Churchill Downs Picks: Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes (9/12/2026)

Chris Adams

Written by: Chris Adams

Published: Sat Sep 12, 2026, 7:00 am ET

Read Time: 8 minutes

Entrance of Churchill Downs Racetrack

horses

Churchill Downs picks are here for a 11-race card topped by the Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes. T3 Handicapping has all of  your Churchill Downs picks and analysis for every race on the September 12, 2026 program, including a best bet, a live longshot and suggested wagers for each race.

Be sure to check out all the races and odds provided at the best horse racing betting sites. Use promo code BNBOL55 at signup to get a 55% first deposit match when you bet with BetOnline!

Churchill Downs Full Card Analysis

Churchill Downs Picks: Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes (9/12/2026)

Churchill Downs Picks: Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes (9/12/2026)

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 11:45 AM CT; Starter Allowance $13k; 1 1/8 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #8 UNLOAD (6-1): Major Player. Proven competitor at this configuration. Consistently runs above the level it faces.
  • #1 EXCEL CALCULATOR (4-1): Major Player. Meaningful class relief today. Top connections on the circuit with Ortiz and Sharp.
  • #2 FOUNTAIN RUN (5-2): Contender. Drops to a level that should suit. Numbers grade out better than the raw figures suggest.
  • #3 MILITARY ROAD (6-1): Contender. Record over this surface and trip stands out. Barn has been solid with this exact move.

Selections: 8 – 1 – 2 – 3

The Plays

Win: #8 at 5-2

Exacta: 8 / 1,2

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 12:16 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners.

  • #4 MAGIC WOMAN (12-1): Major Player. Improving with each start. Outruns the class par more often than not.
  • #5 KAYKAY (3-1): Major Player. Figures fit comfortably at this level. Baffert and Prat team up, and that combination wins its share.
  • #1 DRAW (4-1): Contender. The work tab reads like a horse ready to run, not one being educated. Bred to be effective on this surface right away.
  • #8 EVER AFTER (15-1): Contender. Has been drilling steadily into the debut. Serious work pattern behind this first start.

Selections: 4 – 5 – 1 – 8

The Plays

Win: #4 at 5-2

Exacta: 4 / 5,1

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 12:46 PM CT; Maiden Claiming $50k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 13 runners.

Longshot Play of the Day

  • #6 RED RAINBOW (12-1): Longshot Play of the Day. Pedigree says the surface switch is worth a try. The 5 speed rating is among the top in the group. Bet today's live longshot on MyBookie.
  • #9 PATRON SILVER (7-2): Major Player. Has handled this exact setup before. Speed numbers are right there with the top group.
  • #13 UNION ROSE (6-1): Contender. Course and distance record is the strongest here. Runs better than the bare figures indicate once class is factored in.
  • #7 SUMMER DATE (9-2): Contender. Figures have climbed in three straight. Recent form lines measure up to these.

Selections: 6 – 9 – 13 – 7

The Plays

Win: #6 at 7-2

Trifecta: 6,9 / 6,9,13,7 / 6,9,13,7

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:18 PM CT; Allowance $127k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners.

  • #4 MUMDOGGIE (4-1): Major Player. Distance change should suit. Has been exceeding what the level demands.
  • #11 SEMPER PRIMUS (8-1): Major Player. Faced tougher last time and gets relief here. Has the numbers to be involved late.
  • #10 CIRCLE TAP (5-1): Contender. Clearly moving forward off the last two. Best late pace figure in the field at 101.
  • #5 SEND CASH (9-2): Contender. Ran at this level last out. Quick enough to matter in the closing stages.

Selections: 4 – 11 – 10 – 5

The Plays

Win: #4 at 5-2

Trifecta: 4,11 / 4,11,10,5 / 4,11,10,5

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 1:49 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 15 runners.

  • #3 COACH POPE (1-1): Major Player. A 89 is plenty fast for this spot. Form lines read well against this group.
  • #11 SIGNATURE (12-1): Major Player. The morning line of works shows a horse wound up for the opener. Enough recorded works to trust the fitness.
  • #12 FULLBACK (20-1): Contender. The page says this one should handle the trip first time out. Pedigree ratings support an immediate run.
  • #1 MONNIE (10-1): Contender. Competitive in the same class recently. Numbers are competitive with anything else entered.

Selections: 3 – 11 – 12 – 1

The Plays

Win: #3 at 5-2

Trifecta: 3,11 / 3,11,12,1 / 3,11,12,1

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:21 PM CT; Open Mind Stakes $300k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 7 runners.

