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 – (1) Play Good Pay Good makes her first start for Dutrow and gets Irad in the saddle. Sounds like a winning combination. (8) Bette Davis may act better on dirt. (9) Berlaine could work out a good stalking trip from the outside. (3) Noshugforpop could pose a late threat. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-8-9. Doubles: 1-3-8-9 with 3-5-9-12.
2nd race – (9) Bostontonian should add to Ward’s dazzling success with 2-year-olds in the spring. (3) Strummin is another 2-year-old from a barn that does well with juveniles. (12) Shoot It True is another starter from Ward who merits respect. (5) Jet Sweep Joe is working quickly for his debut. Betting strategy: 9 to win, place. Exacta box: 3-5-9-12.
4th race – (9) Bells Beach debuts for Brown and seems ready for a big effort with Irad. (7) Neat Trick was second last time and looms as the main rival. (1) Roman Grace was second at Aqueduct and cannot be ignored. (10) Bedazzle ‘Em has been freshened for this start. Betting strategy: 9 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-7-9-10.
8th race – (8) Musical Act arrives from Europe for Appleby and Godolphin and looks best. (6) First World War was a sharp graded stakes winner at Gulfstream and should be the main rival. (11) Full Nelson seeks a fifth straight win but faces tougher company here. (5) Tennessee tries turf and has a nice pedigree for it. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 5-6-8-11. Doubles: 5-6-8-11 with 1-3-6-8.
9th race – (8) Jody’s Pride had a winning and beneficial 2024 debut and that experience should give her the edge here. (6) Just F Y I beat the top pick in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies but has not started in five months. (1) Candied was third in the Breeders’ Cup and also has not raced since then. (3) Leslie’s Rose may be well-suited by two turns. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-6-8.