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 25000B, 1 mi] – (1) Indianquest comes back from a July layoff and returns to the main track after two turf starts. He was the winner of his first two starts on the dirt in a maiden claimer and a starter allowance. (2) Rakia runs in a restricted claiming race for the first time having won an open claimer for a $40,000 tag earlier in the year. (7) Cool Operator also won a maiden claimer and then went on to take a starter allowance like the top choice. (4) Whiskey N Soda won an N2L claimer at Saratoga in his most recent race in August.

3^rd race [Awad, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (4) Valuation Metric set the pace in his second start, finished second by a neck, and comes back still looking for his maiden victory for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables. (5) Tiz Dashing broke his maiden at first asking at 5-2 for a trainer that does not win with firsters very often. (2) Surfside Moon broke his maiden when he moved to the grass in his third start at Delaware Park and then ran fifth in the Laurel Futurity that came off the turf. (7) Aviator Gui won his second start for Chad Brown at even money in a race that was meant for the grass.

5^th race [OC 50k/N1X, 1 1/8 mi] – (3) Whistler’s Style (A) broke awkwardly, got far behind, and rallied to finish a clear second. (1) Camera finished first in a similar spot but was disqualified and placed third. (2) Whocouldaskformo moved from four stakes races back to the allowance mentioned above and was moved up from third to second by disqualification. (8) Cinderella’s Cause finished first or second in his past eight races, won the second-level allowance for NY-breds by almost 12 lengths, and is still eligible for this open company first-level allowance.

8^th race [Clm 32000, 6F] – (4) Secret Rules won his last two starts in high-priced open claimers with stalking trips and has plenty of early speed to set up that kind of move again. (1A) Pipes and Drums was claimed from his last two starts for $40,000 and then $25,000 with a third last time. (6) Mister J T was claimed for $25,000 last time and finished second ahead of the second choice in this field. (9) Capture the Time came back from a layoff to win a starter allowance and then was second in a turf sprint.

Best bets:  Indianquest (2^nd); Valuation Metric (3^rd). Best value: Whistler’s Style (5^th); Secret Rules (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 1-3 and includes the Awad  à 2 with 1, 2, 4, 7 with 2, 4, 5, 7 = $16.