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) Curahee was second for a higher Tag at Fair Grounds and gets the nod here. (6) Bebedouro also drops in class and should be a threat. (2) Track Ranger may rebound with a better try. (5) Chado may welcome a return to dirt. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-5-6-7.
3rd race – (1) Touch of Fire was second in a stakes and looks best from the rail. (5) Tactically was bumped and finished third. Should find this course more to his liking. (9) J J Grey fits in nicely here. (12) Doctrine was a good second last time but has a rough post. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-5-9-12.
5th race – (7) In the Stars makes her 2026 debut and seems quite ready for it. (8) Bracelet should improve back on turf. (10) Onemoredance is an interesting foreign shipper. (1) Goats On a Tree will benefit from a rail trip. Betting strategy: 7 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-7-8-10.
7th race – FanDuel Limestone Stakes (G3) – (9) Cy Fair beat males in the Breeders’ Cup and seems ready for another strong year. (10) Snow Face Princess has not raced since finishing second in a Kentucky Downs stakes. Should be a main threat. (8) Lennilu exits a sharp stakes win at Gulfstream. (1) Sapphire Beach should like this distance. Betting strategy: 9 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-8-9-10. 9th race – Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) - (4) Notable Speech won the Breeders’ Cup Mile and looks best here. (2) One Stripe just missed in the Pegasus Turf and should be the main rival. (1) Rhetorical was only beaten two lengths in the BC Mile and will be in the picture again. (10) Deterministic has won three starts in a row and cannot be overlooked in his