Equidaily Racing Journal

Coast-to-coast

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Fri/Sat May 1-2, 2026
Picks and plays for Oaks/Derby Day stakes
by Seth Merrow


Turf selections/wagers are turf only

Churchill: G1 $5mil Ky Derby

Renegade...One-post. Shoe issues. Hmmm. There are things to be concerned about but just wasn't able to ignore the two big closing efforts coming into this. We'll see...
Fullefort.
Further Ado...There were concerns early this year as he seemed delayed getting back to the worktab -- those were answered with the first two starts back.
The Puma.
Commandment. Wager: $5 WP on Renegade.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$2 exacta box top five.
...$.50 tri box top five.



Saturday

Churchill: G1 $1mil Derby City Distaff

Ways and Means...Hmmm. Very talented mare for potent connections. Tepidly putting her on top give that she only started twice last year and one of those was a third-place in this very race.
Splendora...Baffert runner ships in off of two good wins in SoCal this year.
R Disaster...Speedy.
Haulin Ice
Usha.

Wager: $5 WP on Ways and Means.
...$5 exacta box top two.


Churchill: G2 $600K Turf Sprint

My Boy Prince...Casse trainee solid and improving so far in 2026.
Possiblemente...Perhaps an interesting price off of the Turfway wins.
Joe Shiesty...Plenty of speed.
Litigation.

Wager: $5 WP on My Boy Prince.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.


Churchill: $200K Knick Go

Be You...Looks capable amongst this bunch.
Draoon Guard...Wouldn't be a surprise and likes this track.
Capital Idea...Third star back off of two nice efforts.
Moonlight.

Wager: $5 WP on Be You.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.


Churchill: G2 $1mil Distaff Turf Mile

Portfolio Duration...Ready for this assignment.
Sweet Rebecca...In off of two wins at GP.
Classic Q...Can contend.
Pin Up Betty.
Movin On Up.

Wager: $5 WP on Portfolio Duration.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top five.
...$.50 tri box top five.


Churchill: G2 $750K Pat Day Mile

Englishman...Impressed in first two starts -- gets tested today but has looked the part so far.
Crude Velocity...Also solid in first two -- including a triple-digit Beyer win.
Trouble Calling...Scored in stakes debut.
Creole Chrome.

Wager: $5 WP on Englishman.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.


Churchill: G2 $1mil American Turf

Stakr Contrast...Have to believe connections made the right move going to this spot vs the Derby.
Alpyland...In good form going back to last fall.
Vasy...Also looking good in most recent starts.
Remember Mamba.

Wager: $5 WP on Stark Contrast.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.


Churchill: G1 $1mil CD

Knightsbridge...Tries for a G1 victory and recent Beyers say he fits.
Cornucopian...Has looked good in 2026.
T O Elvis...Japanese run seems like the real deal.
Disco Time.

Wager: $5 WP on Knightsbirdge.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.


Churchill: G1 $1.5mil Turf Classic

Program Trading...Won this race two years ago.
Rhetorical...Looks to get back to winning ways - and that's very possible here.
Corruption...Acutally fired lifetime-best Beyer in latest.
Test Score.

Wager: $5 WP on Program Trading.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.



Friday

Churchill: G1 $1.5mil Ky Oaks

Counting Stars... Martha Washington dud is a head-scratcher - but has rebounded nicely, including the solid G2 win in latest.
Prom Queen...Hard to knock what's she's done so far.
Meaning...Seems to be improving and working well.
Explora.
Percy's Bar.

Wager: $5 WP on Counting Stars.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top five.
...$.50 tri box top five.


Churchill: G2 $500K Unbridled Sidney

Shisospicy...Solid 2025 season was capped by beating the boys in G1 BC Turf Srpint.
Shoot It True...In good form going back to Saratoga. Should benefit from seasonal debut at KEE.
Moon Spun...Back to turf.
Haulin Ice.

Wager: $5 WP on Shisospicy.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.


Churchill: G2 $700K Eight Belles

Goodall...This one won't monkey around on the front-end [wink].
On Time Girl...Might appreciate the cutback.
River Wind...Behind top pick last time but lightly raced and eligible to improve.
French Friction.

Wager: $5 WP on Goodall.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.


Churchill: G2 $750K Alysheba

Grande...Lightly-raced 4YO for Pletcher/Repole has done nothing wrong so far.
Skippylongstocking...Solid start to 2026.
Baeza...Interesting player on the 3YO scene last year makes 4YO debut fro new trainer Mott.
Disruptor.
Corporate Power.

Wager: $5 WP on Grande.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top five.
...$.50 tri box top five.


Churchill: G3 $5000K Modesty

Gezora...Euro-transplant scored in US debut in G1 BC FM Turf.
Kathynmarissa...Like the top pick, a Chad Brown turfewr coming off a niuce win that ended the 2025 season.
Proctor Street...Typically in the hunt.
Whiskey Decision.

Wager: $5 WP on Gezora.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$.50 tri box top four.


Churchill: G1 $1mil La Troienne

Fully Subscribed...Has shown promise in a limited career so far. Likely to be ready in 4YO debut for these connections.
Shred the Gnar...Likely to rebound.
Bless the Broken...Capable.
Scalable.

Wager: $5 W on Fully Subscribed.
...$5 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
... $.50 tri box top four.


Churchill: G2 $600K Edgewood

Lion Lake...Beyers are improving.
Just Aloof...Near-miss in seasonal debut seems like a start to build on.
Imaginationthelady...Another capable of moving forward off of the first start of 2026.
Storm's Wake.
Lorelei Lee.

Wager: $5 WP on Lion Lake.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top five.
...$.50 tri box top five.


If we are interested in both halves of an entry -- in event of a scratch -- it is noted that way [in other words, both halves are named]. If only one-half of the entry is named, then we prefer that half and will move to our next pick listed [rather than the other half of the entry] in event of a scratch.

Coast-to-coast Archives...Picks, plays and results from previous weeks

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