Buy TicketsBy 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 4th or worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.
1st race – (6) Reign Champagne returns to a claimer and the main track. Should prove best here. (2) City Cocktails my perk up on dirt. (4) Lady Riley should be well-suited by dirt. (7) Airforce Lightning could be a factor here. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-4-6-7. Double: 2-4-6-7 with 1-2-6.
2nd race – (2) Deck of Cards owns a six-race winning streak and looks best here. (1) Windy Bay will be helped by a rail trip. (6) Pens Street should be closing in the stretch. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-6.
4th race – (7) Jazz Party tries a claimer for the first time and will be hard to beat. (9) Baby Sassicaia was a game second last time and will be the main rival. (3) Dia Estelar is an interesting firster from McPeek. (6) Yo Leven may benefit from the return to a sprint. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 3-6-7-9.
6th race – (12) Culprit has enough speed to overcome the outside post and notch a victory. (10) Generous Tipper is training nicely for his comeback. (8) Our Dream Rye’d is a threat on his best try. (3) Kinetic cannot be ignored in this field. Betting strategy: 9 to win, place. Exacta box: 3-8-10-12.
8th race – (5) The Big Calhouna stumbled at the start and never recovered. Gets a second chance here. (12) Krickle has speed and can hang around until the end. (11) End of Innocence should be a contender back in a claimer. (10) House of Magic merits attention off the Maker claim. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 5-10-11-12.