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 [Clm 16000, 7 ½ F] – (5) Miss Lao (C) was bet down from 15-1 to 11-1, pressed the pace, took the lead, and drew off to win by six lengths at the same claiming level. (7) Princess Becca was claimed for $16,000 in June, then won for $25,000, and last time was in too tough. (8) Looks First has been racing against better horses in open company and against Maryland-breds and drops back to a claimer for the first time since he was taken for $20,000 in January. (6) Heavenly Light was claimed at Saratoga by Linda Rice and goes for the $20,000 tag as a NY-bred.

5^th race [Md 20000, 7F] – (3) Chess Match drops to the lowest claiming level of his career and makes his first start for Linda Rice who puts him in at a winning level. (1) Holding Power returned from a three-month layoff for a $45,000 tag and finished sixth despite a troubled trip. (2) Lough Currane has five top-three finishes in a row including two at Saratoga. (4) Mr R T was claimed for $20,000 two races back while in the midst of four races in a row hitting the board.

6^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 1 mi] – (7) Grazie has only top three finishes in five career starts with an open-length victory last month in her only start of this year and three NY-bred stakes appearances. (1) Lady Rose was second in a state-bred stakes behind a talented runner and missed the top three only once in seven races. (5) Midtown Lights drops in for a tag as she moves back to face NY-breds where she was at her best. (3) Sweetest Princess was third three times at this level since she was claimed for $45,000 by Linda Rice and goes back in for a tag.

7^th race [Alw 105000 N1X, 6 ½ F] – (7) Oil Capital (D) was bet down from 12-1 to 9-1, stumbled at the start, moved up, but then faded. (1) Sculcos Folly won four races in a row earlier in the year including three NY-bred stakes. (8) Golden Tornado was a clear winner at 7-2 in his only start that was at Saratoga a year ago and has been training sharply for his return. (9) Dr Ruben M ships up from Ellis Park after an almost five-length win in a $50,000 claimer.

Best bets: Chess Match (5^th); Grazie (6^th). Best value: Miss Lao (2^nd); Oil Capital (7^th).