Churchill Downs · Friday, May 22, 2026 · Race 8 of 9

Allowance Optional Claiming

dirt, sloppySix FurlongsPurse $141,0005 ranPost 2026-05-22 16:23:00Final time 1:10.02Pool $300,023

Good for all

Result

FinPPHorseJockey / Trainerstart1/41/2stretchfinishMarginOddsFig
16Harrodsburg
ins,shk free,held well
Luis Saez11111—4.70135B
E1 110 · LP 126
21Thoughtthatcounts
gain 4p1/4,kept at bay
Tyler Gaffalione443222½3.54113B
E1 101 · LP 125
32Verifire
ins,one paced,best rst
Irad Ortiz, Jr.2343342.18111B
E1 107 · LP 123
44Tough Catch
prompted wnnr,faded1/4
Jose Ortiz322449¼3.5996B
E1 109 · LP 111
53Floodlites
trailed 4p, no impact
Gerardo Corrales555559¾2.5080B
E1 100 · LP 116

How the race unfolded (position at each call; hover a line to follow one runner)

12345start1/41/2stretchfinish1Thoughtthatcounts2Verifire4Tough Catch3Floodlites6Harrodsburg

Fractional times

Call 122.71
Call 245.72
Call 357.55
Final1:10.02

Payouts

BetWinning numbersPaidPool
win ($2)6$1.40—
place ($2)6$4.14—
show ($2)6$3.78—
exacta ($2)6-1$49.44$141,927
place ($2)1$4.52—
show ($2)1$2.94—
trifecta ($0.50)6-1-2$48.15$73,999
show ($2)2$3.76—
daily double ($1)10-6$27.98$68,967
Pick 3 ($0.50)7-10-6$280.61$39,563

Chart notes

HARRODSBURG set the pace in the two path as an outer rival prompted into and around the turn, shook free in upper stretch then held sway well. THOUGHTTHATCOUNTS settled along the inside, inched forward in the two to three path around the turn, gained four wide entering the lane, rallied to take aim on the clear leader but was kept at bay through the final furlong. VERIFIRE stalked along the inside then ran on one paced to prove best of the rest. TOUGH CATCH prompted outside of the eventual winner and from the three path, then faded between horses entering the lane. FLOODLITES trailed in the four path and made little impact.