The Walker
$225.00 – For Three Year Olds
5 1/2 Furlongs – Turf
Churchill Downs – May 9, 2026

The Walker has struggled- somewhat for an identity. It debuted in 2015 with a modest purse of $100.00 and it was originally run at six furlongs on the dirt. It maintained that structure for the first three years and then shifted to six furlongs on the turf for one year. It cut back to five furlongs on the grass for two years before moving to its current five and a half furlongs. The purse level has also been a moving target going from the original $100.00 up to as much as $300.00 for the last two years. The purse has reverted back to the 2023 level of $225.00 for the 2026 running and has drawn a field of nine.

1. Hobo (D J C Racing Stables/E. Esquivel) Became a stakes winner when he closed out his two year old season by taking The Notebook for NY breds last November. He has only been seen once since then, finishing seventh of ten in an overnight allowance at Balterra Park where he ran for the first time with both Lasix and Bute. At press time he is listed to run with the same medications. Needs to regain his old form. Works offer some promise. 

2. Credit Criminal (Aer Stables/Mario Gutierrez) Half-brother to the acclaimed Credit Crime became a stakes winner in his last start when he won the Shear Mile Stakes on the grass at Santa Anita. That was his turf debut, and we know how good his sister is. He posted his career best 96 SRF speed figure in that last race. 

3. Evil Contained (Greyhound/J.A. Torres) The gelding was claimed for $5.00 last July and he has been in the money in six straight races for his new barn since then including wins in his first three races bearing the Greyhound colors. He finished second to Credit Criminal in the Shear Mile last month and looks to turn the tables. 

4. Everything Zen (South Shore Stables/G. Corrales) He has won four of his seven lifetime races and has never finished off the board. Ventures into stakes company for the first time but has not put a food wrong yet and has to be considered a threat. 

5. Red Party (T Boy Racing/R. Bejarano) Multiple stakes winner including having won the Palisades Turf Sprint at Keeneland a few weeks ago. In addition to that win he also hit the wire first in his two previous races. Comes back quickly which would indicate the barn thinks he is sharp right now. 

6. Ginger Beer (La Canada Racehorses/J. McKee) All three of his career wins have been on the grass so that is obviously his preferred service. Ran a solid third in his stakes debut in March in the Texas Glitter. Has been given some time since that race and his works show him maintaining form and the connections keep him in stakes company which should encourage potential backers. 

7. Superior Palace (Mb Stables/B. Curtis) After finishing close in a couple of previous stakes efforts he became a stakes winner when he won The Sophomore Turf (creative bonus to the naming committee!) in his last race at Tampa Bay Downs. He beat last year’s BC Juvenile Turf winner Britslastempire in that race so appears to have found his place on the grass. 

8. Wolfman Jack (Spankys Barn/J.L. Ortiz) Has only ventured to the starting gate twice thus far. He made his career debut in January and failed to impress finishing tenth but came back a month later to take a MSW going long on the grass at Santa Anita. Gets an instant class test in his followup. Cuts back from a mile to five furlongs for his stakes debut. 

9. Divide Your Fears (Mb Stables/L. Detorri) He is a G1 winner by virtue of his victory in the G1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine last September. Followed up a fifth in the BC Juvenile Turf with a fifth place finish in a Fairgrounds allowance to close out his two year old season. Began 2026 well enough by winning an optional claimer for CA breds at Santa Anita and then disappointed in the G3 Transylvania. He moves from turf routes to this sprint in hopes it will ignite a spark. 

The five-furlong distance might not be ideal for him, but Credit Criminal will be the pick followed by his Shear Mile runner-up rival Evil Contained. With most of the field in good form and coming off of sharp efforts look for Red Party and Superior Palace to round out the top four.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded