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 25000, 6F] – (5) Screaming Uncle won for $32,000 in June and was off until two weeks ago when he ran in a turf sprint. (2) He’smyhoneybadger was a winner at this level in April at Aqueduct where he was claimed. Since then, he moved up to run third for $32,000 and was again taken. Last time he had the lead and missed by a neck. He comes back from a June layoff. (3) Looms Boldly dropped in for a tag for the first time at this level and finished third after pressing the pace. (1) Fromanothamutha came back from a short layoff and was claimed twice first for $25,000 and then next race for $32,000.

6^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (10) A Little At First (A) got bumped twice in debut at 8-1 and improved from tenth to fifth. (9) Diliello finished in the top three in all three of his starts including a stretch out last month. (4) Kuleana was 5-1 in his first start last month where he raced evenly. (8) Newlyn was fifth in his debut at Saratoga last month with improvement expected.

7^th race [Beldame (G2), 1 1/8 mi] – (2) Margie’s Intention was third in the Alabama (G1) last month following a second in the Delaware Oaks (G3), and a win in the Black-eyed Susan (G2). (5) Randomized won this race in 2023 with a front-end effort and went on to finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. This year she won the Molly Pitcher (G3) at Monmouth Park. (4) Majestic Oops won three races in a row earlier in the year including the Lady’s Secret at Monmouth. (3) Gun Song returns from a short freshening and is a past graded-stakes winner.

9^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (4) Jack’s World (A) broke last in his debut for Linda Rice at 7-2, had to steady at the 3/16^th pole, and was still able to finish fourth. (6) Twirling Lad moved from dirt to turf and finished second last month at Saratoga. (2) Tim and Sam stretched out to two turns, pressed the pace and got third in what was his second start. (1) Coach Ryan was 2-1 in his Saratoga debut for Chad Brown and was fifth. Brown is a 29% winner with second-time starters.

Best bets: A Little At First (6^th); Jack’s World (9^th). Best value: Screaming Uncle (2^nd); Margie’s Intention (7^th).