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.

2^nd race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (2) Fabian’s Princess debuted last year at 3-1 on a sloppy track at Aqueduct and pressed the pace before running fourth. Blinkers go on with first-time Lasix for a trainer who is having at excellent Saratoga meeting. (7) Carmen Amalia was second last time moving from turf to dirt and blinkers go on. (6) Quiddity changes barns and makes her 2026 debut with a pair of top three finishes showing. (1) Promise Me Amelody will make his first start for a barn that is good with firsters.

3^rd race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (4) Wedelia made two starts on sloppy tracks at Churchill Downs and finished second in June as the favorite for Brad Cox who is third in the trainer standings while winning at 30%. (2) Noble Glow showed some speed in her only start last year at 5-1. (3) Maria Louise was an $850,000 yearling purchase making her initial start for the now hot Todd Pletcher barn. (7) Slow Kara was second in her second start at Gulfstream Park before trying the Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct in April.

6^th race [Md Sp Wt, 5 ½ F TURF] – (7) Rockabye (A) missed by a neck in his July debut and was three lengths clear of the rest. (9) Without Hesitation was a $2.3 million purchase in April who will debut for Wesley Ward. (1) Shinobu made her only start a Churchill in June at 4-1 and pressed the pace before running fourth. (4) Never Gonna Stop raced near the front, got to a narrow lead, and finished second in July at Ellis Park.

7^th race [Md 25000, 6F] – (2) Implacable tried the turf in his first start of the year to no avail but showed excellent early speed in three maiden special weight starts last year. (9) Abrigado gets blinkers on as he makes his second start while he drops down from a $100,000 tag at Churchill. (7) Draft Riots will run in a claimer for the first time after running on the grass once and having also shown speed. (8) Wingfoot had a pair of top three finishes for $30,000 including when Linda Rice claimed him.

Best bets: Fabian’s Princess (2^nd); Wedelia (3^rd). Best value: Rockabye (6^th); Implacable (7^th).