Check out my Thursday (5-28-26) Churchill Downs Race 5 analysis below.
CD 5 (Str-Alw-20k, 4&up, 9f dirt) – Post Time 6:56 PM ET
Primary – #9 CAROLO RAPIDO, #7 Clooney
Secondary – #1 Awesome Ruta, #4 Papa Yo, #2 Empire Builder
Horse Comments:
#9 Carolo Rapido (9-2) was claimed six times since April 2025. Norm Casse is his new trainer and Tyler Gaffalione hops aboard the patient runner. He is 3-for-6 with a runner-up finish at CD and he enters in good form. He stalked and scored in a $50k dirt route at KEE April 19, and he rallied for the place in a local $62.5k route May 14. He has stuck twice at this distance.
#7 Clooney (3-1) is a California transplant now under the care of Greg Foley. He won his last two starts at SA and should get pace to chase. Irad Ortiz, Jr. takes the call and he breezed a half-mile at CD for this May 8.
#1 Awesome Ruta (2-1) won his last four starts. He owns early-pressing versatility and exits a local flat mile win. He stretches back out and drilled a half-mile bullet in the slop at KEE May 21. Jose Ortiz was aboard for his last three wins.
#4 Papa Yo (8-1) ships in from OP and he is 4-for-6 at CD and 2-for-3 with a show finish at 9f. Luis Saez is his new rider and he will probably be forwardly placed.
#2 Empire Builder (5-1) exits a romping $16k flat mile score at CD and Robertino Diodoro is his new trainer. He might be the target under Francisco Arrieta.
Wagers:
#9 to win
Exacta 9/1-7
Exacta 1-7/9
Trifecta 7-9/1-2-4-7-9/1-2-4-7-9
May 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
May 1 – On Time Girl ($5.92), Exacta ($47.68)
May 2 – Crude Velocity ($5.14), Exacta ($10.80), Trifecta ($75.64)
$1 Superfecta ($114.30), $1 Super High 5 ($506.74)
May 3 – Zalamo ($14.20)
May 5 – Otter Mischief ($3.80), Exacta ($6.00), Trifecta ($20.20)
May 12 – Dawn At Normandy ($4.00)
May 13 – How About Now ($15.40)
May 14 – Paco the Taco Man ($5.20), Trifecta ($78.00)
May 17 – Ahrens/Thirty Two Chunk Exacta ($13.80), Trifecta ($52.80), Trifecta ($74.80)
May 18 – Strike D’ Oro ($4.20), Exacta ($10.40), Trifecta ($27.00)
May 20 – Certain/Willie Bird Exacta ($16.20)
May 27 – Jes See Me/Revolutionnaire Exacta ($11.20)
*All winning wagers based on $2 payoffs unless noted otherwise.
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