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.

7^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (4) Skytown (A) had his second bad trip in a row that produced second-place finishes. This time he stumbled, got bumped around at the start, and then raced wide against an inside speed bias. (1) National Identity had a positive debut for Danny Gargan while pressing the pace, getting to within a head of the lead and finished a close third. (10) Chasing Colton had the lead in the stretch and ended up in second when he moved back out of claiming. (6) Free Dance stumbled out of the gate in his second start.

9^th race [OC 35k/SAL, 1 1/8 mi TURF] – (12) Heathguard (A) was probably best when he returned from a two-month layoff but he had another very wide trip and made a premature middle move. (7) Modica is in excellent form running a big race moving from very good turf performances to the dirt and now goes back to the grass. (4) Brigade Commander was claimed for $50,000 two races back from a turf race where he just missed the win by a nose. (2) Victory Dash set the pace in his recent races and finished third beaten by just a neck.

10^th race [The Tempted, 1 mi] – (6) Wild Mama (A) was a debut winner at 5-1 for a trainer that does not win with first-time starters very often. (8) The Queens M G won 3 out of 4 starts to start his career but did not appreciate the muddy and sealed track in the Spinaway (G1). (9) Impulse Buy was second in her debut in August and then romped to break her maiden by 11 last month at Keeneland. (1) Stunner was an odds-on favorite in both of her starts and won her second by more than six lengths for Brad Cox.

11^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (8) Willful Mama (B) moved from dirt to turf for her second start and improved to run second well clear of the rest of the field. (2) Bryant and Cooper got off to an awkward start in her debut at 5-2 and ran fourth. (3) Five G was 5-1 in her first start for George Weaver and will move from dirt to turf. (1) Moonlight Gal is another Weaver and Vekoma 2-year-old and this one ran third for the entire mile race at Aqueduct.

Best bets:  Skytown (7^th); Willful Mama (11^th). Best value: Heathguard (9^th); Wild Mama (10^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 9-11 and includes the Tempted  à 2, 4, 7, 11, 12 with 1, 6, 8, 9 with 8 = $20.