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.

1^st race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (5) Usha hit the board in all three starts which were out in California for Bob Baffert and now returns from a two month layoff to face NY-breds for the first time. (3) Mischief Lady moved from turf to dirt and ran second in a NY-bred stakes race at Finger Lakes. (2) Princess Mischief was fourth in that same Finger Lakes stake in her second start. (4) Dynamitendiamonds was third in her debut on the turf against open company at Delaware Park.

3^rd race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (5) Gallant Greta moves from turf to dirt after a pair of third-place finishes and cuts back in distance. (4) Empire Magic returns from an August layoff after three finishes in the top three. (6) Purpose finished third in July in the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes in her second race. (1) Granadilla also comes back from an August break after four consecutive top three finishes and gets Lasix for the first time.

5^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 1 mi] – (3) Bold Ambition was claimed from his last two starts for $50,000 from an open claimer and from a $75,000 maiden claimer victory. (8) Vinsanity ran third for a $50,000 tag two races back on the main track at Aqueduct. (5) Beary Funny has a career record with 10 top three placings from 14 career starts but only one win. (4) Counter Attack moved from turf to dirt and broke his maiden by almost five lengths for a $20,000 tag.

8^th race [NY, Alw 80000, 1 1/8 mi] – (8) Just Step On It was fourth in the Haskell (G1) and second in the Smarty Jones at Parx Racing and returns to NY-bred racing where he broke his maiden. (1) Get a Job was an impressive maiden breaker at Saratoga this summer and had the lead in an allowance last time while running second. (5) Liberty Central has a pair of third-place finishes in NY-bred stakes races. (2) Land d’Oro was second in a state-bred allowance in September going seven furlongs.

Best bets: Usha (1^st); Bold Ambition (5^th). Best value: Gallant Greta (3^rd); Just Step On It (8^th).