Check out my Wednesday (6-17-26) Churchill Downs Race 8 analysis below.
CD 8 (OC-100k, 6f dirt) – Post Time 4:22 PM ET
Primary – #7 TRACK MATE, #6 Thoughtthatcounts
Secondary – #5 Bourbon Bash, #2 Verifire, #10 Champlin
Horse Comments
#7 Track Mate (6-1) rallied for the place in a local extended sprint May 21. He is 0-for-7 at CD but his six panel record is encouraging (8 4-2-1). He should get pace to chase and should offer wagering value.
#6 Thoughtthatcounts (9-2) landed the place in his last pair. The 2-time local winner frequently finishes in the top three at 6f (9 3-4-1). Joel Rosario takes the call and he should make his presence felt in the lane.
#5 Bourbon Bash (8-1) usually runs his race at six furlongs (15 3-6-3). He is 0-for-6 with three runner-up finishes at 6f, and he does not win often but likes hitting the board.
#2 Verifire (4-1) smartly won his first three starts last year including the Maxfield. He eased in the G1 Jerkens last summer, and returned from a long layoff and was best of the rest in third as the beaten favorite in the slop May 22 (first start in 9 months). Irad Ortiz, Jr. got to know him last time and this one won the Maxfeld at CD last year and is 2-for-3 at 6f.
#10 Champlin (7-2) finished 1-2 in 5 of 6 local starts and is 3-for-8 with a pair of seconds at 6f. He reunites with Tyler Gaffalione and should be forwardly placed.
Wagers:
#7 to win
Exacta 6-7/5-6-7
Trifecta 2-7-10/2-5-6-7-10/5-6
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
May 27 – Jes See Me/Revolutionnaire Exacta ($11.20)
May 30 – Decapo ($5.20), Exacta ($11.60), Trifecta ($32.40)
May 31 – Miso Phansy ($4.80)
June 1 – Hector ($3.00), Exacta ($8.60), Trifecta ($19.60)
June 4 – Magnanimous Max ($7.90), Exacta ($68.58)
June 5 – Portfolio Duration ($10.00), Trifecta ($424.68)
*All winning wagers based on $2 payoffs unless noted otherwise.
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