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.

3^rd race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 1 mi] – (4) Liberty Central hit the board in a few of these state-bred allowances and two NY-bred stakes since breaking his maiden at Aqueduct and has run out of the top three only twice from 11 starts. (1A) Land d’Oro took the summer off, returned to rally for third in September, and gets blinkers on. (2) Kolomio was claimed in Kentucky and will make his first start against NY-breds with three wins in his record. (3) Petrolo won his last four starts at Finger Lakes in allowances and two were against open company.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6 ½ F] – (10) Skytown (A) had a second bad trip in a row. He was bumped and stumbled and had to race wide against an inside favoring track. (12) Volatile Situation (A) was second in his first start at 4-1 against a strong field. (4) Sir Kartrite finished third in his debut at 4-1 last month just behind one of the Hot List horses. (7) Chief Liam was a $300,000 Saratoga yearling purchase that will debut for Kenny McPeek with a steady worktab going back to September.

6^th race [Clm 12500, 1 mi] – (4) Mystic Night was claimed for $25,000 in September when he just missed the win, got moved way up in class for two starts, and now appears to be in a winning spot. (1A) Ski Country was third at this level three weeks ago after pressing the pace. (8) Cumberland Blues was a winner for a $10,000 tag just last week with his best speed figure and that came after a second at today’s claiming price. (3) Styner was a clear front-end winner as the favorite last month at Finger Lakes.

7^th race [NY, New York Stallion Series, 7F] – (3) Khali Magic came back from not racing during the summer to run twice against open company. During the spring he won three times in the highest level optional claiming allowances for state-breds and was taken each time for the $45,000 tag. (2) Sunday Girl won her first two starts moving from an open-length maiden race to a NY Stallion Series stakes at Aqueduct. She was last seen winning an allowance at Saratoga. (4) Brown Suga Babe shipped up to Aqueduct from Parx Racing to win a pair of allowances for Jamie Ness who does well when he brings non-claimers to New York. (6) My Shea D Lady won another of these Stallion Series stakes that was run at Saratoga.

Best bets:  Liberty Central (3^rd); Khali Magic (7^th). Best value: Skytown (5^th); Mystic Night (6^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 5-7 and includes a New York Stallion Series Stakes à 4, 7, 10, 12 with 1, 4 with 2, 3, 4, 6 = $32.