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 – (3) Grand Joker was third and second in his last two starts and seems overdue for a win. (7) Fighting Words can make his presence felt late. (4) Sweet Lazarus is worth a look off a maiden win. (1) Proud American could be a threat from the rail. Betting strategy: 3 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-4-7.
3rd race – (7) Mithril switches to Irad after a pair of seconds and looks best. (1) Dear Scarlett may like Tapeta. (3) Ballycurrin should be effective at this level. (5) Game Changer Jolie fits in nicely here. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-5-7.
4th race – (6) Lady O’Brien gets the nod in a weak field. (5) Awesomely Wild should be closing nicely at the end. (4) Worth Considering gets back on dirt here. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 4-5-6.
7th race – (1) Demar’s Legacy has a lot of speed and should be hard to catch from the rail. (3) Musical Design won his last start and should be the main threat. (4) Heir to the Roar should be a factor in the final furlong. (5) Baby Blocks could be a threat in this field. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-4-5.
9th race – (6) Only in America should perk up on a wet track. (2) Beastly Speed was second last time and should be in the exotics. (8) Accelerize was a good third last time and could be formidable here. (7) Philharmonic ships in from Finger Lakes and seeks a third straight win. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-6-7-8.