The feature at Churchill Downs on Thursday is an $81,000 7 furlong sprint over the dirt. Check out analysis and free horse racing picks for that race along with two other races on Churchill’s card. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Churchill Downs for Thursday, June 18. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Churchill Downs Horse Racing Picks
- When: Thursday, June 18 at 1:00 pm ET
- Where: Louisville, KY
- Weather: Chance of Rain Showers
- Temperature: High 85 – Low 65
Churchill Downs Picks for Thursday, June 18
Race 5 – 3:10 pm ET – 1 Mile Dirt – $10,000 Claiming
Trainer Matt Shirer drops Queenofcatniphill from $50,000 claiming to this bottom-level event. The drop is significant enough for us to consider for the top spot. This is true even though Hill showed nothing in her last and lost by 62 lengths.
Delachaise is another dropper with a shot. The Itsmyluckyday sired 4-year-old filly lost her last race by 9 ½ lengths. She should wake up on Thursday, though, because trainer Bernard Flint wins 21% with horses dropping 2+ class levels.
Ignacio Correas wins just 7% with horses running against winners first time. But Fashion Frame dominated her competition by 7 lengths to break her maiden. She could wire this field if nobody goes with her early.
- Win: Queenofcatniphill
- Place: Delachaise
- Show: Fashion Frame
Race 7 – 4:14 pm ET – 6 ½ Furlongs Dirt – $20,000 Claiming
After Self Taught’s last, trainer Albert Stall gelded the Shanghai Bobby sired 3-year-old. Stall puts blinkers on Self Taught, a 14% winning move, and drops down 2+ classes, a 30% winning move. We’re sold!
So far, trainer Joe Sharp has had a good Churchill meet. Sharp trained Johnny Cab won his first race for Joe. Cab should provide another decent run on Thursday.
Grant Foster drops I’m Busy from a $61,000 allowance to this $20,000 claiming race. Although the 4-year-old gelding finished ninth in that allowance, it ran fast enough to compete here. Don’t discount for the win money.
- Win: Self Taught
- Place: Johnny Cab
- Show: I’m Busy
Race 8 – 4:46 pm ET – 7 Furlongs Dirt – $81,000 Allowance
Street Boss sired Father G could pull off the slight upset at 9/2 odds. Trainer Thomas Drury wins 28% with horses running off a 90+ days layoff. Drury wins 35% with beaten favorites, and 30% with allowance runners.
Get The Prize may offer worse odds than the 8/5 morning line. Albert Stall puts the saddle on. But the morning line chalk has just 3 second-place finishes from 4 races over Churchill’s dirt. We can’t endorse for the win, but won’t bump from the exacta, either.
Steve Asmussen trained Picasso could run much better on Thursday than he did in his first against winners. If you handicap based on Pedigree, you had better look towards this one for your win money. Tapit sired Picasso while his mom is Unbridled’s Song sired broodmare Inspired. Consider for the top spot if the price is right.
- Win: Father G
- Place: Get The Prize
- Show: Picasso
