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.

3^rd race Md Sp Wt, 1 3/16 mi TURF] – (5) Protect and Defend (B) broke well in his first start after a short layoff, was keen as he pressed the pace, had the lead, and missed by a nose. (8) Pay the Piper gets blinkers on after a pair of good finishes at Saratoga for Chad Brown. (6) Donnadoyawanna set the pace going 12-furlongs in July and finished second. Blinkers go on. (3) Evenly Alert was second in both starts and was claimed for $55,000 by Linda Rice 10 days ago in a race that was meant for the turf but went on a sloppy and sealed track.

5^th race [Clm 20000 N2L, 1 mi] – (8) Successful Agenda broke her maiden in her second start for a $35,000 tag by more than seven lengths and then tried a NY-bred starter allowance. (10) Doppio Espresso broke her maiden for $50,000 and her last three starts were on the grass going long including a second for $40,000. She drops to the lowest level of her career and goes back to dirt with 12-1 ML odds. (4) Margarita Molly was claimed last month for $25,000 and set the pace to be second at this level in July at Saratoga. (3) Amelia’s Echo drops back to the level at which she was claimed in April at Oaklawn Park.

6^th race [R, Moc 75000C, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) Berta’s Stitch will drop in for a tag for the first time and in three starts had a third in his first two races including Saratoga in July. Flavien Prat gets on board. (4) Inclusivity makes his first start at Ellis Park in a $50,000 claimer where he rallied from far back in last to miss by less than two lengths at 8-1. (5) George Street was the 5-2 favorite in an auction-restricted maiden special weight for Brad Cox. (10) Motorcycle Cop made up some ground after getting far behind in his first start.

7^th race [R, Md Sp Wt, 5 ½ F TURF] – (1) Tappin Magic (B) stumbled badly, checked hard, got far back in last in her debut, and rallied to get fourth. (10) Comets Choice move from dirt to turf in her second start and improved with a close fifth-place finish in a field of 12. (4) Juneau had a pair of seconds on the dirt and gets hot rider Manny Franco. (9) Gold Fashioned will make her first start for a hot young sire and has a turf work showing.

Best bets: Berta’s Stitch (6^th); Tappin Magic (7^th). Best value: Protect and Defend (3^rd); Successful Agenda (5^th).