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.

2^nd race [NY, Clm 25000, 6F] – (8) First Deputy (B) got off to a slow start and rallied on a sloppy, speed favoring track and still finished third. (2) Quick Return (D) got bet down from 7-1 to 5-2 and then had to race wide on an inside favoring track after a slow start. (6) Double Shot has two wins at this NY-bred claiming level including last time when he made his first start for a new trainer. (1) Foolish Giant makes a big drop down in class into the claiming ranks and is projected to get loose on the lead.

3^rd race [Jimmy Winkfield, 6F] – (4) Drew’s Gold won both of his races with a debut victory at Churchill Downs in May and then following an eight month layoff he recovered from a troubled start to win an allowance at Laurel Park by almost four lengths. He earned the highest speed figure in Winkfield from that victory. (3) Kool Kathmandu was a five-length winner of a maiden special weight in his second start on a sloppy track and was geared down approaching the wire. He is projected to be on the lead once again. (1) Joey Freshwater won his last two starts beginning with a clear victory in a maiden claimer at Churchill Downs where Linda Rice took him for $50,000. At Aqueduct, Joey Freshwater won a starter allowance with a stalking trip. (2) Daydreaming Boy ships up from Parx after facing very strong competition in a pair of stakes and a maiden race.

4^th race [Alw 50000s, 6F] – (8) Mo Rewards (C) was bet down to be an even money favorite from 7-2 and finished third and was claimed for $25,000 by Linda Rice. (5) Ikigai was second in a similar starter allowance after setting the pace. (1) Tenebris / (1A) Joey Loose Lips are both contenders in this spot. (9) Upper Level gets blinkers on after a pair of third-place finishes at this level.

7^th race [Clm 25000, 1 mi] – (10) Swift Tap (D) was bet down from 7-1 to 5-1 and drops from a starter allowance to a level at which he won two races ago when he was claimed by Michelle Nevin. (6) Leddy has been racing against much tougher competition since winning at the $25,000 level at Saratoga when he was claimed by Linda Rice. (9) American Rule returned from a six month layoff and finished fourth in a $40,000 claimer. (7) Sundaeswithsandy will also drop won to a claimer which was the last time that he won a race and that was four starts ago.

Best bets: Drew’s Gold (3^rd); Swift Tap (7^th). Best value: First Deputy (2^nd); Mo Rewards (4^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 2-4 and includes the Jimmy Winkfield  à 2, 6, 8 with 1, 3, 4 with 1, 5, 8 = $27.