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 – (1) Shogun Be Fast has speed and the rail and may not look back. (9) Nimmo could perk up on turf. (5) Bramble Blaze could be a contender here. (4) Between the Covers seems ready for his 2025 debut. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-5-9.
3rd race – (4) Dyna Soar flopped in a stakes. Fits better here. (6) Ruth was a game second and deserves consideration here. (7) Tower Twenty Two won her last try and cannot be ignored. (3) Naked Eye should like the added distance. Betting strategy: 4 to win, place. Exacta box: 3-4-6-7.
5th race – (6) Amatteroftime seems ready for a better effort here. (3) Doin This has some speed and could hang around until the end. (4) Optic Way could be tough to catch in this field. (1) Island Spirit will be helped by a rail trip. Betting strategy: 6 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-4-6.
7th race – (5) Face Abarrio could work out a winning trip in this group. (7) Magical Warrior seeks a third straight win and should be the one to fear. (6) Feast is worth a look off the claim. (8) Baltasar should be helped by the added ground. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 5-6-7-8.
9th race – (2) Gunnery Sergeant missed by a neck and looks best here. (4) Dontbesoogrouchy can perk up back on dirt. (5) Southern Dream ships in from Parx and cannot not be overlooked. (3) K Paz is a threat on his best try. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-4-5.