Churchill Downs Picks: Chicago Stakes Analysis (6/20/2026)

Chris Adams

Written by: Chris Adams

Published: Sat Jun 20, 2026, 9:00 am ET

Read Time: 7 minutes

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The racing action from Churchill Downs on Saturday features the Chicago Stakes. @HandicappingT3 has all the Churchill Downs picks for the entire card!

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Churchill Downs Full Card Analysis

Churchill Downs Picks: Chicago Stakes Analysis (6/20/2026)

Churchill Downs Picks: Chicago Stakes Analysis (6/20/2026)

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 6:00 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $134k; 5 1/2 F Turf; Field of 9 runners.

  • #4 LET MY PEOPLE GO (5-1): Top Pick. Solid closing kick. Stamina to outlast the competition.
  • #7 EAKLY (8-1): Major Player. Running well of late. Seems to be up against the right competition.
  • #1 MURDOCK (7-2): Major Player. Could wear these ones down late.
  • #2 ROSE RULER (9-2): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 4 – 7 – 1 – 2

The Plays

Win: #4 at 4-1

Exacta: 4 / 7,1,2

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 6:30 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 5 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #3 SUBLIMINAL (5-2): Prime Win Player. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
  • #6 SHINOBU (10-1): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
  • #5 STRESS RELIEF (6-1): Fringe Contender. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #4 RED COATS COMING (10-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 3 – 6 – 5 – 4

The Plays

Win: #3 at 2-1

Exacta: 3 / 6,5,4

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 7:02 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $92k; 7 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

  • #2 SISTER JEAN (5-2): Prime Win Player. Top connections on the circuit with Santana and Beckman. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #3 MUSKOKA KATT (6-1): Contender. Good race flow for this runner. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #9 HALFWAY TO OMAHA (8-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
  • #4 PASSIONFRUIT (4-1): Contender. Trainer's horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 9 – 4

The Plays

Win: #2 at 2-1

Exacta: 2 / 3,9,4

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 7:32 PM ET; Claiming $62k; 1 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.

  • #3 THE TOWN (4-1): Top Pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Races that could beat these.
  • #11 KICKING CLEAR (3-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #14 IRISH GENT (7-2): Major Player. Likely to maintain its stamina reserves for a strong finish. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #6 GALLIC CHARM (8-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Solid turn of foot.

Selections: 3 – 11 – 14 – 6

The Plays

Win: #3 at 3-1

Exacta: 3 / 11,6

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 8:05 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $92k; 5 F Dirt; Field of 15 runners.

  • #1 BRIDE (12-1): Top Pick. Favorable class relief in this spot. Barn has been solid.
  • #4 SIDE QUEST (3-1): Major Player. Looks to get a bit easier group here.
  • #13 MANUKA HONEY (5-2): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #9 DR RILEY (12-1): Underneath. Trainer's horses have been running. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 13 – 9

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-1

Exacta: 1 / 4,13,9

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 8:39 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $69k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.

  • #2 TIMAYYYY (8-1): Top Pick. Barn has been solid. Solid closing kick.
  • #8 ARABIAN POWER (9-2): Major Player. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Cox. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #4 MASTER SOMMELIER (4-1): Major Player. Barn has been sending out runners. Speed figs match up nicely.
  • #1 TURBO LAUNCH (10-1): Contender. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 2 – 8 – 4 – 1

The Plays

Win: #2 at 5-1

Exacta: 2 / 8,4,1

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 9:12 PM ET; Allowance $127k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 10 runners.

  • #3 MOONLIGHT DASH (3-1): Top Pick. Should be able to work out a trip.
  • #6 GOLDEN IRISH (6-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Likely to get forward position.
  • #2 COLONIAL ROSE (9-2): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #5 FRENCH BLUE (7-2): Major Player. Recent races are solid.

Selections: 3 – 6 – 2 – 5

The Plays

Win: #3 at 5-2

Exacta: 3 / 6,2,5

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 9:44 PM ET; Claiming $82k; 1 M Turf; Field of 16 runners.

  • #14 MOUNT HOREB (3-1): Prime Win Player. Love the heart this one shows in a fight. Shouldn't have trouble getting the distance.
  • #6 WARLANDER (9-2): Contender. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #15 ROCKY JOY (6-1): Contender. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Has been running well enough recently.
  • #13 ABBI FEDE (5-2): Contender. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 14 – 6 – 15 – 13

The Plays

Win: #14 at 5-2

Pick 3 (Races 8-10): #14,6 with #2 with #12,6

Exacta: 14 / 6,15

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 10:14 PM ET; Chicago Stakes $300k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #2 ECLATANT (6-5): Best Bet of the Card. Barn has been solid. Proven competitor at this configuration. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #5 USHA (3-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Should take a liking to the race shape.
  • #8 FOIE GRAS (6-1): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Previous success in similar race types.
  • #3 LOTSANDLOTSOFCANDY (5-1): Contender. Could be grinding down the competition late.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 8 – 3

The Plays

Win: #2 at 1-1

Exacta: 2 / 5,8

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 10:43 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $57k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #12 QUEEN MCKINZIE (10-1): Longshot Play of the Day. Race sets up perfectly. Favorable class relief in this spot. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #6 DEBBY'S GAL (8-1): Major Player. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
  • #4 LOCKDOWNYOURTOWN (4-1): Contender. Should find today's group a bit softer than the last race. Barn has been sending out runners.
  • #9 SHE'S GOTTA GO (6-1): Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge. Bloodlines fit this race.

Selections: 12 – 6 – 4 – 9

The Plays

Win: #12 at 5-1

Trifecta: 12 / 6,4 / 6,4,9

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Chris Adams
Chris Adams

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.

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