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 – (2) Pink Ace makes his first start since moving to D’Amato’s barn and looks best here. (3) Camp Bashors Candy won her debut and looks like the main rival. (6) House of Magic could be tough to catch here. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-6. Doubles: 2-3-6 with 1-5-6-7.
2nd race – (6) Des Doigts was fourth in his debut at Ellis Park and should prevail here for a lower claiming tag. (7) Veritas Aequitas seems ready for a big effort in his debut. (5) Pleaseusetheportal adds blinkers as he drops into a claimer. (1) Southern Slang might be a contender from the rail. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-5-6-7.
5th race – (6) Post Facto is back in a claimer and should be able to handle this field while returning to dirt. (7) Goldenspa might respond to the stretchout in distance. (9) Circle the Moon won nicely against maidens and seems ready for winners. (10) Trusty Rusty will welcome a switch to dirt. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 6-7-9-10. Doubles: 6-7-9-10 with 1-2-4-5.
6th race – (2) Acquired Class returns to a sprint and should be set for a solid effort at this class level. (1) Castleknock has speed from the rail and may not look back. (5) Please Focus could hang on for a share of the purse. (4) Rolling On may work out a good trip in this field. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-4-5.
8th race – (8) Cane Creek Road returns to a claimer and should be hard to catch. (7) Derecho Dandy might wake up in this spot. (1) Light Fury will be helped by a ground-saving trip. (3) New York Dreams is working sharply after a freshening. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-7-8.