Churchill Downs Hotlist - June 20

Today’s Churchill Downs Hot List races to watch
Saturday, June 20, 2020

By Bob Ehalt and Matt Shifman

Hot List Key:     

A : A preferred horse to watch                   B: Secondary horse to watch
*C: Went down 2 or more betting notches in the final 3 minutes and finished 1st through 3rd
*D: Went down 2 or more betting notches and finished 4^th or worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1st race – (10) Spelling Bee was a game second in his debut. Moves up off a claim and could be dangerous here. (11) Embellisher will welcome a return to a dirt surface. (12) Ugo may perk up in this spot. (2) Conquistador Show drops to a level where he should be effective. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-10-11-12.

6th race - (2) Spanish Kingdom (C) dropped from 36-1 to 26-1 and then respond with a decisive victory. Takes on stakes rivals here and will be hard to handle if he can duplicate that effort. (7) Kinenos seeks a third straight win and will be a main factor. (6) Field Pass rallied belatedly last time and will be a threat with a better trip. (4) Pixelate should be closing quickly in the final furlong. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-4-6-7.

9th race - (1) Just Howard (A) lost plenty of ground while rallying eight wide and still managed to lose by only a little more than a length. Should be formidable from the rail. (11) Parlor (B) got off to a slow start and then rallied quickly to finish second by a neck in the same race as the top pick. Looks like the one to fear. (10) Hembree (B) rallied seven wide in that same key race and finished seventh. Might move forward off that trip. (7) March to the Arch will be hard to handle off his best try. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-7-10-11. Doubles: 1-7-10-11 with 4-6-9-10. Pick 3: 1-7-10-11 with 4-6-9-10 with 3-4-9-10.

10th race – (6) Savvy closed out 2019 with a solid second-place effort. Seems ready for a winning 2020 debut. (4) Mountain Air is an intriguing firster from Walsh. (9) Ten Flat debuts for Cox and should not be ignored. (10) Yaupon has been training quickly for Asmussen for his first start. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 4-6-9-10. Doubles: 4-6-9-10 with 3-4-9-10.

11th race – (10) Beaver Hat (C) took a huge drop from 9-1 to 9-2 but then weakened in the final furlong. Switching over to turf might trigger a winning trip. (3) Big Dreaming switches barn after finishing second in his debut and should be the one to fear. (4) Distorted Moon was washed off the turf last time and might take a liking to grass this time around. (9) Midnight Jostar will appreciate a return to turf. Betting strategy: 10 to win, place.  Exacta box: 3-4-9-10.