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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race [Moc 75000C, 6F] – (7) Jackpot Jackie drops in for a tag for the first time and goes from turf to dirt where he was second in his debut at 2-1. (6) It’s Saturday Night was third in his only race which was at Saratoga in August. (5) My Man Max broke slowly in his first start at Colonial Downs and rallied from far back in last to be second at 4-1. (4) Daredevil Kaz has been training smartly since June at Belmont for his first start.

2^nd race [Clm 20000B, 6 ½ F] – (4) Save Us Melania returned from a layoff to run second, was a voided claim for $40,000, and now goes for the lowest level of her career. (8) Vekomancer was claimed in August for $20,000 at Saratoga after running third. (1) Cloudy Chance finished second two races back and then tried a NY-bred allowance. (2) Pocket Queens was claimed in May and then ran second and third in a pair of N3L claimers.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (7) Sellonthenews (A) just missed winning her debut at Saratoga at 5-2 in a field of eight and was clear of the rest of the field. (2) Tasha’s Pride has a European pedigree from both parents and makes her first start after being touted by her trainer in the spring. (6) Bueckers was also highly regarded by her trainer as one who was going to like longer distance races. (11) Attachment finished third in her debut and stretches out from that sprint.

6^th race [OC 45K/SAL, 6F TURF] – (2) Escapades (A) was hard held and rank off heels, had to drop back, and then rallied to finish second in a spot similar to this one. (6) Tacticality (B) broke through the gate, set the pace, faded, and got claimed. (9) Marvelous Mo won a starter allowance in his first try on the turf at Laurel Park three weeks ago. (5) Strategic Reserve returned from a nine-month layoff in August to win a $30,000 claimer in his first start in a turf sprint.

Best bets: E). Best value: R).