Thursday 5/28/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 2026-05-28T10:18:28-05:00

Scott Shapiro: Churchill Downs Twilight Thursday Spot Plays

May 27, 2026 | By Scott Shapiro

They are back at it in Louisville for the start of a new racing week at Churchill Downs. Saturday’s stakes-laden card headlines the late May action, but as always, the Twilight Thursday slate offers horseplayers several quality wagering opportunities. Here are a few horses I like on the card that kicks off at 5PM eastern.

Race 3:
This MSW event for 2YO fillies is led by a pair of debut runners from both the Mark Casse and Steve Asmussen barns. Casse has the two ML favorites with #2 Exile and #4 Ez Miss Sassy, but I like #5 Lead by Example most. The daughter of Jackie’s Warrior is out of a Malibu Moon mare that won her first three starts over the all-weather in Southern California and has been productive as a broodmare as well. Winding Way not only produced underachieving Skinner, but Essential Coffee as well. That dominant first out winner for these same human connections won by over 8 lengths almost a year to the day (May 30, 2025). His younger sister comes in off a steady series of drills for Asmussen, who calls on Jose Ortiz. Hopefully, the daughter of one Asmussen’s best sprinters is ready to fire at first asking.

Play: #5 Lead by Example (5-1 ML)

Race 4:
This maiden claimer at two-turns over the grass is a challenging one, but has appeal since I am against 5-2-ML favorite #7 Prince of Light. The Dixiana Farms homebred has had 9 chances already, including back-to-back starts in New Orleans where he was set off at even money or less. He is a colt that is likely to be good enough to earn yet another minor share, but is impossible to trust on top. I will take a swing against him with #1 Captain Mercury. The son of Tapiture debuted earlier this month in a 6-furlong race over the dirt where he was beaten out of the gate and chased while wide before finishing an underwhelming sixth. Trainer Rohan Crichton turns to Luis Saez, moves this gelding to the grass, and stretches him out to a route of ground three weeks later. I expect Saez to get him out of the gate and into the race right away instead of being caught in chase mode immediately. The price should be right to gamble on the $30k October ’24 purchase.

Play: #1 Captain Mercury (8-1 ML)

Race 5:
My final play on the final Thursday of May comes in this starter allowance at 1 1/8-miles where there is likely to be a contentious early pace. With a number of runners likely to flash some sort of early speed, this race should set up for a runner from off the pace. #9 Carolo Rapido is the one I like most. The son of Curlin was claimed for $62,500 two weeks ago by Norm Casse and Aj Suited Racing Stable. Casse opts to wheel him back quickly and stretch him back out to a distance he has won 2 of 9 at during his career. The affinity for the surface only strengthens the case for this 5YO gelding.

Play: #9 Carolo Rapido (9-2 ML)

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 2026-05-28T10:19:01-05:00

Brian W. Spencer's Daily Picks

Churchill Downs - Race #5

#1 Awesome Ruta	Think this race has a few fun players in it, but she's the likely chalk and the most likely winner. She has carried sharp form through four tracks on this winning streak and should get a perfect trip while sitting just a touch off the more committed pace players.
#6 Calycanthus	He might be better from a bit closer range, so the start may have cost him a bit last time out. He ran on well and is otherwise in good form right now, but the price should be solid.
#8 Fountain Run	Wonder if he's the most likely of the pace players to refuse to budge early -- there are some decent front-end tries on his page, and he feels like the most likely to pull a minor upset up top.
Race Summary	Awesome Ruta will lose sometime, but she gets the right setup here to make sure that's not today. The form is so reliable right now, she worked back since the last one, and gets a perfect race flow on paper to get first jump. Calycanthus and Fountain Run have some price appeal on backup plays.

Churchill Downs - Race #6

#8 Woodstock	She needs her best stuff, but I think she might get a fair enough setup to finish this one off late after holding her own in some of those stakes tries. Edge in an interesting race.
#1 Feminism	She looked like she might be a fun one to follow in the sharp Oaklawn debut early last month, but I worry she's going to get bet while potentially having to work out a trip from the fence in a spot with a few other forward players.
#5 Where Luck Lives	She has already run a couple good ones that I think keep her in the frame with this group, and she might be in a good spot to get the first run.
Race Summary	Woodstock may be able to finish into the splits in a race with a pretty fun cast. She has faced a couple decent runners in those stakes tries and fits well enough in a spot where the rail runner flashed notice at Oaklawn but has to back it up with winners right back. #2 If If If showed a different dimension in the easy front-end score with claiming company last out and is worth a look, too.

