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.

4^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 7F TURF] – (7) Souffle ran the second highest speed in this field in her debut at Saratoga and now will make her third career start after a September layoff. She should make a significant step forward as a 3-year-old and gets first-time Lasix. (8) Lady Laoban was bet to 9-1 in her debut in April when she fell over another horse shortly after the start. (5) Snowy Evening had a third and a second in recent turf starts. (4) Cerretta was third in her first start of the year.

5^th race [Clm 25000, 6F] – (4) Lohengrin Two will drop back to the claiming ranks when last seen he was a winner. The pace projector puts him on the lead. (6) Heir Port has been claimed three times recently for $16,000 to $25,000 and also has early speed. (1) No More Talk was a winner last time at Belmont Park in a $16,000 claimer with a stalking move which could be a good position in this pace scenario. (3) Bronx Bomber is a veteran of this claiming level and a trifecta probable.

6^th race [Alw 95000 N1X, 6F TURF] – (7) Anna Karenine (C) was bet down from 4-1 to 2-1 at Aqueduct in April and ran third after having to take up late in the race. (10) Gal in a Rush made her 2023 debut in April in a similar spot and rallied to miss the win by a nose in a fast race. (1) Redifined won her first career start at Belmont a year ago and then tried three stakes races where she was second in the Matron (G3). (3) Gun Boat has been off for a year and used her speed to finish third in a Gulfstfream stakes race. She will get first time Lasix.

7^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (6) Ohana Honor (A) made his first turf start in April at the Big A where he steadied and rallied for third beaten by a half-length for the win. (7) Fly Right faced strong fields in all three of his starts last year when he missed by a neck in his Saratoga debut behind a stakes winner, then tried a Grade 3, and in November was third behind a return winner and eventual stakes winner. (4) Balthazar get blinkers on after a pair of close seconds as Santa Anita and Keeneland. (2) Cumberland returns from a March layoff when he missed a maiden victory by a head at Gulfstream Park.

Best bets: Souffle (4^th); Lohengrin Two (5^th). Best value: Anna Karenine (6^th); Ohana Honor (7^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 4-6 à 7, 8 with 1, 4, 6 with 1, 3, 7, 10 = $24.