Del Mar Hot List - July 18

Today’s Del Mar Hot List races to watch
Saturday, July 18, 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 – (5) Freedom Fighter is trained by Baffert and hails from a smart ownership group. Should win at first asking. (2) Stratofortress has been working quickly and looms as the main rival. (3) Ambivalent has racing experience which may come in handy here. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-5. Doubles: 2-3-5 with 1-2-4-5

3rd race - (5) Miss Hot Legs should welcome the 5-furlong turf sprint distance at Del Mar, where she’s never been worse than third in four career starts. (2) Bulletproof One returns to turf for Miller who does exceptionally well in turf sprints. (1) Fantasy Heat should be a threat from the rail. (4) Sold It usually brings home a check and cannot be ignored. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-4-5.    

7th race – (1) Stealthediamonds was a game third to some top-level fillies last time out and may not look back from the rail. (3) Jo Jo Air ships in from Kentucky for Ward and could be a main factor. (7) She’s So Special should be closing quickly at the end. (10) Surrender Now is making her third start after a long layoff and may wind up in the exotics. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-7-10. 

9th race – (3) Succeedandsurpass rallied for third in his first start for new connections and may prove best here. (4) Lincoln City was a narrow second at big odds last time and may be the one to fear. (11) Salvatore Mundi will be dangerous if he duplicates his last start. (7) Reprobate was impressive in his turf debut and merits consideration here. Betting strategy: 3 to win, place. Exacta box: 3-4-7-11. Doubles: 3-4-7-11 with 1-3-4-5 and All with 5.

10th race – (5) Maximum Security has been at the center of change since he was last seen winning the $20 million Saudi Cup. He’s now in a great hands with Baffert and still has to be considered the best horse in training until proven otherwise. (1) Higher Power bounced back from a weak try in the Pegasus with a second in the Gold Cup. He loves this track and should be the main threat. (3) Midcourt didn’t fire in the Gold Cup but figures to bounce back here. (4) Dark Vader has enough speed to hang around until the end and land in the exotics. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-5. Exactas: 1-5 over 3-4 and 3-4 over 1-5.

For more information on the Hot List, email questions to [email protected] or follow the Hot List on Twitter at @nyhotlist. Contact [email protected] for more information.