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 [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (3) Groves (A) was second in her debut at Saratoga behind an open-length winner for Bill Mott who typically does not win with firsters. She was well clear of the rest of the field at 4-1. (1) Lucky Loretta was a $450,000 2-year-old purchase who was touted by his trainer as one to watch this summer. (4) Gun Broker brings an impressive work tab to her first start for a trainer who is good with young horses. (5) Wharfie was fifth in her debut for Bill Mott, so improvement is expected.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6 ½ F TURF] – (8) Titan Ready finished second in all three of his starts including a pair of stakes races. (5) River of Deceit was second in his debut in June and then was third in the Skidmore at Saratoga. (2) Loyal Prince had a second and a third in his two races which were at Monmouth Park and Colonial Downs. (1) Prove Me Wrong will make his first start as a $475,000 yearling purchase and has been training at Saratoga since July.

6^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 mi TURF] – (10) Captain George (C) was bet down from 10-1 to 8-1 and finished third after getting close in the stretch. (8) Raise the Roof had a poor start in his first race at 5-2. (12) McMoon will move from two main track starts at Saratoga and used early speed to get second in his debut. (7) Equilibrate was fourth in his only race behind a winner who came back to get another victory in a stakes race next time out.

10^th race [NY, Md 50000, 1 1/8 mi TURF] – (4) Big Frosty was second in his only try at this claiming level at 4-1 in May and then in August was fifth in a state-bred stakes race at Saratoga for Todd Pletcher. (2) Emotionlyavailble drops in for a tag after three starts in maiden special weights that included a second in June. (7) Bourboncentric was second in August at this level. (10) D C Boy’s returned from a January layoff last month in a race that was meant for the turf and finished third when he ran for a tag for the first time.

Best bets: Groves (1^st); Titan Ready (5^th) Best value: Captain George (6^th); Big Frosty (10^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 (covers races 4-6) 9 with 1, 2, 5, 8 with 7, 8, 10, 12 = $16.