Tipsheet: 2026 Matt Winn Stakes

A strong field of eight will travel 1 1/16 miles on Churchill Downs' main track in Sunday’s $500,000 Matt Winn (G3).

Matt Winn Stakes Picks

• #7 Further Ado
• #2 Potente
• #5 Corona de Oro
• #6 Taptastic

Matt Winn Stakes Wagers

• $30 to win on #7 Further Ado
• $1 Superfecta: 7 with 2,5 with 1,2,5,6 with ALL ($30)
  Total: $60

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Matt Winn Stakes Contenders

#1 STOP THE CAR (8-1): Brendan Walsh pupil rallied from well off the pace to register a third-place result in the Pat Day Mile (G2) in his latest showing. The bay son of Maximum Security has shown some improvement with each run in 2026 and rates an exotics chance late after saving ground to the top of the lane early in the tilt. Tyler Gaffalione has the call. 

#2 POTENTE (7-2): Baffert pupil ran mostly evenly in the Kentucky Derby (G1) last time and fits better in this offering. The $2.4 million son of Into Mischief is still very lightly raced with four runs to his credit and will improve on Sunday. The Kentucky-bred colt has presence from the gate and will never be far back with Florent Geroux taking the reins. 

#3 PAVLOVIAN (10-1): The gray son of Pavel, who finished a close second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) two back, will make his first run since a try in Louisville and is not impossible with class relief in this spot. Trained by Doug O’Neill, the Sunland Park Derby victor will have Luis Saez aboard and might try to take this field all the way on the front end. 

#4 OUR MONEYMAN (15-1): Two-time stakes hero came home a solid third in a recent allowance race on the grounds and will be making his third run off the shelf, as well. Bret Calhoun pupil has performed well in a pair of recent route races in advance of this, and he could grab a minor share with another step forward beneath Axel Concepcion. 

#5 CORONA DE ORO (12-1): Lexington (G3) third, the colt tired in the lane in the Preakness (G1) last time, but he cuts back in distance and gets some class relief in the feature. Dallas Stewart pupil is a nice middle-distance colt with room to improve, and I expect him to outrun his odds in the tilt with Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the stirrups. 

#6 TAPTASTIC (9-2): Well-bred colt from the Asmussen shedrow was third two back in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and comes in off of an even allowance outing on the strip most recently. The gray son of Tapit has registered a trio of nice morning drills in advance of this event and will be in the mix, turning for home, with a step forward on Sunday. Jose Ortiz will take the reins for the initial time. 

#7 FURTHER ADO (1-1): Blue Grass (G1) romper faltered late in the Run for the Roses as the favorite last time out and landed in a more reasonable spot in this heat. The Brad Cox pupil is a Grade 2 victor on the surface, and the move to 1 1/16 miles figures to benefit the colt, too. The tactical son of Gun Runner will have leading pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. on board. 

#8 STEEL IMPERIUM (30-1): Outsider in the cast will have blinkers removed after trying them in his grassy debut last time, and he will need a lifetime-best performance to make any noise in this endeavor. The gray has never raced on the dirt and will have to overcome the widest post in the tilt. Vincent Cheminaud has the call.