Del Mar Hotlist - August 20

Today’s Del Mar Hot List races to watch
Saturday, Aug. 20, 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.

1^st race – (2) Echosmith (B) got bumped and steadied early and then had to race wide. (5) Breakfast Ride won a starter allowance at Del Mar last time. (6) Rhetoric gets the blinkers off as he stretches out for Bob Baffert. (4) Lammas was fourth in his American debut with Lasix and blinkers. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Daily Doubles: 2 with 2, 3, 4, 5.

2^nd race – (4) Always At Ease (B) raced greenly in her debut and trainer Desormeaux does well with his second-time starters. (3) Bold Connection had a troubled trip in her second start and the blinkers come off. (2) Queenzy set the pace when she moved from dirt to turf and now stretches out. (5) La Paloma Blanca will make her second start for Peter Miller who wins at 25% with his second-time runners.  Betting strategy: Daily Doubles: 4 with 1, 2, 3, 5. Exacta box: 2-3-4-5.

3^rd race – (3) Tapit Doux was a front-end winner at this level last time. (2) Keepmeinthe Moment won a starter allowance two races back and now drops in for a tag. (1) Loveherheart won a maiden special weight at Santa Anita last year, tried stakes racing, and now drops in for a tag for the first time. (5) Never Sway moves back to the main track where she broke her maiden for $50,000. Betting strategy: 3 to win, place. Exacta box: 1, 2, 3, 5.

6^th race – (9) Gillian Elizabeth has two wins from her last three starts in a $50,000 maiden claimer, a starter allowance, and a first-level allowance. (4) Sweet and Cheeky won her last two starts in a similar spot after a maiden breaker. (6) Founder’s Day also won her most recent race in a starter allowance. (5) Jimmyssmokedcarrot is a consistent performer at this level. Betting strategy: Exacta box: 4, 5, 6, 9. Trifecta box: 4, 5, 6, 9.

10^th race – (2) Maeve of Connaught will make her American debut after a second and third in Ireland last year.  (6) Vivando was second in her last two starts, one at Del Mar and one at Santa Anita for John Sadler. (11) Albayaader had a pair of troubled trips in her two American starts (3) Leisurewear has early speed which should serve her well in this field. Betting strategy:  Exacta box: 2, 3, 6, 11. Trifecta box: 2, 3, 6, 11.