  • #1 USHA (5-2): Major Player. Has been facing this kind and holding its own. Closing kick is the strongest of this group.
  • #3 LOOK FORWARD (3-1): Major Player. Knows the surface and the trip, which counts for plenty. Strong connections with McCarthy sending out Hernandez.
  • #6 ASTERNIA (12-1): Contender. No class question at this level.
  • #2 CASH CALL (7-2): Contender. Belongs on class and should be in the mix. Beaten only 6.3 lengths last out against similar.

Selections: 1 – 3 – 6 – 2

The Plays

Win: #1 at 5-2

Trifecta: 1,3 / 1,3,6,2 / 1,3,6,2

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 2:54 PM CT; Grade 1 Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes $300k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 8 runners.

  • #5 BUILT (6-5): Major Player. Has done its best running under these exact conditions. Catalano has the barn rolling and keeps Prat aboard.
  • #4 CAT ON TIME (9-2): Major Player. On a steady upward trend. Finishes better than anything else entered.
  • #7 DREAMINBLUE (8-1): Contender. Has been knocking on the door in similar spots.
  • #1 HARRODSBURG (3-1): Contender. Works suggest readiness off the layoff. Training pattern points to a live return.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 7 – 1

The Plays

Win: #5 at 5-2

Trifecta: 5,4 / 5,4,7,1 / 5,4,7,1

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:26 PM CT; Grade 3 Pocahontas Stakes $300k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #2 MANUKA HONEY (9-5): Major Player. Consistent enough to be a factor at this level.
  • #7 MISS ANNA (7-2): Major Player. Has been beating the par for the class by 4 points.
  • #1 PIERETTE (9-2): Contender. Much better than the last line indicates.
  • #4 SWEET KATHLEEN (30-1): Contender. Family suggests precocity at this distance.

Selections: 2 – 7 – 1 – 4

The Plays

Win: #2 at 5-2

Trifecta: 2,7 / 2,7,1,4 / 2,7,1,4

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 3:58 PM CT; Grade 2 Locust Grove Stakes $400k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 6 runners.

  • #1 SPLENDORA (3-5): Best Bet of the Card. Proven competitor at this configuration. A 113 late-pace number leads the field. Bet today's best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
  • #4 IMMERSIVE (3-1): Major Player. Record over this surface and trip stands out.
  • #3 YES IT TIZ (5-1): Contender. Improving with each start.
  • #2 SIMPLY JOKING (6-1): Contender. Figures fit comfortably at this level. Needs to bounce back from a dull effort.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 3 – 2

The Plays

Win: #1 at 8-5

Pick 3 (Races 9-11): #1 with #7,2,4 with #2,3,8

Exacta: 1 / 4,3

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 4:29 PM CT; Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes $300k; 1 M Dirt; Field of 9 runners.

  • #7 SALAHUDIN (8-5): Major Player. Consistently runs above the level it faces. The Baffert barn strikes at a healthy clip in this spot.
  • #2 BLESSED FLYER (9-2): Major Player. Freshened up and the works have been sharp.
  • #4 ADMIRAL'S ORDER (15-1): Contender. Bred to handle the added ground.
  • #8 HE IS NO LIE (5-1): Contender. Ran into trouble last out and deserves another look.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 4 – 8

The Plays

Win: #7 at 5-2

Trifecta: 7,2 / 7,2,4,8 / 7,2,4,8

Churchill Downs Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:01 PM CT; Maiden Special Weight $120k; 6 1/2 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners.

  • #2 POISE (5-2): Major Player. The 85 speed rating is among the top in the group. Ortiz takes the mount for Asmussen, which is worth noting.
  • #3 SHEWONTBUDGE (6-1): Major Player. Numbers grade out better than the raw figures suggest.
  • #8 JILL'S FOLLY'S (4-1): Contender. The barn wins with first-time starters at a rate that demands respect.
  • #4 SWEET REWARD (5-1): Contender. Figures have climbed in three straight. Connections are as strong as any in the race.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 8 – 4

The Plays

Win: #2 at 5-2

Trifecta: 2,3 / 2,3,8,4 / 2,3,8,4

Betting News Horse Racing Coverage

Don't miss all the horse racing action covered by Betting News each and every week. Coverage includes free handicapping tools, comprehensive guides, and in-depth analysis of the week's biggest cards. Check out our full card analysis for this week's upcoming big races.

Monday Analysis

  • Saratoga Picks featuring the Funny Cide Stakes on Dirt
  • Del Mar Picks featuring the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes on Turf

Saturday Analysis

Chris Adams
Chris Adams

Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer.

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.