Churchill Downs Hotlist - June 26

Today’s Churchill Downs Hot List races to watch
Friday, June 26, 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.

2nd race – (7) Midnight Cocktail debuts for Asmussen and should be tough to catch in this spot. (5) Bahama Mischief could cause some trouble in this field. (3) Fortuna Adiuvat could be ready for a sharp effort in her debut for Lukas. (6) Fabricate put in a solid work for this and should not be ignored. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 5-7. Exactas 5-7 over 3-6 and 3-6 over 5-7.

5th race - (1) Mau Mau (D) dropped from 9-2 to 7-2 but was forced to rally six wide and had no impact on the outcome. Can take a step forward from the rail while switching to turf. (3) Highland Boss should appreciate the stretchout to two turns. (7) Chocolate Bar will be closing quickly at the end. (9) Freedom’s Flight usually grabs a piece of the purse. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-7-9.

7th race - (8) Dinar (C) was bet down from 4-1 to 5-2 and posted a sharp win. Deserves top billing here. (1) Intrepid Heart was gelded since his last start and merits attention. (10) Jungle Warfare should be dangerous in his first start for Diodoro. (5) Chess Chief will get some welcomed class relief here. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-5-8-10. Doubles: 1-5-8-10 with 3-8-9-10. Pick 3: 1-5-8-10 with 3-8-9-10 with 5-6-10-12.

8th race - (9) Mr Dumas was a sharp winner of his last start and can make it two in a row here. (3) Mr. Misunderstood made a wide move and flattened out. Should work out a better trip here. (10) Snapper Sinclair has made his last nine starts in stakes and won an allowance race before that. Is nicely placed here. (8) Made You Look had some traffic issues last time and merits consideration here. Betting strategy: 9 to win, place. Exacta box: 3-8-9-10. Doubles: 3-8-9-10 with 5-6-10-12.

9th race – (12) Master of Domain was a useful fourth in a MSW test on synthetics in March. Recent works on dirt indicates he should be able to handle claimers here. (10) Teenage Kicks broke her maiden last time but was disqualified for drifting in. Will be dangerous if she maintains a straight course. (6) Katie’s Belle makes her first start since August but has been working quickly and adds Lasix for her comeback. (5) Beach House could be a factor with this group. Betting strategy: 12 to win, place. Exacta box: 5-6-10-12.