Del Mar Hotlist - August 4

Today’s Del Mar Hot List races to watch
Thursday, Aug. 4, 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 –  (8) La Peer makes her debut for D’Amato and seems poised for a winning effort. (6) Happy Gal was second in her debut and should be the main rival. (2) Balenciaga Betty put in some fast works for her debut and merits consideration. (1) Heart of the Night should benefit from a rail trip. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-6-8.

3rd race – (6) Unwhirled had a troubled debut and should work out a winning trip here. (1) Velvet closed for second off a layoff and should be well-suited by the conditions. (4) Red Tiara could be hard to catch in this spot. (9) Granola Girl is worth a look in this field. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-6-9. Doubles 1-4-6-9 with 2-4-6-7.

4th race – (2) Palagio missed by a nose and should make amends for that loss here. (6) Donner Lake figures to  be closing fast at the end and will be the key threat. (7) Lord Sheldon should appreciate a return to the main track. (4) Surrogate may be right at home on dirt. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-6. Exactas: 2-6 over 4-7 and 4-7 over 2-6.

6th race – (1) Loma Vista was second in two of her last three starts and should prevail from the rail. (9) Dancing Soul is worth a look while tackling winners for the first time. (8) One Silk Stocking gets Hernandez and could be well-meant. (2) Shared Future promises to be a contender off the Diodoro claim. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-8-9. Doubles: 1-2-8-9 with 1-4-5-7.

7th race – (5) Stressed has enough speed to lead throughout in this spot. (7) Snark has been freshened since a maiden win and merits some attention. (1) Woodbine Way may find a way from the rail. (4) The Arcadian Way raced well enough on synthetics to get a look here. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-5-7.