Del Mar Hotlist - August 31

Today’s Del Mar Hot List races to watch
Monday, August 31, 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) Zero Down comes off a game second at Los Al and should work out a winning trip from the rail. (6) Lil Richards Bello switches from turf to dirt and might respond with an improved effort. (2) Secret Club seems to be poised for a nice debut. (3) Crooked Finger Ray should be a main factor with this bunch. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-6. Exactas: 1-6 over 2-3 and 2-3 over 1-6.

5th race - (2) Take Her Temp (B) rallied for second in a promising debut and should graduate today. (1) Big Dress will appreciate a return to the main track and the claiming ranks. (8) Dancing Dana might fare better with blinkers. (5) Lemon Ice is worth a look in her debut. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-5-8. Doubles: 1-2-5-8 with 5-6-9-11.

6th race – (6) Red Bunting returned from a five-month layoff and rallied belatedly to finish fourth. She should move forward off that try and should get the nod here. (5) Too Much Heaven has a nice turn of early speed and could be hard to catch. (11) Colombian Gold looks dangerous here but landed a rough post. (9) Sunriser should be closing quickly at the end. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 5-6-9-11.

8th race – (9) Last Opportunity has been absent since March but can handle these if he runs back to his last try. (3) Tripoli missed by a head and looms as the one to fear. (4) Great Power gives turf a try and could be a main threat. (2) Scarto woke up last time and will be a threat here if he can duplicate that effort. Betting strategy: 9 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-4-9. Doubles: 2-3-4-9 with 1-2-3-4.

9th race – (4) Into Victory debuts for O’Neill off a claim after a solid runner-up finish. She seems the best of this bunch. (1) Apache Pass takes a big class drop and cannot be ignored. (2) Magical Smile might be ready for a good showing despite a lengthy layoff. (3) Caught in a Trappe might bounce back with a better effort today. Betting strategy: 4 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-3-4.