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.

1^st race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 5½ F TURF] – (3) Combat Move (A) had a bad break back to last in her debut and rallied for second well clear of the rest of the field. (6) Aperitif gets blinkers on after finishing third and earning her best speed figure. (5) My Lil Army Girl was claimed two races back for $50,000 when she was third and then was also third in an off the turf maiden special weight. (7) Liberty’s Advance was third twice recently and gets blinkers on.

2^nd race [Md 85000, 6F] – (2) Mo the Merrier drops into a maiden claimer for the first time in his fourth start with a second and a third. (5) The Standard was second in a $100,000 claimer last month. (6) Onepac is in for a tag for the first time after showing early speed. (3) Grand Gesture gets blinkers on for his third start and second of the year for Bill Mott.

5^th race [Clm 20000 N3L, 6F] – (3) Vekomancer moves to the lowest level of his career with an allowance win at Horseshoe Indiana and a third in a $50,000 claimer at Aqueduct. (9) Cloudy Chance finished second the last time that she ran for a tag and now drops into the claiming ranks again in the N3L condition. (8) Mascara was claimed from a second-place finish for $20,000 at Churchill Downs and was third last time at Ellis Park. (1) Vino Frizzante was also claimed from a third-place finish for $20,000 in July and then tried an allowance at Saratoga two weeks ago.

9^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (10) Holy Seven (A) broke through the gate, then came out quickly, got to the lead, but faded badly. (9) Complex Charlie showed early speed in his last start in April and finished third. (2) Criteria hit the board in his last three starts showing early speed. (3) Spherical was third in his first start of the year which was last month at Saratoga.

Best bets: Mo the Merrier (2^nd); Vekomancer (5^th). Best value: Combat Move (1^st); Holy Seven (9^th).