Churchill Downs - Race #8

#6 Getaholdayourself	That cutback speed might play well in a spot without a wicked amount of pace, and I'm hoping the bad running line in the debut on the dirt will help keep the price playable while moving back over to the main here. Would take something shorter than the 10/1 ML price.
#3 Nightmare Fuel	Almost just went with her on top because I do think she's a pretty likely winner here while dropping in class with a decent trip near the front waiting for her, but the price might be short while quickly taking another step down, which isn't always a great thing. Capable.
#1 Enticing Moves	She's up a step in class for this second career start, and she ran on OK in the debut try here last fall. Could see her relaxing and saving some ground before coming with a competitive run. In the mix.
Race Summary	Getaholdayourself has been struggling just a bit to put away those two-turn turf races, and she might find a bit more punch from a first-over position while turning back. Dirt is at least a bit of a question mark.

**Can'tPickAWinner** · 2026-05-28T10:19:19-05:00

Frank Carulli's Daily Picks

Delaware Park - Race #1

#3 BOOK RUNNER (8-1)	Second in last pair, four wins and a $100k bankroll at distance, sheds 5 pounds.
#1 COLLECTION DAY (2-1)	Three-time runner-up since March broke through with a win and was claimed.
#7 YODEL E.A. WHO (7-5)	Can beat these on memory alone, but short price is risky off last pair.
Race Summary	The ‘For Sale’ sign goes up on $800,000 earner YODEL E.A. WHO, who class drops off a voided claim last month. He defeated one rival in his last two starts, so take a shot on BOOK RUNNER as a viable price option. He’s a six-figure earner at the distance and steps up in class off a pair of seconds. Bet to win and place and play 3-1 and 3-7 exactas.

Delaware Park - Race #4

#10 PURE OCTANE (8-1)	Sales buy for $185k has necessary ingredients to win at first asking.
#11 BEALE STREET BOY (3-1)	Well-traveled 3yo lost by a neck and a nose in last pair on main track.
#6 ROAD RUNNER (6-1)	Well-prepped at Fair Hill, sire is Top 5 in 2026 progeny earnings ($1.5 million).
Race Summary	PURE OCTANE appeared ready to run at Oaklawn Park off a solid foundation of workouts. But the son of Liam’s Map – the seventh leading turf sire this year in progeny earnings – shows up here instead and lures Paco to ride. Bet to win and place and play 10-6 and 10-11 exactas.

Delaware Park - Race #5

#5 SWEET SUMMER LOVE (10-1)	Price hunting in dreadful field, ran ok in Fall sprints at Delaware.
#8 WOOD LILY (7-2)	Penn National shipper has done the least wrong and arrives off a maiden victory.
#2 UPTOWN ART (12-1)	Duplicate of race two back puts him in winning mix, Cedeno gets the call.
Race Summary	Somebody has to win in a field that is a combined 10-for-176. SWEET SUMMER LOVE makes her second start this year and was last seen at Delaware Park finishing second to an allowance-dropping favorite. She “took command” at the eighth pole that day but missed in a photo finish. Bet to win and place and play a 2-5-8 exacta box.

**HandyAndy** · 2026-05-28T10:41:23-05:00

HAWTHORNE TIPS - THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026
Historically our BEST BETS have finished in the money 71% of the time at this track.

RACE #1 HAWTHORNE $10,500 Claiming 1 Mile 70 Yards ON THE Dirt - POST TIME: 3:38 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	7-5	3	Visionista	F Reyes
PLACE	2-1	2	Shakrevenge	L H Colon
SHOW	7-2	4	She Be Sheehan	A Bendezu
WILD CARD	6-1	5	Lunarchy	E Giles

ALTERNATE 1	8-1	1	Sky Raven	O Hernandez

* EXACTA: 3-2 BOX, 2-4 BOX, 4-5 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 2/3/4 BOX, 2/4/5 BOX

