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.

3^rd race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (4) Road Show (A) dropped back in his debut to ninth and last, raced greenly, and then rallied seven-wide for second just a length behind. (7) Cut Down the Nets made a big improvement in his second start at the Spa when he was second all the way around the track. (5) Nystateofmind has been training steadily since May for his first race for a trainer that wins with firsters. (9) Sweet Redemption makes his second start after starting out at 10-1 last month.

7^th race [OC 80k/N2X, 5 ½ F TURF] – (5) War Stride (B) got bumped early in the race and had to check but rallied in the five path for second. (2) Bite and Strike won his last two races moving from a starter allowance to a first-level allowance. (3) No Evidence won an allowance last month and is twice graded-stakes placed. (1) Spiced Up missed by a head at this level in June and won the Mahony (G3) last summer at Saratoga.

8^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (7) Decimation showed lots of early speed to get to the lead in his first two starts and was second last month. (3) Q B Rocket was a $1.9 million yearling purchase who has been training sharply in Kentucky and ships up for Brad Cox who has been winning with his 2-year-olds. (6) Dallas Star was a $900,000 yearling purchase that Todd Pletcher said he expected to do good things at Saratoga. (5) Katz in the Cradle shows fast workouts for the connections of Napoleon Solo.

9^th race [Christophe Clement Turf (G1), 1 1/2 mi TURF] – (4) Program Trading won his last two races for Chad Brown and Flavien Prat stays on board having ridden three others in their most recent start. (1) Ancient Egypt had a pair of close second-place finishes in prestigious races in Europe at Longchamp and Royal Ascot. (5) Fort George was second in his American debut at Saratoga last month and stayed here to train for this race. (3) Ole Crazy Bone was a front-end winner of the Bowling Green beating two others in this field.

Best bets: Road Show (3^rd); Program Trading (9^th). Best Value: War Stride (7^th); Decimation (8^th).  

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 7-9 an includes the Clement Turf Stakes (G1) 1, 2, 3, 5 with 3, 5, 6, 7 with 1, 4, 5 = $48.