Sunday 7/23/23 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Del Mar Hotlist - July 23

Jul. 22, 2023


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 – (4) She’s Resilient has a good turn of speed and could control the pace and the race here. (1) Just a Little Luck will benefit from a ground-saving trip. (3) Bella Baby should work out a good trip here. Betting strategy: 4 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-3-4.
3rd race – (5) Oakhurst has been racing in graded stakes and has a class edge here. (1) Eddie’s New Dream will be aided by a rail trip. (6) Paris Peacock was second in her last two starts and should be in the picture once again. (2) Shared Future seems to have found her groove on turf. Betting strategy: 5 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-5-6. Doubles: 1-2-5-6 with 1-2-7-9.
4th race – (1) Cowboy Mike should appreciate the stretchout to two turns and break his maiden. (2) Ship and Scam was second last time and looks like the one to fear. (7) Coppertunity is worth a look in his career debut. (9) Big Baby was a troubled third in his debut and cannot be ignored. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-7-9.
6th race – (1) Azul Coast has been away since December but is working sharply for Baffert and gets the nod here. (4) Kiss Today Goodbye was third in a Grade 1 stakes and commands respect. (3) Rimprotector cannot be ignored in this field. (6) Order and Law will be a threat on his best try. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4. Exactas: 1-4 over 3-6 and 3-6 over 1-4.
8th race – (1) Mirahmadi was second in a stakes in his debut and gets the call here. (2) Tall Paul debuts for Baffert and could be a standout. (5) Raging Torrent seems set for a solid debut. (6) Rothschild could be posed for a strong effort. Betting strategy: 1 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-2-5-6.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Saratoga Hotlist - July 23

Jul. 22, 2023


By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt
Hot List Key:
A: A preferred horse to watch B: Secondary horse to watch
*C: Went down 2 or more betting notches 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.
2^nd race [Alw 1495000, 1 mi] – (2) Slip Mahoney returns as a new gelding after a disappointing finish in the Long Branch at Monmouth Park. He flashed a lot of talent at Aqueduct this winter in his maiden victory and then in the Gotham (G3) when he was second. (3) Set Sail has not run in more than a year and when last seen was second in an allowance at Belmont Park earning a speed figure that tops this field. (5) Top Secret was a maiden winner last month at Ellis Park by more than five lengths for Steve Asmussen. (4) Mount Up got his maiden win in his second start at Belmont as the odds-on favorite for Todd Pletcher.
4^th race [Shuvee (G2), 1 1/8 mi] – (4) Clairiere won her last two starts in Grade 1 stakes with triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park and then the Ogden Phipps at Belmont. Her career record stands at 19: 8-5-3 with $3.1 million in earnings. (2) Nest was last year’s champion 3-year-old filly and the winner of three graded stakes in a row after running second in the Belmont Stakes. In the Breeders’ Cup Distaff she finished fourth behind Clairiere who was third. (1) Skratch Kat was fourth in the Alabama (G1) at Saratoga last summer and was second in her second start of this year in an allowance just a week ago. (3) Pistol Liz Ablazen was an allowance winner last month at Parx Racing.
6^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (10) Camera has shown up in a number of Saratoga previews as a 2-year-old filly to watch. That’s saying something since Todd Pletcher has already had a couple of impressive debut winners. She was a $1.05 million purchase at the Saratoga yearling sale and is out of a mare that was graded stakes placed. (2) Mystical Chant was second in her first start for Steve Asmussen at Ellis Park at 4-1 after setting the pace. (8) Life’s Joy was a $300,000 yearling purchase by the great sprinter Mitole and out of a mare that was a debut winner at Saratoga herself and has produced eight winners with three stakes winners. (9) Sam’s Treasure was second in her first start which was on the turf at Belmont for Wesley Ward.
7^th race [Alw 20000s, 7F] – (6) Lord Captain was claimed at Churchill Downs in May for $40,000 by Linda Rice after the horse won his fourth race in a row. Rice has done well with the horses she acquired in Kentucky as part of her 26% winning rate with her new claims. (2) Colonel Bowman has won four races in a row and six out of her seven starts for David Jacobson. (5) Caramel Chip finished first or second in his last eight races in a row including five victories. (7) Glory Road was claimed away from Linda Rice for $25,000 from a victory and has three wins at seven furlongs.
Best bets: Slip Mahony (2^nd); Clairiere (4^th). Best value: Camera (6^th); Lord Captain (7^th).

No.	Name	Letter/ last race	Today's Race	Comments
***	No Hot List horses at	Saratoga.	******	Here are two bonus horses at other tracks.
(2)	Big Brass Bed	B on 6/22	WO-10	She was closing late but stumbled in the stretch for Chad Brown.
(5)	High Connection	D on 6/9	MTH-7	Bet down from 8-1 to 6-1 for Todd Pletcher.