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) Strike That was claimed out of a win by Knapp and should prevail again in this field. (3) Handr’sdream could control the pace and be hard to catch. (4) Tetsu returns to a claimer and may figure in the outcome. (6) Windribbon looms a threat cutting back to a sprint. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-4-6.
4th race – (5) Mrs. Astor rallied wide to finish third in a Grade 3 stakes at Churchill Downs and has a class edge here. (1) Ruby Nell looked sharp in a maiden win and will be helped by a ground-saving trip. (7) Alvina was a troubled fourth in her U.S. debut and should be closer here. (4) Miss Lizzy may like the added distance. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-5-7.
6th race – (2) Positivity should respond positively to a drop into a claimer. (5) Escape Route is on the upswing and should be the main rival. (7) Moose Mitchell seeks a third straight win and should not be overlooked. (6) Go Joe Won will welcome a turnback to a sprint. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-5-6-7.
8th race – (8) Dua debuts for Baffert and seems set for a winning effort. (10) Ur in Trouble has put in some nice gate works for this. (6) Hope Road has a quality pedigree and cannot be overlooked. (1) Ashley could have a bright future. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-6-8-10.
10th race – (3) Buraq’s Reflection missed by a neck last time and should graduate here. (6) I Will Be King is working fast for his first race since April and can make his presence felt. (5) Capo Luigi should be a factor if he handles the switch to dirt. (9) Donnie the Chiro is worth a look in his debut. Betting strategy: 3 to win, place. Exacta box: 3-5-6-9.