By Tom Woodruff · Nov 5, 2026
The Short Version
- Top pick
- #8 Ole Crazy Bone (3-1). Six turf wins, a Grade 2 winner this summer, and the likely pacesetter.
- The favorite
- #4 Lambeth (9-5). Won the Sycamore at Keeneland last time, but cuts back three furlongs.
- The pace
- No confirmed front-runner. Ole Crazy Bone may be sent to the lead, and late kick should decide it.
- Price to watch
- #5 Kupuna (9-2). Owns the best recent figures and won his last start at Saratoga.
The River City is Saturday's big turf race at Churchill Downs: a Grade 3 at 1 1/8 miles on the grass for older horses, worth $300,000, with eight in the field. It's a small field, but a good one, full of horses coming out of graded stakes.
The morning line makes Lambeth a strong favorite after his win in the Sycamore. I'm not so sure he's the right horse to lean on at this distance. Here's how I see it.
Post positions & morning lineThe Field
| # | Horse | Jockey / Trainer | ML | Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CarcanoBolt d'Oro | J. TorresVictoria Oliver | 20-1 | Stalker |
| 2 | MercanteGun Runner | W. RodriguezBrian Knippenberg | 8-1 | Speed/stalker |
| 3 | Vote NoDivisidero | U. RispoliKelsey Danner | 8-1 | Stalker |
| 4 | LambethArrogate | J. OrtizJoe Sharp | 9-5 | Stalker |
| 5 | KupunaHard Spun | F. ArrietaNorm Casse | 9-2 | Stalker |
| 6 | TeaoYa Primo*Chi | L. SaezJohn Sadler | 6-1 | |
| 7 | PlensaCaravaggio | A. ConcepcionR. Arnold George II | 15-1 | Stalker |
| 8 | Ole Crazy BoneGhostzapper | T. GaffalioneMichael Maker | 3-1 | Speed |
#8 · 3-1Ole Crazy Bone
Ole Crazy Bone tops our ratings, and he's the most accomplished turf horse in the race. He has six wins on the grass and nearly $2 million in earnings, and in July he won the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga. Before that he ran 2nd at Churchill, beaten less than a length.
His last two need some forgiving: 6th in a Grade 1 at Saratoga and 8th in the Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs, both at a mile and a half. He cuts back to 1 1/8 miles here, drops in class, and returns from about two months off. Michael Maker and T. Gaffalione team up, and with no confirmed speed in the race, he may be the one controlling the pace from the outside post.
#4 · 9-5 favoriteLambeth
Lambeth comes in as the horse in form. He has improved in each of his last three starts, he won the Grade 2 Sycamore at Keeneland on Oct. 9, and before that he was 2nd in the Gold Cup at Kentucky Downs at more than two miles. He has the second-best recent figures in the field, and Joe Sharp does well with last-out winners.
The question is the trip. His last two races came at a mile and a half and beyond, and this is 1 1/8 miles. The last time he ran this kind of shorter distance, at Kentucky Downs and Ellis Park in August, he finished 8th and 7th. J. Ortiz rides, and he's a stalker, but at 9-5 he has to prove he can quicken at this trip.
#5 · 9-2Kupuna
Kupuna is the one I keep coming back to. He owns the best recent speed figures in the field, and he won his last start, a stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 3 at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. He has hit the board in five of his last six, with eight career wins and three on the grass.
He returns from about two months off but has worked sharply since, and he has run well at this kind of distance all year. Norm Casse trains and F. Arrieta rides. At 9-2, he's a real win candidate, not just an exotic piece.
#6 · 6-1Teao
Teao is the wild card. He has six wins from 12 starts, and his last two were Grade 1 wins in South America, the most recent in April. He has been on the board in all six of his recent races. John Sadler and L. Saez are serious connections, but he's coming off about six months away, which makes him hard to read against this group.
#3 · 8-1Vote No
Vote No ran 3rd behind Lambeth in the Sycamore, beaten 3½ lengths, and before that he was 2nd in a stakes at Kentucky Downs, beaten half a length. He's a turf router with a late kick, he has worked well, and he drops in class. If the pace is honest, he's the one closing late.
Race shapeHow the Race Sets Up
There's no confirmed front-runner. Ole Crazy Bone may be the one sent to the front, with Mercante sitting just off him. Lambeth, Kupuna and Vote No will all be a little farther back.
On turf at 1 1/8 miles, late kick usually matters more than early position. But if Ole Crazy Bone gets a soft lead, he could be very hard to run down. That's a big part of why he's on top for me.
The bottom lineMy Picks
Ole Crazy Bone is my top pick, with Lambeth and Kupuna right behind him. Lambeth is the logical favorite, but at 9-5 and cutting back in distance, I'd rather take a price.
I'd play Ole Crazy Bone and Kupuna on top in the exacta, with Lambeth and Vote No underneath.
- #8 Ole Crazy Bone · 3-1
- #4 Lambeth · 9-5
- #5 Kupuna · 9-2
Quick answersRiver City Stakes (Grade 3) FAQ
Who is the favorite in the 2026 River City Stakes?
Lambeth is the 9-5 morning-line favorite after winning the Sycamore at Keeneland. Ole Crazy Bone is next at 3-1.
What time is the River City Stakes?
It's Race 8 at Churchill Downs on Saturday, November 7, with post time listed at 4:25 p.m. local time (Eastern).
Who are your picks for the River City Stakes?
Ole Crazy Bone on top, then Lambeth and Kupuna. Vote No is the late runner to use underneath.
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Updated Nov 06, 2026