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 – (7) Ulysses Rose closed strongly for second and looks best here. (6) Daring Pursuit could be hard to beat here. (4) Preclude might fare better in her second try. (1) Helen’s Time is a threat from the rail. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-6-7. Doubles: 1-4-6-7 with 1-2-5.
2nd race – (2) Forewarn is drilling sharply for her career debut. (1) Miss Monica should be the main competition. (5) Well Versed cannot be ignored in this field. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-5.
5th race – (3) Gazon has speed and will appreciate the shorter distance. (2) Smart Code fits in nicely here. (9) Enterdadragon will benefit from a quick pace. (7) Tom Seaver is worth a look here. Betting strategy: 3 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-7-9. Doubles: 2-3-7-9 with 4-5-6.
6th race – (5) Holmby looked good in a debut win for Baffert and gets the call here. (4) Ruiva was a good third at Royal Ascot and will be dangerous here. (6) Blockade was a powerful winner in her second start. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 4-5-6.
9th race - (7) Moonlit Sonata was third and second in his last two starts and is overdue for a win. (10) Knowhere could wind up somewhere like the winner’s circle. (2) Rostovsky belongs in the exotics. (4) Divisible By looked good in a nice maiden win. Betting strategy:7 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-4-7-10.