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 – (4) Cold as Hell returns to a claimer after finishing third in a starter allowance and gets the nod here. (5) Mac Daddy Too drops a notch and looms as the main rival. (3) Vulcan will welcome a return to dirt. (6) Comiskey Park seeks a third straight win and cannot be ignored. Betting strategy: 4 to win, place. Exacta box: 4-5. Exactas: 4-5 over 3-6 and 3-6 over 4-5. Doubles: 3-4-5-6 with 3-5-9-10.

2nd race – (5) Dancing Nancy takes a steep drop into a claimer and looks best here. (9) Lindsey might wake up back on dirt. (10) Pleasingly adds blinkers and may improve. (3) Ready for Trouble faces tougher but was second last time. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 3-5-9-10.

5th race – (9) Sweet Gal of Mine (A) missed by a neck last time and should get the job done here. (2) Best of All is working sharply for her debut. (8) Denim and Pearls is another interesting firster. (3) Irina’s Charm may benefit from her debut. Betting strategy: 9 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-8-9. Doubles: 2-3-8-9 with 1-4-5.

6th race – (1) Verifying was second in a Grade 1 stakes and should benefit from a fast track. (5) Dr. Venkman ships in from California and should be the main rival. (4) Raise Cain exits a string of graded stakes and cannot be overlooked. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place.  Exacta box: 1-4-5.

9th race – Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes - (4) Vahva comes off a graded stakes win at the distance and looks like the one to beat. (7) Alva Starr exits two lopsided wins but will tackle seven furlongs for the first time. (2) Simply Stated seeks a fifth straight win and will be a main threat. (6) Dazzling Blue will be dangerous off her best try. Betting strategy: 4 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-4-6-7.