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) Special Dispatch drops into a claimer and should prevail while moving to dirt. (2) Coach Campbell merits a look in a claimer. (7) Drobny was second or third in his last three starts and belongs in the exotics. (3) Lebombo may wake up in this field.  Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-3-7. Doubles: 1-2-3-7 with 1-2-4. Pick 3: 1-2-3-7 with 1-2-4 with 1-6-7-8

2nd race – (4) Forever Home has speed and can lead throughout here. (1) Kyle Beauty can bounce back on a dry track. (2) Abitibi steps up but deserves attention. Betting strategy: 4 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-4.

3rd race – (1) Achieve sports a bullet work for her debut and gets top billing. (6) Swiftwind should not be overlooked. (8) Murphy Girl is working forwardly for her debut. (7) Slang seems set for a solid debut. Betting strategy: 1  to win, place.  Exacta box: 1-6-7-8.

5th race – (10) Demolition Duke (B) staged a strong rally to finish second and will make amends here. (9) Committee of One flopped in a stakes but bounces back here. (2) Run Carson was a sharp debut winner and will be in the mix here against winners. (1) Bear River will benefit from a rail trip. Betting strategy: 10 to win, place.  Exacta box: 1-2-9-10.

8th race – (1) Howl tired badly in a Grade 1 stakes last time and starts 2024 on a winning note. (7) Amaretti looks like the one to catch in the stretch. (8) Condensation should be tough running for a claiming tag. (3) Unsung Melody fits in nicely with this group. Betting strategy: 9 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-7-8