Tipsheet: 2026 Blame Stakes

A fine field of eight will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Churchill Downs main strip in Saturday’s $300,000 Blame S. (G3), one of six graded tilts on the excellent Stephen Foster Preview Day card.

Blame Stakes Picks

• #3 Hit Show
• #2 Hall of Fame
• #8 Vibe

Blame Stakes Wagers

• $30 win #3 Hit Show
• $1 superfecta 3 with 2,8 with 2,4,5,8 with all

Blame Stakes Contenders

#1 RATTLE N ROLL: $3.9 million earner didn’t fire in the Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland in his return from the desert last time, but the Connect colt can be very dangerous on his best day and gets a look from the rail. The Kenny McPeek pupil has run some big races on the course and will be rallying from off the pace beneath Flavien Prat. 

#2 HALL OF FAME: Upset contender was outrun to some extent in the deep Churchill Downs (G1) at seven-eighths in his 2026 debut and will improve in this contest. The Steve Asmussen pupil is a Grade 3 winner who ran well against some serious horses in 2025, and the son of Gun Runner is not without a chance on Saturday with Jose Ortiz on board. 

#3 HIT SHOW: Class of the cast and top pick was a decent fifth in an attempt at defending his crown in the Dubai World Cup (G1), most recently for Brad Cox. The gray son of Candy Ride has banked in excess of $9.4 million in his lifetime and was a big second in the Clark (G2) in his most recent run in Louisville, too. Irad will have the gray stalking the action to the top of the lane. 

#4 CAPITAL IDEA: Exotics contender from the Bill Mott shedrow ran evenly in the Knicks Go S. here on Derby Day, which followed an excellent second in the Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The Classic Empire gelding has been consistently good since joining this outfit in 2025 and could surely make the frame with his best under Junior Alvarado. 

#5 WHO DEY: Talented Ohio-bred has performed well on the course in his lifetime and had a nice prep for the tilt with a closing third in a swiftly run allowance race locally on May 2. The Tom Drury pupil is possibly better at shorter distances, but he’s a hard-trying gray who could gain a share from off the pace with Brian Hernandez, Jr. aboard. 

#6 ORIGINAL SIN: Calumet color bearer ran off to a strong allowance score at Keeneland in his latest endeavor, and he broke his maiden on this strip in October. The developing son of Curlin will be a factor with some improvement off of his latest effort under the guidance of Tyler Gaffalione. 

#7 LIBERAL ARTS: Arrogate five-year-old does his best work at this venue, evidenced by his 5-3-0-2 local mark. The $120,000 December purchase was outclassed in a deep field in the Oaklawn H. (G2) in his first run for his new connections, and the gray will appreciate the class relief on Saturday while making his second appearance of the season. Reynier Arrieta will be in the stirrups. 

#8 VIBE: Surging sort from the Pletcher barn is three-for-three after a subpar run and impressed when driving home decisively to upend allowance foes on the oval on the Derby undercard. The $3 million yearling buy gives the impression of a colt who will thrive in his first two-turn try in this spot, and his gate speed in a field lacking pace makes him a dangerous commodity, as well. Luis Saez will have the four-year-old forcing the tempo from the outset.