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 [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (2) May December (B) set the pace and finished sixth in her debut for a trainer whose horses make a big improvement in their second start. (5) Bashfully will make her second start with blinkers on for Todd Pletcher and Eclipse Thoroughbreds. (3) Flamenco will debut for the strong jockey/trainer combination of Johnny V. and Graham Motion. (6) La Patronne is a French-bred filly purchased in Europe for a trainer who has had lots of success doing that.

2^nd race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (9) Promise Me Amelody (A) was second best in her first start as the 2-1 favorite behind an experienced runner. (7) Carmen Amalia (B) stumbled at the start, rushed up to second, and faded to third. (6) Sparks Will Fly is a home-bred for the prominent NY breeder Chester Broman and Jose Ortiz rides. (1) Galway Gurl showed plenty of early speed in her two Saratoga starts.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 5 ½ F TURF] – (8) Carpet City missed by a neck at 15-1 in her debut last month after having to steady at the quarter pole. (10) Night Sky shipped from Monmouth Park, pressed the pace, got to the lead, and finished second at 13-1. (4) Tiger Line debuts for a trainer who is having an excellent summer at the Spa as a $240,000 Saratoga yearling purchase from a $12,500 stallion. (9) Forecheck was touted by the trainer as a 2-year-old to watch for at this meeting.

7^th race [NY, Seeking the Ante, 6F] – (5) Velora was a rare debut winner for Linda Rice and she won by almost five lengths as a 4-5 favorite. (7) Tiara was an early debut winner who was owned and bred by the trainer. (2) Prime Aurora raced three times against open company including two Saratoga stakes and blinkers come off. (1) Cachorrita was an open-length winner at Canterbury Park as a 9-5 favorite.

Best bets: Promise Me Amelody (2^nd); Velora (7^th). Best value: May December (1^st); Carpet City (5^th).