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 [Md 35000, 6 ½ F] – (6) Into Inspiration will drop into a maiden claimer for the first time after a pair of recent second-place finishes. (1) No Filter makes his debut for a hot trainer after a steady series of workouts. (5) Sergeant Capps was claimed two races back for $35,000, finished second twice recently, and is one to use underneath. (4) Sports Hero was claimed from a similar spot in August and comes back as a new gelding.

2^nd race [Clm 17500 N3L, 6F] – (6) Ride Up (C) was bet down from 8-1 to 6-1, set the pace three weeks ago, and finished third going seven furlongs. (7) My Man Matty came back from a three-month layoff to set the pace in his first start at this level and got caught at the wire. (4) Brave Buck was a winner of the N2L in July when he was a voided claim for Linda Rice. (1) Dads Good Runner was claimed from an open claimer for $12,500 and drops back to a N3L condition for the first time since March.

5^th race [Clm 12500, 6F] – (9) Graywing drops down to the low claiming level and comes back from a July layoff. Back form includes 8 top three finishes from 10 starts with 5 wins in New York. (3) Amundson drops to this level for the first time with 17 career victories showing. At his best he beats this field easily. (5) Fitzpatrick drops down from a $16,000 race where he finished third two weeks ago. (6) Winter’s Ghost was claimed for the $12,500 tag at which he was third in his last two races.

8^th race [NY, Alw 81000 N1X, 6F] – (6) Man in Finance came back from a nine month layoff at this level in August where he had the lead and finished second. (5) Long Pour was second in a similar spot last month. (1) Share the Ludt returned from a five-month layoff after a fourth in the Bay Shore and was second in a Finger Lakes allowance. (3) Crescendo’s Rain was a debut winner at Saratoga in July and then set the pace in an allowance before a third-place finish.

Best bets: Graywing (5^th); Man in Finance (8^th). Best value: Into Inspiration (1^st); Rides Up (2^nd).