Check out my Thursday (9-10-26) Churchill Downs Race 7 analysis below.
CD 7 (OC-80k/2x, 3&up, 8f dirt) – Post Time 7:57 PM ET
Primary – #2 BOLD STRENGTH
Secondary – #9 First Resort, #4 Master Controller
Horse Comments:
#2 Bold Strength (7-5) fired trifecta shots in 6 of 7 starts. He ran well in both local attempts including an extended sprint win as the favorite June 21, and he graduated at this distance late last year. He dueled with eventual winner Contrary Thinking and was best of the rest in third in a local extended sprint Aug. 14 and runner-up Commuted was a sharp next-out winner. His new rider Flavien Prat is 6-for-14 with Brad Cox, and he might move up in his second start off a short layoff.
#9 First Resort (6-1) finished second in the G2 Saratoga Special and won the local G2 Kentucky Jockey Club in 2024. He missed all of 2025 and dueled and held the show in his much needed turf sprint return as the favorite July 17. He was the chalk again Aug. 8 and he chased and faded to 6th of 7 (beaten 11 lengths) in a dirt route at 1 1/8 miles Aug. 8. He drilled a 5f bullet for this at TP Sept. 4 and he cuts back in distance in his third start off a long layoff.
#4 Master Controller (6-1) set the pace and weakened to 4th of 7 at a mile and an eighth Aug. 8. He won his last two local main track attempts and he should be forwardly placed in his second start off a layoff.
Wagers:
#2 to win
Trifecta key 2/4-9
Trifecta 2/4-9/all
Trifecta 2/all/4-9
Recent 2026 Bettor Bet$ Free Pick Winners
Aug. 28 – Sand Bagger ($3.20)
Aug. 29 – Test Score ($7.20), Trifecta ($313.80)
Aug. 30 – Rabeeba/She’s No Quant Exacta ($14.00), Trifecta ($88.00)
Sept. 3 – Unbinding/Hey Lil Lady/Nikolina Trifecta ($77.60)
Sept. 4 – Daytona Diamond ($3.00), Trifecta ($32.60)
Sept. 5 – Magnificat ($4.80), Quinella ($17.40)
Sept. 7 – Medoro ($8.60), Exacta ($20.40), Trifecta ($182.00)
Sept. 8 – Jesse/Bonafide Exacta ($18.80)
*All winning wagers based on $2 payoffs unless noted otherwise.
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