Churchill Downs Picks: William Walker Stakes (05/09/2026)
Written by: Chris Adams
Published: Sat May 09, 2026, 8:00 am ET
Read Time: 8 minutes
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The racing action from Churchill Downs on Saturday features the William Walker Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Churchill Downs picks for the entire card!
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Churchill Downs Full Card Analysis
Churchill Downs Picks: William Walker Stakes (05/09/2026)
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 1
Post Time: 12:45 PM ET; Claiming $62k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.
- #5 POP PAUL (3-1): Top Pick. Strong early pace figs. Races competitive with the top contenders.
- #1 SKYNET (4-1): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
- #6 LANDING CRAFT (5-2): Major Player. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish. Hard to argue with the recent races.
- #7 NASH POTATOES (8-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 5 – 1 – 6 – 7
The Plays
Win: #5 at 5-2
Exacta: 5 / 1,7
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 2
Post Time: 1:15 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $35k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #5 CLICK (8-5): Top Pick. Favorable class relief in this spot.
- #8 FROSTY FOR EVER (4-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Trainer is having a great meet.
- #9 TOTAL FABRICATION (6-1): Contender. The 64 speed rating is among the best in the field.
- #3 CRYSTAL FROST (8-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Gutierrez and Barrett team up on this one.
Selections: 5 – 8 – 9 – 3
The Plays
Win: #5 at 6-5
Exacta: 5 / 8,9
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 3
Post Time: 1:44 PM ET; Starter Allowance $62k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
- #2 ARMED N DANGEROUS (3-1): Top Pick. Could be ready for a top effort. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #1 MIRAGE (9-5): Major Player. Likely to get forward position.
- #5 BAYTOWN BRUISER (5-1): Major Player. The 90 speed rating is among the best in the field. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #4 CONSOLIDATED (6-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Should still have enough in the reserves if there in the final furlong.
Selections: 2 – 1 – 5 – 4
The Plays
Win: #2 at 5-2
Exacta: 2 / 5,4
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 4
Post Time: 2:15 PM ET; Claiming $78k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
- #4 SKYRO (3-1): Top Pick. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance. Races competitive with the top contenders.
- #1 WARRIOR RICHARD (5-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Gaffalione puts this one in with a chance.
- #6 I DON'T GET IT (9-5): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish.
- #2 EYE WITNESS (8-1): Contender. Early pace figs should have this one involved from the start. Machado and Caramori team up on this one.
Selections: 4 – 1 – 6 – 2
The Plays
Win: #4 at 5-2
Exacta: 4 / 1,2
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 5
Post Time: 2:47 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.
- #16 LAHAINALUNA (4-1): Top Pick. Solid breeding for this spot. Looks good based on the 84 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
- #11 MR BOBO (12-1): Major Player. May be able to take advantage of the pace. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
- #8 COMPREHENSIVE (3-2): Contender. Has been running well enough recently. Previous success in similar race types.
- #2 SUPERCHARGER (6-1): Fringe Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Could be ready to hit a peak performance.
Selections: 16 – 11 – 8 – 2
The Plays
Win: #16 at 3-1
Exacta: 16 / 11,2
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 6
Post Time: 3:19 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $57k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #3 SHARONS ANGELS (3-1): Prime Win Player. Favorable class relief in this spot. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
- #2 STONE COUNTY (4-1): Contender. Good race flow for this runner. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.
- #7 ROCHESTER (12-1): Fringe Contender. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous. Bejarano and Moquett team up on this one.
- #5 SCUFFLE (9-2): Fringe Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. Bloodlines fit this race.
Selections: 3 – 2 – 7 – 5
The Plays
Win: #3 at 5-2
Exacta: 3 / 2,7,5
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 7
Post Time: 3:53 PM ET; Starter Allowance $83k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.
- #3 WRONG SHOES (2-1): Top Pick. Looks good based on the 94 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
- #6 GRAND LUXX (7-2): Major Player. Concepcion puts this one in with a chance. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
- #5 JABOSS (9-2): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Davis. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #7 EMPATH (6-1): Major Player. Potential to get the pace of the race flow. Ortiz and Casse team up on this one.
Selections: 3 – 6 – 5 – 7
The Plays
Win: #3 at 7-5
Exacta: 3 / 6,5,7
Pick 3 (Races 7-9): #3,6 with #1,7 with #1
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 8
Post Time: 4:25 PM ET; Allowance $127k; 1 M Turf; Field of 15 runners.
- #1 MONTEREY BAY (8-1): Top Pick. Corrales and Ward team up on this one. Proven competitor at this configuration.
- #7 TWO BEERS BY TEN (9-2): Major Player. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance. Comes home strong.
- #8 SUMOOD (7-2): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types.
- #9 CINISTER CIX (8-1): Contender. Could be ready to hit a peak performance. Fast enough on paper to compete.
Selections: 1 – 7 – 8 – 9
The Plays
Win: #1 at 5-1
Exacta: 1 / 7,8,9
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 9
Post Time: 4:56 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $141k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.
Best Bet of the Card
- #1 ADMIRAL DENNIS (7-5): Best Bet of the Card. Comes in with solid form. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
- #2 BERNIN HOT (6-1): Major Player. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Looks fast enough off previous efforts.
- #6 GOULD'S GOLD (5-2): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. Previous success in similar race types.
- #5 TIZTASTIC (5-1): Fringe Contender. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Asmussen.
Selections: 1 – 2 – 6 – 5
The Plays
Win: #1 at 1-1
Exacta: 1 / 2,5
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 10
Post Time: 5:28 PM ET; William Walker Stakes $225k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 8 runners.
- #4 SANDAL'S SONG (6-1): Top Pick. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance. Should be able to work out a trip.
- #3 TWILIGHT DELIGHT (8-1): Major Player. Stamina to be in the mix late. Good race flow for this runner.
- #8 OUTFIELDER (8-5): Major Player. Speed figs match up nicely. Previous success in similar race types.
- #2 THROCKMORTON (3-1): Major Player. Race conditions fit this one well. Trainer's horses have been running.
Selections: 4 – 3 – 8 – 2
The Plays
Win: #4 at 5-1
Exacta: 4 / 3,2
Churchill Downs Picks – Race 11
Post Time: 5:59 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $72k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 13 runners.
Longshot Play of the Day
- #6 DARING MADISON (6-1): Longshot Play of the Day. Favorable class relief in this spot. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
- #11 QUICK TO CHARM (5-1): Major Player. Well bred for this race. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
- #4 LIL TIPSY (8-1): Contender. This one's a fighter in the late stages. Barn has been sending out runners.
- #7 COGNIZANT (10-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.
Selections: 6 – 11 – 4 – 7
The Plays
Win: #6 at 5-1
Trifecta: 6 / 11 / 11,4,7
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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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