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.

2^nd race [Clm 17500 N2L, 1 mi] – (7) She’s Complicated flashed speed in a $50,000 race following a four month layoff and drops in for the lowest level of her seven race career for Linda Rice. (8) Yo Leven was claimed in May for $30,000 when she was second and returns from a June race in a starter allowance. (6) That’sthefactjack used a late rally to finish third at this level, 18 days ago. (5) Lucky and Gorgeous won a maiden claimer for $30,000 earlier in the year.

6^th race [Clm 12500, 1 1/8 mi] – (7) Laughing Boy was claimed in June for $32,000 in Kentucky by Linda Rice then was third after setting the pace at Saratoga last month for $25,000. (4) O P Firecracker hit the board three times at this claiming level in the spring and summer and was claimed for $20,000 in July. Last seen he was fourth for a $25,000 tag. (9) Peek has four top three finishes in a row and was claimed twice in races ranging from $12,500 to $25,000. (2) Bold Endeavor has 10 career wins and 11 seconds and was claimed from his last two starts as a 9-year-old.

7^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 6F TURF] – (1) Strictly Taboo won at this condition last month at Saratoga and comes right back for the $45,000 claiming option. (7) Weekend Rags was claimed from a similar spot in July when she was second and then was fifth. (6) Slightly Busy was second every step of the way going a mile at this level last month. (5) Linarite was claimed for $50,000 from an OC starter allowance in June and makes her first start for the new connections.

8^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Before the Wind (B) got bumped soundly at the start, lacked racing room in the stretch in a large field, and finished fourth. (4) Moe Eighty Eight was second in a maiden special weight in July at Saratoga and then was third in a NY-bred stakes. (2) Askingforafriend will stretch out from sprinting after a pair of second-place finishes. (6) Oat Coutour was second and then third in his two starts with one on the grass and the other moved to a sloppy main track.

Best bets: Laughing Boy (6^th); Strictly Taboo (7^th). Best value: She’s Complicated (2^nd); Before the Wind (8^th).