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.

1^st race [Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (5) Jack’s Golden Goal (A) was second his first start well clear of the rest of the field and blinkers go on. (4) Powerline is a son of Flightline who sold for $1.8 million at the Saratoga yearling sale last year and will race for Steve Asmussen who has four wins at the meeting already. (7) Greenwell was sent off as an even-money favorite for his debut which was at Churchill Downs last month where finished second a head in front of a horse that came back to win his next start. (2) The Good Life is a home-bred from WinStar Farm who has a few fast workouts in Kentucky in preparation for his first start.

9^th race [Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (1) Criteria (B) broke seventh as a horse that is usually forwardly place and finished third. (5) Mo the Merrier was second in his first start at Fair Grounds in March and then was third last month at Aqueduct going a mile. (9) Gadget Play was third in his only race at Churchill in May at 8-1. (8) Ize a Runner was a $1.15 million Keeneland September yearling purchase and a son of Gun Runner making his debut after training at Saratoga since April.

10^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 1 mi] – (5) Whittington Park (C) was bet down from 9-2 to 2-1, had the lead with a slow pace, finished second, and was claimed for $45,000 last month for a barn that had three quick wins at the Saratoga meeting. (3) Annexperience finished top three in 7 out of 9 races against NY-breds with a win in April in an allowance. (8) Three B’s tried the turf last time after having won at this level on the main track and comes back in the same conditions using the claiming option. (7) Elysian Meadow hit the board three times at this allowance level.

11^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (7) Iron Max (A) had his back heels clipped for his second race in a row with a bad trip but managed to run second both times. (8) Jack and Jim (B) broke last and lost his jockey during the stretch run. (4) Mo Trump returned from a four-month layoff and finished third after pressing the pace in a similar spot. (6) Conman has been away since November when was fourth in similar company and was claimed for $45,000.

Best bets: Whittington Park (10^th); Iron Max (11^th). Best Value: Jack’s Golden Goal (1^st); Criteria (9^th).  

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 (covers races 9-11) 1, 5, 8, 9 with 3, 5, 8 with 4, 7, 8 = $36.