Churchill Downs Hotlist - October 29

Today’s Churchill Downs Hot List races to watch
Thursday, Oct. 29, 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 – (1) Fra Mauro (B) staged a nice rally to finish second last time and should be able to handle this group. (2) Substantial looks like the one to catch in a small field. (4) Beaver Hat should be a main threat.  Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exactas: 1 over 2-4 and 2-4 over 1.

4th race - (8) Above Board has plenty of early speed and should lead from start to finish. (4) Overzealous switches to Lanerie and may be closer today. (2) Campioni is dangerous off the Barkley claim. (6) Quicksilver could sneak into the exotics. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-4-6-8.

6th race – (1) Attachment Rate hasn’t raced since the Kentucky Derby, where he was no factor, but he should be hard to handle here in an allowance test. (7) One Nation had an awkward start last time and can rebound here. (5) Alex Joon was dismal after a nine-month layoff but has been working out quickly since then. (6) Glory Road broke through the starting gate last time and deserves a second chance against this group. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-5-6-7. Doubles: 1-5-6-7 with 1-2-6-8.

7th race – (2) Cuzzywuzzy might be well-suited by a sprint after racing at a mile in her previous starts. (1) Train to Artemus will be motoring on the front end and may not look back from the rail. (8) Risky Reward returns to turf and should turn in an improved effort. (6) Impeach Me may be a factor in her career debut. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-6-8.

9th race – (3) Sharecropper returns to turf for his first start for Maker and a strong effort should be expected. (5) Bluegrass Parkway also gets back on turf and will welcome the surface change. (7) Fortuity has enough of a late kick to figure in the exotics. (2) Prefect should be a threat in the final furlong. Betting strategy: 3 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-5-7.