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.

3^rd race [The Dwyer, 1 mi] – (2) Disco Time is undefeated in four starts including the St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park by more than five lengths following an eight-month layoff and the Lecomte (G3) on the 2025 Kentucky Derby Trail. (1) Tip Top Thomas won his last three races with the Smarty Jones at Parx in August and the Indiana Derby in July. (4) Stars and Stripes returns from a July layoff when he won a maiden and an allowance in New York by a combined margin of more than 18 lengths. (6) Crudo was fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and the Saranac and Curlin at Saratoga.

4^th race [The Pumpkin Pie, 7F] – (1) Nic’s Style returns from a March layoff after having won 7 out of 8 starts with four stakes wins including the Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream Park. She won both times at seven furlongs. (8) Weigh the Risks was an impressive allowance winner at Saratoga for Chad Brown following a layoff from a second in the Heavenly Prize at Aqueduct in February. (6) Scalable is a past graded stakes winner that also won the Interborough in January. She came from that race in September to try the Gallant Bloom (G2) for Repole and Pletcher. (7) Patricia Ann moved back to the main track at Aqueduct and finished second in the Gallant Bloom (G2).

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (4) Three Sixty (B) was fourth in her debut when she had to race wide on a track that was favoring the inside paths. (8) Belarosa was third and then second since moving from dirt to turf. (10) Sweet Rhythm was fourth behind the second choice in her first race for Linda Rice who also prefers young horses in their second try. (9) Take Home Gold had the lead in her debut last month for a trainer that has strong stats with second-time starters.

8^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (8) Newlyn (D) was bet down from 14-1 to 9-1 and pressed the pace to run fourth. (7) Hellz Kitchen was third in his second start at 5-2 in a race that was turf meant. (4) Snickery will stretch out in his second start as a new gelding after going off at 8-1 last time. (10) Make a Prediction was third in her last three races and gets blinkers on now.

Best bets: Disco Time (3^rd); Nic’s Style (4^th). Best Value:  Three Sixty (5^th); Newlyn (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 3-5 and includes the Dwyer and the Pumpkin Pie à 1, 2, 4 with 1, 8 with 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 = $30.