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.

2^nd race [Beldame (G2), 1 1/8 mi] – (4) Nitrogen is the multi-Grade 1 winning filly who set the pace in the Whitney (G1) against the reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and finished second. (2) Lost Horizon hit the board in three recent stakes including last time in the Molly Pitcher (G2) at Monmouth Park. (1) Donor Advised came back from a year layoff to win a Saratoga allowance by almost five lengths. (3) Boutwell Time won her last four races starting with a pair of starter allowances and then stakes at Parx Racing and Laurel Park.

3^rd race [Md Sp Wt, 7F TURF] – (1) Badiane made two starts in France in 2024, moved to the barn of Chad Brown, and gets first-time Lasix for a trainer who wins with 30% of his new runners to America. (3) Amicable Farce was second and then third in her two races this year. Last time she was behind a horse that came back to win next time. (7) Ironclad was third in her only start which was last summer at Colonial Downs at 5-2. (6) Sky Chart had several bullet works at Belmont in preparation for her debut for Bill Mott who does not win often with first-time starters but when he does it is on the turf.

4^th race [OC 80k/N2X, 1 mi] – (1) Concurrently (A) had trouble at the start, then had to race wide, and missed second by a neck while well clear of the rest of the field. (4) Valtellina won the Empire Distaff which is a top stakes for NY-bred older fillies and mares last year and just won a state-bred allowance. (5) Aeolian won a NY-bred allowance by disqualification in June for Chad Brown and then tried the Shuvee (G2). (2) Purloin won 3 out of 5 races in the winter and had a tough trip last month after a layoff.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (1) Story of Rory (C) finished second in his last three starts, moved from open company to NY-bred racing when he changed to the barn of Amelia Green last month, and got bet down from 6-1 to 4-1. (7) Sir Walta was second as he dropped in for a tag for the first time in his 2026 debut after pressing the pace and having the lead in the stretch. (2) Daisy Doo will cut back to sprinting where he had his best results. (5) Lombardo will debut for Mark Casse as a $160,000 yearling purchase by a $35,000 stallion.

Best bets: Nitrogen (2^nd); Story of Rory (5^th). Best value: Badiane (3^rd); Concurrently (4^th).