By Bob Ehalt and Matt Shifman

Hot List Key:

A : A preferred horse to watch                   B: Secondary horse to watch
*C: Went down 2 or more betting notches in the final 3 minutes 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.

1st race – (4) My Noble Knight takes a major class drop and should be hard to beat at this level. (5) Tres Soles fits much better here. (8) National Eclipse is worth a look off Diodoro claim. (1) Empire Builder might wake up here. Betting strategy: 4 to win, place. Exacta box: 1-4-5-8.

3rd race – (8) Just Epic seems primed for a solid effort in her debut. (12) Bush is working fast for her career debut. (10) Champagne Dream should not be overlooked here. (7) Ruiva could give Ward another 2-year-old winner. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 7-8-10-12.

5th race – (8) Bourbon and Spice turned in a nice effort in her first dirt race. Gets the nod here. (4) Diagram has speed and may hang around until the end. (9) Scarce may step forward in a claimer. (10) Ribadeo may like the cutback in distance. Betting strategy: 8 to win, place. Exacta box: 4-8-9-10.

7th race – (2) Shoot It True was second in her last two starts and seems overdue for a win. (9) Roja seems on edge for a sharp try in her first start since July. (10) Rosato looms a threat from an outside post. (5) Justinqueso should be closing fast at the end. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-5-9-10.

9th race - (2) Parchment Party comes off a nice win at the distance and should be the one to fear. (5) Interceptor figures to be fine with the added distance. (3) Timeout was second in this stakes last year and belongs in the exotics. (8) Wynstock may be suited by the marathon distance. Betting strategy: 2 to win, place. Exacta box: 2-3-5-8