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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race [Clm 17500 N2L, 7F] – (1) Leading Role broke his maiden two races back for $20,000 and was claimed. He came back for $30,000, pressed the pace to finish fourth, and was a voided claim. Blinkers go on. (2) Dark Vector hit the board three times this year at this level and was claimed once. (6) Wajda was a maiden $20,000 winner in February and has been off since April. (3) Cool Hand Rich was also a maiden $20,000 winner but then tried a pair of starter allowances that were unrealistic spots.

2^nd race [Clm 32000, 1 mi] – (3) Systemic Change had two recent open claiming wins for $25,000 and $40,000 in September. (7) Tabeguache won for $32,000 at Saratoga and was claimed then tried three spots that were way too hard. (2) Brew Pub finished first or second in his last five starts and was taken for $25,000 just a week ago after pressing the pace and ending up second. (4) Hours in a Day won at a N3L condition in September.

7^th race [Alw 88000 N1X, 6 ½ F] – (6) Army Gal won the second-level allowance for NY-breds in September for Linda Rice. (7) Sensa Parole was a debut winner at Saratoga in 2024 and came back a year later to set the pace in an allowance at the Spa and was second. Last seen she was fifth in the Gallant Bloom (G2). (2) Despo’s Dream won twice at Saratoga in a starter allowance and then in a $40,000 claimer when she was taken by Linda Rice. She was third behind Sensa Parole in her most recent race. (10) Grammy Girl won a starter allowance last month at Aqueduct.

9^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (8) Tiz Freedom (A) returns from a year layoff when he raced wide the whole way in his turf debut, made a strong middle move, and finished second. (4) Wicked Improbable improved in all four starts and missed the maiden win by a neck after having the lead in the stretch. (3) A Bourbon for Toby finished second or third four races in a row before trying the Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G2) last time. (6) Disclaimer ran well in three maiden tries since moving to the grass.

Best bets: Leading Role (1^st); Systemic Change (2^nd). Best value: Army Gal (7^th); Tiz Freedom (9^th).