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 [Clm 10000, 1 mi] – (5) Pit Boss (D) bet down from 4-1 to 2-1 was fractious pre-race, got the lead, and finished fourth. He now drops down from $16,000 and his last win was for $12,500. (3) Mount Travers was third last time with an improved effort and a speed figure that makes him a contender in this field. (6) Swift Tap is projected to set the pace and that gives him an edge. (4) Blu Grotto makes a big drop in class. Four races back he won for $14,000.

5^th race [Alw 50000s, 7F] – (7) Notah (A) stumbled at the start, still managed to get the lead, and finished third well clear of the rest of the field. (4) Blue Plate Special (B) broke eight lengths behind the rest of the field and rallied to get third just a head behind the winner. (8) Mandatory won a N2L condition by almost 13 lengths and has a few good efforts at this level. Overall, he’s faster than most of this field. (3) M B’s Munning won a N3L condition three races back then was third and just missed the win in starter allowances.

8^th race [Correction, 6F] – (5) Hot Fudge won her last four races which includes the Interborough and the Garland of Roses which she did from a stalking position but has also won on the lead. Overall, she won 5 out of her 6 starts at Aqueduct and 7 out of 12 in her career. (4) Kant Hurry Love ran five stakes races in a row, hitting the board in four of them and winning the Dancing Renee for NY-breds. She was just a neck behind the top choice in the Garland of Roses. (3) Quick Munny is fast out of the gate and fast to get to the lead. Trainer Rob Atras is red hot lately. (2) Starship Defiant found success at Aqueduct two races back in an allowance at Aqueduct but then tried to ship to Oaklawn for a starter allowance and he got steadied along the rail while contending for the victory.

9^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (5) He Has It All (B) ran second in his debut well clear of the rest after getting bumped around at the start. He was on the outside on an inside favoring track. (1) J D Factor set the pace in his last two starts finishing second and third and should be on the lead again. (2) Cuando was second in his starts and was well bet both times. (8) Society Man ran in the Withers (G3) last time after a third-place finish going nine furlongs.

Best bets: Pit Boss (2^nd); Hot Fudge (8^th). Best value: Notah (5^th); He Has It All (9^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 7-9 which includes the Correction à 5, 8, 9, 10 with 4, 5 with 1, 2, 5 = $24.