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 – (1) Moroder has won two in a row and can make it a trio under Irad. (4) Shadow Court drops a notch and should be the main rival. (5) Gallo de Fuego is worth a look off the claim. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-5.

3rd race – (6) Il Cavallino drops off the Sweezey claim and seems best. (1) Hardtoblame should be a factor off the Asmussen claim. (2) Fast Joker takes off the blinkers and may formidable at this distance. (4) Whiskey Shot fits in nicely here. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-4-6.

5th race - (1) Baytown Bruiser will benefit from a cutback to one turn and a rail trip. (3) Admiral Hall may find smooth sailing here. (5) Truly Legit could be hard to catch here. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-5.

7th race – (6) Sapphire Beach missed by a neck in a graded stakes and gets the call here. (1) Beach Heistwas a close third in a stakes and should be the main rival. (3) Should’ve seems like a main contender here. (4) Snappy Comeback figures to be closing at the end. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-4-6.

9^th race – (6) Memory ships in from California and seems poised for a big effort for Baffert. (2) Gun Range comes off an impressive debut win. (4) Rebel Instinct merits consideration in his 2026 debut. (3) Western Warrior drops out of a stakes and cannot be ignored  Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-4-6.