Churchill Downs Stakes Betting Guide: Strategies, Statistics & Picks (Derby Week)

2024 Churchill Downs Stakes Preview

Inaugurated in 1911 as the Churchill Downs Handicap and now known as the Churchill Downs Stakes is this Grade I race which takes place in May of each year on the same day as the Kentucky Derby, as the race name would suggest, the Churchill Downs racetrack.

The race is open to thoroughbreds who are aged four or older and is contested over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt.

Churchill Downs Stakes Picks

We also have a dedicated Churchill Downs Betting Picks page that will cover this race as well as all of the other races on the day of the race, see which runners the OLBG handicappers are predicting to win this race and the others on the cards. Before placing your wager on the 2024 Churchill Downs Stakes see which other runners today are being backed on the racing predictions page.

Churchill Downs Stakes Content

• Churchill Downs Stakes Past Winners
• Churchill Downs Stakes Trainer Statistics
• Churchill Downs Stakes Jockey Statistics
• 2024 Churchill Downs Stakes Trends
• Churchill Downs Stakes Trend Analysis
• Churchill Downs Stakes Trend Shortlist
• Other Graded races at Churchill Downs Racetrack

Quickest Run Churchill Downs Stakes Renewals

When looking over the past 10 renewals, a time of 1:20.79 was set by Catalina Red in 2016, which is the quickest time over that period, the runner was trained by Jorge Navarro and ridden by Javier Castellano. The slowest winning time was set in 2017 when Limousine Liberal won in a time of 1:23.22, booked to ride was Jose L Ortiz by the trainer Ben Colebrook. Below are the top three quickest-run Churchill Downs Stakes over the last 10 renewals.

1. Catalina Red (1:20.79) in 2016
2. Central Banker (1:21.15) in 2014
3. Codys Wish (1:21.17) in 2023

Churchill Downs Stakes Past Winners

Here are the Churchill Downs Stakes past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the winning time, and the horse that won along with the cloth number, age, sex, the weight of the horse & which starting gate the horse came from. The trainer of the horse at the time of winning the Churchill Downs Stakes as well as the jockey is also displayed along with the moneyline odds the horse was sent off.

Where have the winning runners come from?

Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Churchill Downs Stakes have been based:

• USA: 10 winners with an additional 15 placings from 92 runners
• CAN: 0 winners with an additional 3 placings from 5 runners

Churchill Downs Stakes Trainer Statistics

There are two leading trainers in the Churchill Downs Stakes over the last 10 renewals with both Steven Asmussen & Ben Colebrook who have both won the race 2 times. Steven Asmussen winners have been with Mitole (2019) & Jackies Warrior (2022). Ben Colebrook winners have been with Limousine Liberal (2017) & Limousine Liberal (2018).

Here are the Churchill Downs Stakes trainer statistics over the last 10 renewals for trainers who have entries in the 2024 renewal, those not listed have not had a runner.

Churchill Downs Stakes Jockey Statistics

The leading jockey in the Churchill Downs Stakes over the last 10 renewals is Jose L Ortiz who has won the race 2 times. Those 2 winners came from Limousine Liberal (2017) & Limousine Liberal (2018).

Here are the Churchill Downs Stakes jockey statistics over the last 10 renewals for jockeys who have entries in the 2024 renewal, those not listed have not had a runner.

Churchill Downs Stakes Trend Analysis

How competitive is the Churchill Downs Stakes market?

When looking at the over-rounds for the last 10 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2013 when the race had an over-round of 120%. The race in 2014 was a race that was most in the bookie's favor with an over-round of 123%, whilst on average over the last 10 renewals of the Churchill Downs Stakes, the over-round has been 122%, which means the bookie expects to pay out $100 for every $122 which is bet.

Post Positions of the Churchill Downs Stakes Winners, Places & Shows

Here are the most recent winning draws along with those who placed and showed:

Best Course for a Churchill Downs Stakes Prep Run?

The course which has produced the most winners of the Churchill Downs Stakes is Keeneland, there has been a total number of 4 winners of this race who ran at Keeneland last time out.

Top Performing Stallions in the Churchill Downs Stakes

Looking over the past renewals, these are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Churchill Downs Stakes:

• Speightstown (2 Wins)
• Successful Appeal (2 Wins)

Biggest Priced Winners of the Churchill Downs Stakes & Performance of Favorites

Looking at the winning odds over the last 10 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Catalina Red in 2016, winning for Jorge Navarro at odds of 141/10 under the guidance of Javier Castellano. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 10 renewals there has been a total of 4 winning favorites in the race. Remember to bookmark the best racing handicappers page so you can get easy access to the best OLBG racing handicappers. All figures and trends above, such as the horse's previous runs are based on the information that is available on the racing post.

Churchill Downs Stakes Trend Shortlist

Churchill Downs will host the 2024 renewal of the Churchill Downs Stakes which will be run on Saturday 4th May 2024, below is the field in order of the number of trends passed. The Odds, Trends, and Passed/Failed figures were correct at the time of posting at 8:18 am Tuesday 30th April 2024 (ET), if no odds were available at the time of posting then forecasted odds were used.

Other Graded races at Churchill Downs Racetrack

Here are some other notable races at the Churchill Downs racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.

Races in May (Derby Week)

• Derby City Distaff Stakes
• Kentucky Derby
• Kentucky Oaks
• La Troienne Stakes
• Turf Classic Stakes

Races in November

• Clark Stakes

Churchill Downs Stakes FAQs

Where is the Churchill Downs Stakes run?

The Churchill Downs Stakes is run at the Churchill Downs racetrack each year, you can get Churchill Downs racing predictions all season long as well as for Churchill Downs Stakes.

When is the Churchill Downs Stakes?

The 2024 renewal of the Churchill Downs Stakes will take place at Churchill Downs on Saturday 4th May 2024.

Who won the Churchill Downs Stakes?

The 2023 renewal of the Churchill Downs Stakes was won by the William Mott trained Codys Wish who was ridden by Junior Alvarado in a time of 1:21.17, owned by Godolphin Racing Llc it was sent off at an SP of 8/11. You can view all the recent winners in the Churchill Downs Stakes Past Winners section of the blog.

Who will win the Churchill Downs Stakes?

On the day of the race, use the trends in this blog and then compare them to the OLBG racing handicappers' predictions for the Churchill Downs Stakes, you can do this on the Churchill Downs Picks page which not only will have picks for this race but also picks for Churchill Downs throughout the season. You may also be interested in the Horse Racing Picks page where you can get daily horse racing predictions from all of the US courses.

Who is the top trainer in the Churchill Downs Stakes?

We have joint leading trainers in the Churchill Downs Stakes over the last ten renewals, both with two wins are Steven Asmussen & Ben Colebrook. To see which other trainers have a good record in the race, head over to the Churchill Downs Stakes Trainer Statistics section of the blog.

Who is the top jockey in the Churchill Downs Stakes?

With a total of two winners over the last ten renewals, it is Jose L Ortiz who holds the claim as the leading jockey in the Churchill Downs Stakes. To see which other jockeys have a good record in the race, head over to the Churchill Downs Stakes Jockey Statistics section of the blog.

Do we have trends for the 2024 renewal of the Churchill Downs Stakes?

The simple answer is Yes! We have a total of fifteen trends for the Churchill Downs Stakes which can be found under the Churchill Downs Stakes Trends section.