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 [Alw 110000, 7F] – (1) Points Is Points (A) was jostled out of the gate, swapped leads during the stretch duel, and missed by a nose while 12 lengths ahead of the show horse. (3) Ragtime (A) was a rare debut winner for Bill Mott by almost four lengths. (4) Artemis Sound won twice this year in a N2L claimer and a starter allowance and in May was second in a first-level allowance. (5) Alyeska was a debut winner last year in September at Churchill Downs, changes barns to Chad Brown, and gets first-time Lasix for her second start.

10^th race [Kelso (G2), 1 mi TURF] – (2) Intellect (A) got squeezed back at the start and rallied from last to second in the Poker (G3) for Chad Brown. (4) Donegal Momentum won the Poker (G3) last month at Saratoga with a front-end trip. (8) Win for the Money was last seen running seventh in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). Before that he won the Fort Lauderdale (G2) and the Woodbine Mile (G1). (3) Think Big will stretch out from a series of turf sprints that includes four victories.

11^th race [Belmont Oaks (G1), 1 1/8 mi TURF] – (2) Opulent Restraint (C) was second by a neck in the Memories of Silver at Aqueduct after a prolonged stretch duel behind a horse that is undefeated in four starts. (7) Nitrogen is riding a five race win-streak all in stakes this year and includes four graded stakes. (6) May Day Ready is a $1 million earner who won his first three starts and then was second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. (5) Fionn has 4 wins from 6 career starts all since September and won the Regret (G3) last month.

12^th race [NY, Md 30000, 6 ½ F] – (10) Kings and Queens (B) took an awkward step early in the race and rallied gamely for second well clear of the rest. (11) Capt Jax Parrow was third and then second in similar spots in his last two races. (7) Solo Mio comes back as a new gelding, cuts back in distance, and drops back in for a tag where last seen ran second. (3) Mama’s Middie was second last month in his 2025 debut in a Finger Lakes maiden special weight and was second last summer at Saratoga in a spot like today’s.

Best bets:  Points Is Points (4^th); Intellect (10^th). Best value:  Opulent Restraint (11^th); Kings and Queens (12^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 10-12 and includes the Kelso (G2) and Belmont Oaks (G1) à 2, 4, 8 with 2, 5, 6, 7 with 3, 10, 11 = $36.