Churchill Downs Hotlist - September 22

Today’s Churchill Downs Hot List races to watch
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022

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 – (5) Goodbetterbest flopped in her debut but may wake up in a claimer. (4) Lucky Phoenix could also respond to a drop into a claimer. (2) Free Spirited fits in well here. (1) Best Seller could be a hit back on dirt. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-4-5.

4th race – (7) War Room debuts for Brisset and seems ready for a big effort. (8) Mayan also appears to have a bright future. (4) Arrogates Spirit is worth a close look here. (6) Mount Kisco may be tough back on dirt. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 4-6-7-8.

6th race – (7) Writeitontheice looks best off the Amoss claim. (6) Button Boy returns to dirt, where he posted his lone win. (4) Carbonite comes off a nice maiden win and could be a threat here. (1) Kunshan will be helped by a dry track. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-6-7. Doubles: 1-4-6-7 with 2-6-10-12. Pick 3: 1-4-6-7 with 2-6-10-12 with 2-4-6-9.

7th race – (6) Marsalis looked good earlier in the year and is working nicely for his return. (10) Run Classic has been away for more than a year and a half, but should be ready based on recent works. (12) Malibu Mike exits a promising maiden win. (2) Improbable Journey took a while to break his maiden but seems ready to face winners. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-6-10-12. Doubles: 2-6-10-12 with 2-4-6-9.

8th race – (6) Cloudy Bay was third in her debut and can take a step forward here. (2) Connelmaura has put in some fast works and looks like the one to fear. (4) Nursekringledances was fourth in a useful debut and merits attention. (9) Closed Caption should be well-suited by a switch to dirt. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-4-6-9.