2026 Churchill Downs Stakes: Win, place and trifecta picks from horse racing guru

The Bill Mott-trained Knightsbridge will try to become a Grade 1 winner for the first time when he leaves the starting gate in the 2026 Churchill Downs Stakes on Saturday in Louisville, Ky. A 5-year-old Knightsbridge, has six wins in eight career starts. He also has won four in a row. For Saturday he has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Churchill Downs Stakes odds. Cornucopian (7-2), Disco Time (6-1), Imagination (6-1) and Disruptor (8-1) round out the top four choices in the 2026 Churchill Downs odds. Post time for the Churchill Downs Stakes 2026 is 4:50 p.m. ET.

Before locking in any 2026 Churchill Downs Stakes bets, you NEED to see what longtime horse racing guru Jeff Hochman has to say.

Hochman has shown a profit in 22 of the past 39 Triple Crown races. He nailed Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby at odds of 2-1. More recently, he swept the 2022 Triple Crown, capped off by Mo Donegal's win in the Belmont Stakes. In 2023, he cashed the Preakness with National Treasure.

Hochman delivered exceptional handicapping results during the summer 2025 racing season at two of the country's premier tracks, Saratoga and Del Mar. His combined 65.7% win rate across the two tracks represents elite-level performance that significantly exceeds industry benchmarks for professional handicappers. Join here to see what he's picking for Saturday's Churchill Downs Stakes.

While a slew of horses could hit the board in the 2026 Churchill Downs Stakes, Hochman has studied the field and revealed his picks. 

One surprise: Hochman's top pick is not Knightsbridge, even though he is the 9-5 favorite. Another curveball: Hochman is high on Point Dume, even though he is a 12-1 longshot. "He draws the outside post but enters in the best form of his 31-race career," Hochman says. He is using Point Dume prominently in his wagers.

Moreover, Hochman's top pick is a horse with "raw speed." He also is high on a huge double-digit longshot who is a "progressive sprinter." You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses they are before making any 2026 Churchill Downs Stakes picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Churchill Downs Stakes? Which big double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Hochman constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get Jeff Hochman's 2026 Churchill Downs picks, all from the expert who has nailed Triple Crown races!