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.

4^th race [Clm 40000, 7F] – (1) Royal Meghan (A) missed by a nose following a five-month layoff which came after getting claimed for $32,000. In that race she got floated out by the winner and finished well clear of the others. (2B) Fancy Azteca was a clear winner in a $40,000 claimer three races back, was taken, and then tried a pair of allowances. (6) Pretti Xtreme has a very similar last three races as Fancy Azteca with the big claiming win, changing barns, and allowances. (4) Halo City was third in an allowance after a layoff.

6^th race [NY, Alw 75000, 6F] – (7) Queens Masterpiece (A) had the lead in her first start following a May layoff and finished second and earned her top speed figure. (5) Better Humor Me got her maiden victory last month, gets first time Lasix now, and is projected to be on the lead. (3) Big Bean Christine had the lead and got a place finish just three weeks ago. (2) Reigning Chick won an open-company claimer in July and then came back from a layoff in a spot similar to today.

7^th race [Md 20000, 6F] – (6) Alibi Ike (A) returns from a June layoff when he was fractious pre-race, got blocked and checked sharply, and was eased. (1) Whenlovetakesover dropped own to this claiming level and ran third. (5) Grand Again comes back from a July layoff with four top three finishes showing. (8) Borletti moves from turf to dirt, drops into a maiden claimer for the first time, blinkers come off, and he is now a gelding.

9^th race [Comely (G3), 1 1/8 mi] – (7) Defining Purpose has been training in New York for Kenny McPeek. Last time out she was second in the Mother Goose (G2) after a couple of Grade 1 starts in the Cotillion and the Alabama. In July she won the Indiana Oaks (G3) and is a Grade 1 winner of the Ashland. (8) Raging Sea earned the best speed figure of her career when she won an allowance at Keeneland in October on a sloppy track going the nine-furlong distance. (3) Honor D Lady won the Remington Park Oaks (G3) in September which was clearly the best performance of her career when she returned to the dirt. (4) Just Katherine had a few top three finishes with competitive speed figures and then tried the Cotillion on that very sloppy track.

Best bets: Royal Meghan (4^th); Alibi Ike (7^th). Best value:  Queens Masterpiece (6^th); Defining Purpose (9^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 4-6 à 1, 2, 6 with 1, 8 with 2, 3, 5, 7 = $24.