 3/1

Rating board at 72.0. Ridden by Joel Rosario. For past year, Jockey has a 17% win rate and finished in the money in 49% of races. Has placed in 2 of the last 3 races.

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