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 [Md 40000, 1 mi] – (3) Mad Magic (C) has a third and a second in his last two starts. Last time he ran a mile and was bet down from 6-1 to 4-1. (4) Long Term ran in the 2022 Wood Memorial and most recently tried the turf at Gulfstream Park. The Todd Pletcher runner will make his first appearance for a tag. He began his career with four second-place finishes. (8) Pioneering Spirit returns from a June layoff and drops into the maiden claiming ranks as a new gelding also for Pletcher. (7) Stjames was second last time in a similar spot.

4^th race [NY, Alw 72000 N1X, 1 mi] – (3) Agility has his best performances at Aqueduct in allowance and stakes against NY-breds. (6) Amedeus Music exits a second and a win facing open company claimers and returns to state-bred racing. (4) Braciole won his last two starts for $25,000 when he was claimed and then in a starter allowance. (1) Asymmetric returns from another long layoff for Chad Brown. He ran well in all three starts picking up his maiden breaker back in June.

6^th race [Alw 50000s, 1 mi] – (8) Gut Feeling ran second twice in starter allowances after a layoff which came after he was claimed for $50,000 from his maiden score. (6) Labarde broke his maiden for a $40,000 tag and then was third in a race similar to today’s spot. (9) Mandatory was second in a $40,000 claimer after trying first-level allowances four times. (2) Colloquy was claimed for $40,000 following a win over other horses in this field.

7^th race [NY, East View, 6F] – (4) Maple Leaf Mel is unbeaten in two starts which both were at Saratoga in a maiden race and then a NY-bred stake. (7) Les Bon Temps began her career in Kentucky where she won her debut and then was third in stakes race behind champion Wonder Wheel. She won NY-bred stakes and now runs for Linda Rice. (1) Little Linzee is stakes-placed against state-breds and was a debut winner at Saratoga on the grass. (5) Lady Mine has been off since August but was second behind the top choice for a trainer that has excellent stats after long layoffs.

Best bets:  Agility (4^th); Maple Leaf Mel (7^th). Best value:  Mad Magic (2^nd); Gut Feeling (6^th).