Churchill Downs Picks: Shawnee Stakes (5/30/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Sat May 30, 2026, 7:00 am ET
Read Time: 7 minutes
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The racing action from Churchill Downs on Saturday features the Shawnee Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Churchill Downs picks for the entire card!
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Churchill Downs Full Card Analysis
Churchill Downs Picks: Shawnee Stakes (5/30/2026)
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:45 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
- #2 BATTIS GROVE (4-5): Prime Win Player. Favorable class relief in this spot. Top connections on the circuit with Prat and Walden.
- #7 BELLE AMOUR (3-1): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #1 ZENGRAYA (8-1): Contender. Likely in the mix early. Could wear these ones down late.
- #3 BUTTERFLY JASMINE (20-1): Underneath. Hernandez and Catalano team up on this one. May be getting a weaker field than last out.
Selections: 2 – 7 – 1 – 3
The Plays
Win: #2 at 1-1
Exacta: 2 / 7,1
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:15 PM ET; Claiming $86k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #1 TUSKEGEE AIRMEN (8-1): Longshot Play of the Day. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Fits well with this group. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
- #3 RUN CLASSIC (5-2): Major Player. Running well of late. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
- #7 BERNIN HOT (8-1): Major Player. Should sit a good trip.
- #8 SKYRO (7-2): Major Player. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 1 – 3 – 7 – 8
The Plays
Win: #1 at 5-1
Trifecta: 1 / 3,7 / 3,7,8
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:44 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 10 runners.
- #3 SILENT WAY (8-5): Prime Win Player. Proven competitor at this configuration. Stamina to outlast the competition.
- #9 BOURBON DREAM (9-2): Contender. Should take a liking to the race shape.
- #5 DIRECT STRIKE (5-2): Contender. May be able to find the right setup.
- #7 BRAVE PILOT (8-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 3 – 9 – 5 – 7
The Plays
Win: #3 at 6-5
Exacta: 3 / 9,5,7
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:15 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $127k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 13 runners.
- #12 MASHALLAH (2-1): Prime Win Player. Should improve off the debut. Looks good based on the 102 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
- #11 LA RASCASSE (9-2): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #10 PASSERINE (6-1): Contender. Potential to have this pace fall just right. Has experience at this level.
- #3 BETTY'S PEARL (6-1): Fringe Contender. Competitive enough in recent efforts. Gutierrez puts this one in with a chance.
Selections: 12 – 11 – 10 – 3
The Plays
Win: #12 at 7-5
Exacta: 12 / 11,10,3
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 2:47 PM ET; Audubon Stakes $275k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 10 runners.
- #8 THOUSANDSTICKS (9-2): Top Pick. Barn has been solid. Looks good based on the 91 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
- #7 TOUCH OF FIRE (2-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #1 MY FAVORITE BIRD (6-1): Major Player. Could wear these ones down late. Speed figs match up nicely.
- #6 ZEPPELIN (7-2): Major Player. Trainer's horses have been running. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 8 – 7 – 1 – 6
The Plays
Win: #8 at 7-2
Exacta: 8 / 7,1,6
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:19 PM ET; Shawnee Stakes $300k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
- #5 SPLENDORA (6-5): Top Pick. Prat and Baffert team up on this one.
- #7 IMMERSIVE (7-2): Major Player. Can run with these. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #1 GIN GIN (6-1): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. This one's a fighter in the late stages.
- #4 MAJESTIC OOPS (3-1): Contender. Could be ready to hit a peak performance. Race conditions fit this one well.
Selections: 5 – 7 – 1 – 4
The Plays
Win: #5 at 6-5
Exacta: 5 / 7,1
Pick 3 (races 6-8): #5,7,1 with #4 with #3,2,6
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 3:53 PM ET; Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes $275k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #4 MEDORO (5-2): Best Bet of the Card. Comes in with solid form. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Eurton. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #5 PROCTOR STREET (3-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Good race flow for this runner.
- #3 PIN UP BETTY (7-2): Contender. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #1 CHARLENE'S DREAM (12-1): Fringe Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Fast enough on paper to compete.
Selections: 4 – 5 – 3 – 1
The Plays
Win: #4 at 1-1
Exacta: 4 / 5,3,1
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:25 PM ET; Aristides Stakes $275k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
- #3 ROLL ON BIG JOE (9-5): Top Pick. Comes in with solid form. Race sets up perfectly.
- #2 CORNUCOPIAN (5-2): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Likely to get forward position.
- #6 MADAKET ROAD (9-2): Major Player. Should sit a good trip. Likely in the mix early.
- #5 TEJANO TWIST (12-1): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.
Selections: 3 – 2 – 6 – 5
The Plays
Win: #3 at 7-5
Exacta: 3 / 2,5
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 4:56 PM ET; Regret Stakes $275k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 9 runners.
- #8 STORM'S WAKE (3-1): Top Pick. Comes in with solid form. Fits well with this group.
- #5 FAITHFUL DEPARTED (8-1): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Stamina to be in the mix late.
- #6 DANDONA (6-1): Major Player. Potential to kick home late. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #2 SURPRISE ENDING (12-1): Major Player. Should still have enough in the reserves if there in the final furlong. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint.
Selections: 8 – 5 – 6 – 2
The Plays
Win: #8 at 5-2
Exacta: 8 / 5,6,2
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 5:28 PM ET; Blame Stakes $300k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #3 HIT SHOW (5-2): Top Pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Fits well with this group.
- #1 RATTLE N ROLL (4-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Seems to be up against the right competition.
- #2 HALL OF FAME (6-1): Major Player. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Should sit a good trip.
- #6 ORIGINAL SIN (15-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.
Selections: 3 – 1 – 2 – 6
The Plays
Win: #3 at 2-1
Exacta: 3 / 1,2,6
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 11
Post Time: 5:59 PM ET; Arlington Stakes $275k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 11 runners.
- #10 BRILLIANT BERTI (9-2): Top Pick. Race sets up perfectly. Races competitive with the top contenders.
- #3 LAGYNOS (5-2): Major Player. Speed figures match this group well. Good race flow for this runner.
- #7 MERCANTE (8-1): Major Player. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Has experience at this level.
- #4 BEACH GOLD (15-1): Contender. Asmussen and Biancone team up on this one.
Selections: 10 – 3 – 7 – 4
The Plays
Win: #10 at 7-2
Exacta: 10 / 3,7,4
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Saturday Analysis
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- Woodbine Picks featuring the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes
Sunday Analysis
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Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.
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