Race 10 at Churchill Downs | Saturday, May 9 | Post Time 5:28 PM Eastern

William Walker Stakes | Purse $225,000 | Five and one-half furlongs on Turf | Three Year Olds

Top Win Contenders: Sandal’s Song (4), Outfielder (8)

Other contenders: Reb Five (1)

For second in exactas and in third on trifectas: Throckmorton (2) 

Although Reb Five (1) won the Palisades Stakes three weeks ago at Keeneland, the race was pace-heavy with the leader setting an almost unheard-of first fraction (:21 flat). Reb Five was ninth at the half and then flew home to beat Throckmorton (2), who had led late at the eighth pole. There should be no ridiculous early fractions in this race. Better still, only one horse has a chance to lead at the start, Outfielder (8). Reb Five is a contender but his kick may not be as good as many bettors believe.

While Outfielder will have the front to himself, Sandal’s Song (4) will be the horse in the catbird seat. Sandal’s Song won his career debut one year ago this weekend in the Royal Palms Juvenile Stakes. The colt got a great trip in third after the half, then made the lead and won easily. He also hopped at the break and got away eighth, but showed his ability. That win earned the horse a shot to run in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Ascot, where he finished third in a field of 15. The winner of that race was Charles Darwin, who won his third race, then just won his 2026 bow. Sandal’s Song was off a long layoff when he ran in the Palisades, where he started 10th of 11 and finished sixth. I’m not concerned about this effort because he had been off for 10 months. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rode Sandal’s Song the first time in his last race and is aboard again. Now that Sandal’s Song has his comeback then he should run much better, and I expect him to pass Outfielder to win.

Still, with Outfielder (8) having the lead all to himself, if Sandal’s Song can’t rein him in, Outfielder can win his fourth in this sprint. He won the Animal Kingdom Stakes on March 21 after a five-month layoff. Outfielder won his career debut last May at Churchill Downs by six lengths, and he won his recent race easily by four lengths. John Velazquez has won all three times he has ridden this colt, and the horse should run even better off the layoff.

Throckmorton (2) has never finished third in six races. His last two races were excellent with narrow second-place finishes by a head and a neck, including the Palisades. He also won the Awad Stakes in his first turf sprint effort last November. However, he is getting jockey Brian Hernandez, who has not won a turf sprint stakes in recent years, with 34 starts and just three seconds. This is Hernandez's first ride on Throckmorton, unlike Sandal’s Song, Reb Five, and Outfielder, who are familiar with their riders.

Win bets: Sandal’s Song (4) at odds of 2 to 1 or higher.

Outfielder (8) at odds of 5 to 2 or higher

Exactas:

Box Sandal’s Song (4) and Outfielder (8)

Exactas: Sandal’s Song (4) and Outfielder (8) over Sandal’s Song (4) and Outfielder (8), Reb Five (1) and Throckmorton (2)

Trifectas: Sandal’s Song (4) and Outfielder (8) over Sandal’s Song (4) and Outfielder (8) over Reb Five (1) and Throckmorton (2)