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.

2^nd race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (9) Wildest Dreams (D) was bet down from 7-1 to 9-2 and was part of a blanket finish for second and ended up fourth. (6) Lot of Loon will debut from the barn of a trainer having a great Saratoga meeting with a few first-time starters who won. (4) Velora sold for $300,000 as a 2-year-old in April and has been working sharply in New York for her debut. (5) Cyber Baby is from the first crop of Cyberknife and was touted by her trainer as a talented 2-year-old.

3^rd race [Clm 100000, 1 mi] – (5) Eliminate was claimed for $50,000 in June and won a second-level allowance two weeks later. (6) Reasoned Analysis came back from a 15-month layoff in a top-level allowance, got to the lead, and finished third. (1) Gewurztraminer was claimed for $80,000 in May and then missed by a head in a starter allowance at Churchill Downs. (4) Otello changes barns to a trainer who is having a good Saratoga meeting.

6^th race [Saratoga Special (G2), 6 ½ F] – (6) Flight Command (A) is a son of Flightline who won his debut by 10 lengths as the 6-5 favorite. (4) Booked won the Sanford (G3) at Saratoga on July 4^th as the favorite by six lengths. (3) Twinkle Town broke his maiden in his first start by more than six lengths ahead of a horse that won his next start. (1) How’s Al Today rallied from off the pace to win his debut and should appreciate the added distance.

12^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) Amicable Farce (A) was eager, raced greenly, took a bad step, and finished second beaten by a half-length while well clear of the rest of the field. (6) Fancy n’ Flight started twice last year including a turf race where she had to check, was impeded before finishing third, and was moved up to second by disqualification. (2) Music Box was second in all three of her races at Laurel Park and Colonial Downs. (5) Nonconsecutivetrms had the lead, finished second in his 2026 debut in July and gets first-time Lasix.

Best bets: Eliminate (3^rd); Flight Command (6^th). Best Value: Wildest Dreams (2^nd); Amicable Farce (12^th).  

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 )covers races 1-3) 5 with 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 with 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 = $25.