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 [NY, Stallion Series, 7F] – (4) Doc Sullivan (C) was bet down from 7-2 to 9-5 and lost a head bob in the Empire Classic to finish second last month. (2) Bank Frenzy won the most recent Empire Classic along with four other NY-bred stakes and an open company stakes in the past 12 starts. (1) Dr. Kraft won twice against open company this summer after winning both state-bred allowances. (5) Jackson Heights won twice at the past Saratoga meeting.

8^th race [Alw 50000s, 6 ½ F] – (7) Ranger Battalion was claimed by Linda Rice from a $50,000 maiden win and since then took a high price claimer and hit the board three times in starter allowances. (8) Sir Kartrite was second in a $50,000 claimer last month. (5) Social Hour was claimed from his last two races where he was third and then a winner just a week ago. (9) Coffee Talk was taken for $50,000 by Linda Rice from a 10-length victory at Keeneland last month.

9^th race [OC 75k/N2X, 7F] – (4) Treaty Obligation (B) stumbled at the start last month in a starter allowance and goes in for the claiming option here. (2) Knightsbridge returns from a February layoff for Bill Mott with blinkers and last year won his first two starts by combined margins of more than 19 lengths. (6) Ignite the Light was an allowance winner at Aqueduct in March and just came back from a three-month layoff. (1) Crushed It won for $50,000 in October and was claimed.

10^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (9) Unmiztaken set the pace in her debut at Aqueduct three weeks ago and finished third at 7-1. (3) Copper Caduceus was second in his first race in October and then had a tougher time against open company. (10) Makealittlelove showed a big improvement in her second start where she set the pace and now cuts back to a sprint. (1) Ticket to Ride set the pace last time and finished fourth.

Best bets: Doc Sullivan (1^st); Unmiztaken (10^th). Best Value:  Ranger Battalion (8^th); Treaty Obligation (9^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 8-10 à 5, 7, 8, 9 with 2, 4 with 3, 9 = $16.