Churchill Downs: How to bet the 2025 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes

The first stakes race of the year for two-year-olds in Kentucky is Thursday’s $250,000 Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs.

Theoretically, we could see a 2026 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender emerge from the Kentucky Juvenile. It’s happened before: the race has produced nine Kentucky Derby starters since its inaugural running in 1988, including 1990 Derby runner-up Summer Squall.

This year’s Kentucky Juvenile has drawn an eight-horse field, and morning-line favorite #5 Pinky Finger (8-5) looks like a standout.

Kentucky Juvenile Stakes: wagers

• $1.50 Superfecta: 5 with 2,4,6,7 with 2,4,6,7 with 2,4,6,7 ($36)

Pinky Finger was tons the best when debuting in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on April 7 at Keeneland. Racing over a good track, the Wesley Ward-trained filly led by a minimum of 2 1/2 lengths at every call and ultimately pulled clear to win by 7 1/2 lengths while cruising down the homestretch.

That runaway win earned an 86 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number in the Kentucky Juvenile field by five points. Pinky Finger defeated males in her debut and can do so again on Thursday. Keep in mind, fillies have won the last three editions of the Kentucky Juvenile.

Ward has also entered #7 Double Talker (2-1), a 3 1/2-length debut winner dashing 4 1/2 furlongs on April 10 at Keeneland, and #4 Diblasi (12-1), runner-up in a similar contest on April 13. These geldings respectively own Brisnet Speed ratings of 76 and 79, two of the better numbers in the Kentucky Juvenile field.

But two other horses have strong chances to challenge. #6 Monster (3-1) endured a troubled start and ran into traffic when finishing fourth to Pinky Finger in his debut. He’s adding blinkers for trainer Jose D’Angelo (an 18% winner with second-time starters) and is eligible to improve sharply with a clean trip.

Meanwhile, #2 Maximus Prime (15-1) closed from eighth place to finish second in his April 18 debut, sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland. The son of juvenile graded stakes winner Maximus Mischief earned an 81 Brisnet Speed rating, the second-highest number in the Kentucky Juvenile field.

Boxing these four underneath Pinky Finger in the superfecta should give us every chance to cash a winning wager.

Good luck!

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