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.

2nd race – (12) Masked Man was second in his debut at Monmouth. Drops in class and should get the job done with Irad. (10) Grand Illusion drops into a claimer and is worth a look. (1) Idiosyncrasies could make some noise in his debut. (2) Maliblue has speed and could last until the end. Betting strategy: 12 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-10-12. Doubles: 1-2-10-12 with 1-3-4-5. Pick 3: 1-2-10-12 with 1-3-4-5 with 1-2-6-7.

3rd race – (1) Invulnerable runs in a claimer and should prove best. (3) Sound Doctrine may be tough to catch here. (5) Normandy Hero should be competitive at this level. (4) Improbable Journey gets Saez and may wake up. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-4-5. Doubles: 1-3-4-5 with 1-2-6-7.

4th race – (1) Stage Left stumbled and lost his jockey last time. If all is OK, he should handle this field. (6) Appeal Denied could get some approval in this group. (2) Tallahatchiebridge will welcome a return to a claimer.  (7) Vulcan fits in well here. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place.  Exacta box: 1-2-6-7.

6th race – (9) Cooper fell too far back last time. Can win this with a better trip. (8) Kinetic Control was second in his first two starts and looks like the one to fear. (7) Freaky may be better off with more distance. (11) Morlock should be rolling in the final furlong. Betting strategy: 9 to win, place. Exacta box: 7-8-9-11.

8^th race – (6) Clever Mischief (A) was a good second at Kentucky Downs and makes amends here. (5) Katheeb was second in his last 3 starts. Why not 4? (1) Green Light missed by a nose and cannot be overlooked. (4) Boltage seems ready for a sharp try despite the layoff.. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-5-6.