RACE #2 HAWTHORNE $30,000 Maiden Special Weight 5 1/2 Furlongs ON THE Turf - POST TIME: 4:10 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	9-5	2	Ciao Tommaso	A Bendezu
PLACE	5-2	1	Good Yegg	J Tavares
SHOW	6-1	4	Stormy Attack	F Reyes
WILD CARD	5-1	6	Citizen Ex	E T Baird

ALTERNATE 1	8-1	3	Chief Gross	A O Stanley
ALTERNATE 2	9-2	5	Jakes Channel	J Loveberry

* EXACTA: 2-1 BOX, 1-4 BOX, 4-6 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/2/4 BOX, 1/4/6 BOX

RACE #3 HAWTHORNE $10,000 Claiming 5 1/2 Furlongs ON THE Dirt - POST TIME: 4:42 PM ET
#3 FOXY ZORRA

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	9-5	3	Foxy Zorra	O Hernandez
PLACE	3-1	4	Miss Saipan	L H Colon
SHOW	4-1	1	Time Break	F Reyes
WILD CARD	5-2	5	Smooth Claret	J Loveberry

ALTERNATE 1	6-1	2	Abbmar	A Bendezu

* EXACTA: 3-4 BOX, 4-1 BOX, 1-5 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 1/3/4 BOX, 1/4/5 BOX

RACE #4 HAWTHORNE $15,000 Claiming 5 Furlongs ON THE Turf - POST TIME: 5:11 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	6-5	6	Whatdoyouthinkmark	J Loveberry
PLACE	4-1	3	Nagy and Da Bears	A Santos
SHOW	5-1	2	Findaway	L H Colon
WILD CARD	8-1	1	Aladante	J Tavares

ALTERNATE 1	9-2	5	Money Agent	E Giles
ALTERNATE 2	8-1	4	A P Blazing Green	J Aranguren

* EXACTA: 6-3 BOX, 3-2 BOX, 2-1 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 2/3/6 BOX, 1/2/3 BOX

RACE #5 HAWTHORNE $30,000 Maiden Special Weight 5 Furlongs ON THE Turf - POST TIME: 5:40 PM ET
#6 CLOUDY LASS

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	7-2	6	Cloudy Lass	O Hernandez
PLACE	6-1	4	Ww Best of Times	F Reyes
SHOW	3-1	3	Rising Creek	J Loveberry
WILD CARD	4-1	7	Dizzy Miss Lizzy	A Bendezu

ALTERNATE 1	12-1	2	Union Roar	J E Felix
ALTERNATE 2	8-1	5	Storming Sally	O Mojica

* EXACTA: 6-4 BOX, 4-3 BOX, 3-7 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 3/4/6 BOX, 3/4/7 BOX

RACE #6 HAWTHORNE $14,500 Starter Optional Claiming 6 Furlongs ON THE Dirt - POST TIME: 6:10 PM ET
#5 MAMBA OUT

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	3-1	5	Mamba Out	I Hernandez
PLACE	4-1	4	Little Sass	O Hernandez
SHOW	7-2	6	Wildwood Queen	E T Baird
WILD CARD	5-2	2	Wampus Kitten	F Reyes

ALTERNATE 1	6-1	3	Long Tall Woman	J E Felix
ALTERNATE 2	5-1	1	Ornery Angel	A Bendezu

* EXACTA: 5-4 BOX, 4-6 BOX, 6-2 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 4/5/6 BOX, 2/4/6 BOX

RACE #7 HAWTHORNE $15,000 Claiming 1 Mile ON THE Turf - POST TIME: 6:40 PM ET

PICK ORDER	M/L	P#	HORSE NAME	JOCKEY

WIN	6-1	6	Bizzee Channel	F Reyes
PLACE	7-2	4	River Redemption	L H Colon
SHOW	5-2	3	Even the Wind	O Mojica
WILD CARD	9-2	5	Man On Attack	A O Stanley

ALTERNATE 1	6-1	7	Sbagliato	J E Felix
ALTERNATE 2	10-1	2	Hilarious Affair	J Tavares

* EXACTA: 6-4 BOX, 4-3 BOX, 3-5 BOX
* TRIFECTA: 3/4/6 BOX, 3/4/5 BOX

Thursday 5/28/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

Thursday 5/28/26 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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