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 – (3) Redemption Time has not run since the Keeneland fall meet but put in a fast bullet gate work for his return. (5) Cape Trafalgar has yet to finish worse than third and is the main rival. (8) Global Stage moves to Cox’s barn and should be a prime contender. (6) Nasty Habit should not be ignored first-time out for Mott. Betting strategy: 3 to win, place. Exacta box: 3-5-6-8. Doubles: 3-5-6-8 with 1-2-8-9.

2nd race – (2) Collect From Ike debuts for Cox and merits top billing. (9) Northwind didn’t fire in his debut in mud. Might perk up in a claimer on a dry surface. (8) Talkin Pharoah gets back on dirt and may lead throughout. (1) St. Elmo should prefer dirt to Tapeta. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-8-9.

5th race – (10) Malleymoo gets some class relief after running in stakes and will be dangerous here. (11) Strikingly Spun is working smartly over the track for this outing. (2) Mademoisellejackie breaks from the gate quickly and will benefit from a rail trip. (6) Wonderful Lady should not be ignored in her U.S. debut.  Betting strategy: 10 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-6-10-11. Doubles: 2-6-10-11 with 1-4-5.

6th race – (5) Inventing (B) tired and finished third after setting a fast pace. May not look back here. (4) Academic Honor has been turning in bullet works for her first start in more than a year. (1) Distictlypossible should be more competitive on the main track. Betting strategy: 5  to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-5.

9th race – (7) Modern Games won the Breeders’ Cup Mile over this course and will be hard to deny here in the Maker’s Mark Mile. (1) Speaking Scout will be aided by a ground saving trip. (4) Emmanuel is in career-best form after back-to-back stakes wins. (5) Dr Zempf can take a step forward off a win in his  U.S. debut. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place.  Exacta box: 1-4-5-7.