Churchill Downs Picks: Dogwood Stakes (09/20/2025)

Churchill Downs Picks

The racing action from Churchill Downs on Saturday features the Dogwood Stakes presented by Resolute Racing. @HandicappingT3 has all the Churchill Downs picks for the entire card!

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Churchill Downs Full Card Analysis

Churchill Downs Picks: Dogwood Stakes (09/20/2025)

Churchill Downs Picks: Dogwood Stakes (09/20/2025)

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Churchill Downs Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:45 PM ET; Maiden Claiming $67k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

  • #4 BEACH OF DREAMS (7-2): Prime Win Player. Looks good based on the 71 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Barn has been solid.
  • #2 I’M A LITTLE CRAZY (8-1): Contender. Potentially cycling to a top performance. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #6 LADY UPSTART (3-1): Contender. Should step forward from the first start. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race.
  • #5 HIT PARADE (5-2): Underneath. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Speed figs are a bit slow, but not completely hopeless against the top of the field.

Selections: 4 – 2 – 6 – 5

The Plays

Win: #4 at 3-1

Exacta: 4/ 2,6

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 1:16 PM ET; Claiming $57k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

  • #4 FIRST BID (5-2): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #1 BRAVE BLEND (2-1): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Should take a liking to the race shape.
  • #2 BIG SALT LICK (7-2): Contender. This one’s a fighter in the late stages.
  • #5 FLYIN RYAN (5-1): Contender. Beschizza and Jarvis team up on this one. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 2 – 5

The Plays

Win: #4 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 4,1

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:46 PM ET; Starter Allowance $62k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #4 ROSE ALABAMA (2-1): Prime Win Player. Proven competitor at this configuration. Shouldn’t have trouble getting the distance.
  • #5 CATCHYALATER (15-1): Fringe Contender. Looks to get a bit easier group here. Gutierrez and Lovell team up on this one.
  • #3 VIRAL PLANE LADY (6-1): Fringe Contender. Speed figs match up nicely. Could wear these ones down late.
  • #2 MEZCALIFORNIA (5-2): Fringe Contender. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 3 – 2

The Plays

Win: #4 at 3-2

Exacta: 4/ 2,3

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 2:18 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $134k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

  • #1 KAVOD (2-1): Prime Win Player. Looks good based on the 102 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Fits well with this group.
  • #4 DEER DISTRICT (5-2): Contender. Should still be running strong in the closing stages. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #2 TRACK MATE (3-1): Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Hard to argue with the recent races.
  • #7 LEGALIZE (6-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 2 – 7

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-2

Exacta: 1/ 4,2

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:49 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 1 M Turf; Field of 15 runners.

  • #5 SECRETLY DELIGHTED (3-1): Top pick. Barn has been solid. Race may setup for this runner.
  • #4 BOHEMIAN (7-2): Major Player. Trainer is having a great meet. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
  • #1 STRADA DEL SOGNO (6-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Not likely to be short in the stretch.
  • #6 R BEE GEE (15-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 1 – 6

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-2

Exacta: 5/ 4,1

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 3:21 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $134k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #6 IMPULSE BUY (7-2): Top pick. Shouldn’t have trouble getting the distance. Proven competitor at this configuration.
  • #3 STILETTOS (5-2): Major Player. Running well of late. Seems to be up against the right competition.
  • #1 HOLLYGROVE (6-1): Contender. Could wear these ones down late. May be able find the right setup.
  • #2 MILA ROSE (8-1): Contender. Recent races are solid. Expect this one to be able to carry the distance.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 1 – 2

The Plays

Win: #6 at 5-2

Exacta: 6/ 3,1

Pick 3 (races 6-8): #6, 3 with #3,5,2,4 with #1

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:54 PM ET; Harrods Creek Stakes $300k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

  • #3 JIMMY’S DAILYS (7-2): Top pick. Races competitive with the top contenders. Fits well with this group.
  • #5 SMOKEN WICKED (8-5): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Trainer is having a great meet.
  • #2 SEMPER PRIMUS (4-1): Major Player. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
  • #4 U DEVIL YOU (6-1): Major Player. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 2 – 4

The Plays

Win: #3 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 3,5,2

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 4:26 PM ET; Seneca Overnight Stakes $175k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

Best Bet of the Card

  • #1 IMMERSIVE (6-5): Best bet of the card. Proven competitor at this configuration. Stamina to outlast the competition. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #7 QUICKICK (5-2): Contender. Hernandez and Amoss team up on this one.
  • #4 DECADENT (8-1): Fringe Contender. Barn has been sending out runners. Esquivel and Mcpeek team up on this one.
  • #6 FLASH WEAR (12-1): Fringe Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 1 – 7 – 4 – 6

The Plays

Win: #1 at 1-1

Exacta: 1/ 7,4

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:58 PM ET; Dogwood Stakes presented by Resolute Racing $300k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #1 ECHO SOUND (9-5): Top pick. Geroux and Arnold team up on this one. Barn has been solid.
  • #4 RAGTIME (2-1): Major Player. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
  • #7 DELIGHTFUL CLAIRE (3-1): Major Player. Speed figs match up nicely. Could wear these ones down late.
  • #5 STRONG STATE (15-1): Fringe Contender. Competitive enough in recent efforts. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 7 – 5

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 1,4,7

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 5:29 PM ET; Bourbon Flight Stakes $300k; 1 3/16 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #7 ADMIRAL DENNIS (2-1): Top pick. Looks good based on the 104 speed rating which is among the top in the group.
  • #5 CHUNK OF GOLD (8-5): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Good race flow for this runner.
  • #4 HYPNUS (8-1): Contender. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Has experience at this level.
  • #2 BROTHA KENY (6-1): Fringe Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.

Selections: 7 – 5 – 4 – 2

The Plays

Win: #7 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 7,5

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 6:01 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 1 M Turf; Field of 15 runners.

  • #15 SNEAKILY (5-2): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Favorable class relief in this spot.
  • #11 IMMINENT RISK (5-2): Major Player. This filly debuts at low odds. Backside buzz? Speed figures match this group well.
  • #6 NONCONSECUTIVETRMS (3-1): Contender. Should find today’s group a bit softer than the last race. Not likely to be short in the stretch.
  • #13 VANITY (4-1): Fringe Contender. Trainer’s horses have been running. Ortiz puts this one in with a chance.

Selections: 15 – 11 – 6 – 13

The Plays

Win: #15 at 5-2

Exacta Box: 15,11

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