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Churchill Downs Picks Sun, Nov 8

A top pick for all 10 races at Churchill Downs on Sunday, November 8, 2026, plus value plays with the minimum odds worth taking and the Best Bet of the card, from Trackside Selections.

Today’s Picks › Churchill Downs Picks › Sun, Nov 8

Races
10
Surfaces
7 Dirt · 3 Turf
First post
1:00local time
Top purse · Race 4
OC 125k/N2X
Best Bet · Race 2
6Bourbon Notes
Owns the best recent speed figures in the field
Value play · Race 10
5Shelley B
Bet at 8-1 or higher
Free · The Wagering Lab

2 hand-picked plays every week, free

Two highly selective plays every week with full analysis, in your inbox every Friday, plus free cheat sheets for every major race day. Every pick tracked publicly.

Want the full card for every race? Trackside Edge members get the top three with win estimates, pace notes, confidence ratings and multi-race tickets.

Churchill Downs race previews

Churchill Downs picks, race by race

Race1 Md 750001 mile · Dirt · Post 1:00 · 7 starters
  1. 5Top pickPrairie PrincessGaffalione T · Brown Chad C

Why Prairie Princess: Clearly the fastest horse in the field on recent figures. Coming off the best race of the current form cycle. Drops from maiden special weight into a maiden claimer.

Race2 Clm 30000N2L6 furlongs · Dirt · Post 1:29 · 6 starters Best Bet
  1. 6Top pickBourbon NotesGaffalione T · Maker Michael J

Why Bourbon Notes: Owns the best recent speed figures in the field. The Michael Maker barn does well with claimers. Has run well at 6 furlongs before.

Full card: the top three with win estimates, pace notes and confidence for every race here and at every other track. It covers the day you buy it and the next, so grab it on race day. Race Day Pass $10

Race3 Md Sp Wt 120k1 mile · Turf · Post 1:58 · 12 starters
  1. 9Top pickAnywhere With YouGaffalione T · Walsh Brendan P

Why Anywhere With You: Saves her run for the stretch, a good fit for a turf route. Finished 2nd in her last start, 1 lengths behind the winner. Turned in a bullet on Oct 28.

Also eligible, runs only if there are scratches: Time for a Star, House of Candy, Veles, Free Verse

Race4 OC 125k/N2X6 furlongs · Dirt · Post 2:27 · 6 starters
  1. 2Top pickCreole ChromeGaffalione T · Sharp Joe

Why Creole Chrome: Second-best recent figures in the field. Ran 2nd last out, beaten a length. The Joe Sharp barn does well with allowance runners.

Race5 Md 200006 furlongs · Dirt · Post 2:57 · 12 starters
  1. 2Top pickSheza Go GetterOrtiz J L · Asmussen Steven M

Why Sheza Go Getter: Brings the best recent figures into the race. Drops from a $150,000 claimer to $20,000.

Also eligible, runs only if there are scratches: Avie Mo, Maui Meow, Puzzled, Capability

Race6 Md 500006 ½ furlongs · Dirt · Post 3:26 · 8 starters
  1. 7Top pickMizzouHernandez B J Jr · Radosevich Jake S

Why Mizzou: Has run the fastest numbers of anyone entered. Has the most early speed in a short dirt race. Has run well at 6½ furlongs before.

Race7 Alw 127000N2L1 1/16 miles · Turf · Post 3:55 · 12 starters
  1. 12Top pickCavalliGaffalione T · Walsh Brendan P

Why Cavalli: Closes well, and the early fight up front should come back to him. Won last time out in a maiden special weight. By Flightline, and bred to handle the longer trip.

Also eligible, runs only if there are scratches: Hunting Goodwill, Silver Star

Race8 Clm 50000N2L1 mile · Dirt · Post 4:25 · 12 starters
  1. 1Top pickMaginnesontapGaffalione T · Williams Matt

Why Maginnesontap: Just ran a sharply improved race. Comes in off a win. Rarely runs a bad one: top three in 5 of 6 lately.

Race9 OC 125k/N2X6 furlongs · Dirt · Post 4:55 · 7 starters
  1. 1Top pickSneaky GoodSaez L · Cox Brad H

Why Sneaky Good: Fits on speed with the best of this group. Was only 1½ lengths from winning last time. The Brad Cox barn does well with dirt runners.

Race10 Md Sp Wt 120k1 mile · Turf · Post 5:24 · 12 starters
  1. 12Top pickMiddlemistGaffalione T · Walsh Brendan P

Why Middlemist: Only one horse in here has run faster lately. Ran 3rd last out, beaten 2 lengths. Steps down in class off a maiden special weight.

Value play5 Shelley B Bet at 8-1 or higher
Dismissed at 15-1 in her last start, but fits this field. Trainer Kenneth McPeek has a strong record with second-time starters. By War of Will, and bred to handle the longer trip.

Also eligible, runs only if there are scratches: Majestic Marie, Grace Alone, American Destiny, Rosabella Gold

More picks for Sunday, November 8

Churchill Downs picks archive

Churchill Downs picks FAQ

Are these Churchill Downs picks free?

Yes. Every Churchill Downs card gets a free top pick for every race, a value play with the minimum odds worth taking, and the Best Bet of the day. Trackside Edge members also get the top three in every race with win estimates, pace notes, confidence ratings and multi-race tickets.

When are Churchill Downs picks posted?

Our Churchill Downs picks go up before the card, once entries are out, usually a day or more ahead. This page always shows the current or next Churchill Downs card, and every past card stays in the archive below.

How are the Churchill Downs picks made?

Every horse is rated through the TracksideProfits handicapping process: speed figures, current form and the likely pace first, then trainer and jockey, distance and surface fit and pedigree, then class, layoffs and workouts.

What does "Bet at 6-1 or higher" mean on a value play?

It is the lowest price at which the value play is worth a bet based on our win estimate. If the horse is shorter than that at post time, the value is gone.

What if one of the picks scratches?

Move to the next pick in that race. Picks are made before scratches and late changes, so always check the final field before you bet.

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Picks are made before scratches and late changes. If a selection scratches, move to the next pick. Post times are local track time. Win estimates come from our ratings and are not guarantees.

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Updated Nov 06, 2026