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 – (7) Recker Point disappointed last time but can rebound at this claiming level. (8) Reinvest flopped in a stakes but can bounce back here. (6) Fight Fiercely merits attention off the Sharp claim. (1) Single Ruler should be helped by a rail trip.  Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-6-7-8. Doubles: 1-6-7-8 with 1-7-9-11. Pick 3: 1-6-7-8 with 1-7-9-11 with 1-4-6.

2nd race – (7) Barstool Babe looks best here against claimers. (9) Best Coast could be the main competition in her debut for Cox. (1) Check Engine Light moves into Cox’s barn and should contend here. (11) Take Shape is worth a look in this field. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-7-9-11. Doubles: 1-7-9-11 with 1-4-6.

3rd race – (1) Anejo is in great form and should handle this bunch. (6) Decision Maker figures to like the cutback in distance. (4) Eleven Central will appreciate the return to dirt. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-6.

6th race – (6) Smile Mon (B) turned in a career-best effort to start 2023 and adds blinkers. Seems primed for a winning effort. (5) Mapper was second in both career starts and can complete the exacta again. (1) Create Trouble is working in promising fashion for his 3-year-old debut. (10) Trumpstatic disappointed last time but should be capable of a better try here. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-5-6-10.

9th race – (2) Disarm was a closing fourth in the Kentucky Derby and should be well-suited by the conditions here to get an initial graded stakes win. (4) Verifying tired badly in the Derby but will be on his toes here. (6) Raise Cain skipped the Belmont for this spot and deserves respect. (7) King Russell is another Derby also-ran who will enjoy some class relief here. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place.  Exacta box: 2-4-6-7.