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 [NY, Bertram F. Bongard, 6F TURF] – (1) Three Thirteen (B) is still a maiden but had troubled trips in both of his starts getting carried wide both times and blinkers come off. (5) Spirit of New York was a debut winner at Saratoga in July by more than three lengths at 5-1 and then was third in the Skidmore against open company. (2) Funny Factor moved back to the grass, showed speed, and got his maiden win by more than two lengths. (7) Lawyer Mason broke his maiden in his second start and then tried the rich Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6 ½ F] – (5) Irresistible will make her first start for Todd Pletcher. The $700,000 yearling purchase is a half-sister of the Grade 1 winner and $1.5 million earner Kingsbarns. (3) Shilling will debut for Kenny McPeek who has been hot with first-time runners. She is from a dam who produced 3 winners from 3 foals. (2) Squander is another Pletcher filly to make her career debut. (1) Minute by Minute is by the hot sire Not This Time and is out of a stakes winning mare.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi TURF] – (1) In the Dark (B) was second in his debut and then had to steady and check racing into the turn in his second race last month at Saratoga. (4) Wicked Improbable set the pace in her second start and got caught nearing the wire by a horse that came back to win his next race. (3) Disclaimer was third in his 2025 debut after pressing the pace. (6) Hellacious moved from dirt to turf for his second start and finished third.

9^th race [Alw 88000 N1X, 7F] – (8) Vettriano (B) lost all chance in his 2025 debut last month when he got pinched back early in the race as a horse that always races on the lead. (3) Worthy Charge impressed when he won his second start by almost five lengths going the mile at Saratoga from the tricky outside post from the Wilson chute. (4) Indy Magic won his last two starts in a N3L claimer where he was taken for $30,000 and then won a starter allowance. (7) Makes Sense won a $50,000 maiden by seven lengths and was claimed away from Todd Pletcher and came right back to win a starter allowance also.

Best bets: Irresistible (4^th); Vettriano (9^th). Best Value:  Three Thirteen (3^rd); In the Dark (5^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 3-5 and includes the Bongard à 1, 2, 5 with 2, 3, 5 with 1, 3, 4 = $27.