Churchill Downs Horse Racing Picks Including Kentucky Derby for Saturday 5/6/23

It's Kentucky Derby Day at the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. Nine big stakes races on Saturday are headlined by the 2023 Kentucky Derby, which is expected to have record wagering and all day mobile betting. The first stakes race starts in Race 4 at 12:04 p.m. ET with Race 12 and the Kentucky Derby at 6:57 p.m. ET.

As always, check the program for scratches and changes, monitor the weather, and keep an eye on the track conditions.

(I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure in selected races, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races after adjusting for track, distances, and conditions).

Churchill Downs Betting Picks

According to numberFire horse racing projections and Guaranteed Tip Sheet (GTS), these are some of the best bets to make at FanDuel Racing today.

Did you follow FanDuel Racing picks and cash in a 3-for-3 day at Churchill Downs on May 4? All six win picks finished in the money providing additional Exacta and Trifecta payoffs. Also, in recent picks at Keeneland, Time For Trouble (18/1) cashed $2 win bets for $37.50 and a $2 exacta paid $189. 

Mobile betting on horse racing is easy with the best-in-class experience at FanDuel

1. Cody's Wish and Endorsed, Race 10

FanDuel Racing Odds: 4/5 and 5/1
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Race 10 is the $750,000 Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes for older horses at 7 furlongs. The numberFire projections and Guaranteed Tip Sheet both rate top win contenders as Cody's Wish (4/5) and Endorsed (5/1), who has Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione riding. Cody's Wish has been off since Nov., but has steadily gotten better and better. He ran four consecutive triple-digit speed figures and is a neck away from winning his last eight races. C Z Rocket (10/1) is a 9-year-old who finished 2nd in the Breeders' Cup Sprint in Nov, and raced in Dubai in March. Endorsed has won his last three races while posting high-speed figures of 100 or more.

2. Spooky Channel and Up the the Mark, Race 11

FanDuel Racing Odds: 5/1 and 4/1
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Race 11 is the $1 million Grade 1 Turf Classic for older horses at 1 1/8 miles. Guaranteed Tip Sheet notes the most competitive race, and sides with Spooky Channel (5/1) and jockey Joel Rosario to hit the wire first. He's just 1- length away from being unbeaten in three after taking more than a year off and now second race off the layoff. Top challengers and in-the-money finishers include numberFire picks Hong Kong Harry (7/2), Spooky Channel and Santin (9/2). Also, Up to the Mark (4/1), who raced better than it appears in his last race and a majority of his races have produced top pace numbers. Top jockey/trainer combo of Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Todd Pletcher. Up to the Mark is 2-for-3 this year after finishing 3rd in a Grade 1 race three weeks ago.

3. Derma Sotogake and Tapit TriceRace 12

FanDuel Racing Odds: 10/1 and 5/1
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Race 12 is the $3 million Grade 1 Kentucky Derby for 3-year-olds going the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. Racing picks are provided in FanDuel's Kentucky Derby previews including best bets and dark horse picks. The full field and odds and horse profiles are available including on Tapit Trice and Derma Sotogake. The numberFire projections rate top win contenders as Forte (3/1), Angel of Empire (8/1) and Tapit Trice (5/1).

Naturally, you can bet on which horse will win the Kentucky Derby with FanDuel Racing.

Discover exciting 2023 Kentucky Derby promos to wager on FDR and FanDuel Sportsbook and get up to $20 back on your Bet!

New TVG users are included in the excitement with a chance to get your first win wager on a single horse in any race at any track up to $200 back if you lose. Bet the Derby!

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.