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.

6^th race [Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), 1 ½ mi TURF] – (4) War Like Goddess will try and win the Turf Classic for the third time in a row having beaten the boys in this race in 2023 and 2022. She gets back to her preferred distance of 1.5 miles at which she has a spectacular record of 10: 7-1-1 with more than half of her career earnings of $2.8 million. (6) Silver Knott won her first three starts of the year in three American Grade 2 races as part of the Appleby barn at Saratoga. Last time he was third in the Sword Dancer (G1). (5) Truly Quality is in the best form of his career with an allowance victory at Aqueduct in the Spring and a win in the Colonial Cup at the Virginia track with that name. (7) Far Bridge was a front-end winner of that Sword Dancer which was not typically his running style for one that usually is closing from off the pace.

7^th race [MOC 50000, 6F] – (6) Melle Mel (B) broke slowly and raced greenly in her debut at Saratoga in a race that was meant for the turf and was run on a sloppy and sealed track. (9) Linda’s Jewel was bet in both of her starts and returns to the dirt where she was third in her first race. (4) Carol Said No dropped into a maiden claimer for her second start, set the pace, and got beat by a nose. (10) Shadyside was fifth in her initial race at odds of 2-1 at Monmouth Park for a trainer that is off to a good start at this BAQ meeting.

8^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (13) Disco Star (A) rallied from ninth to second in her first start well clear of the rest at 7-1 and will be the top choice if she draws in. (1) Miss C Banker set the pace in her first two starts and just missed the maiden breaker by a neck at Saratoga. She was unable to get the lead last month and will need to do better. (11) Vehemente will move from dirt to turf for her third race. Irad Ortiz and blinkers go on. (7) Pawtucketshuffle was bet to 7-1 for her debut in July and also tries the turf for the first time. (3) Silsbee will debut for George Weaver as a $330,000 2-year-old purchase.

11^th race [Pilgrim (G2), 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (1) Noble Confessor (B) raced wide against an inside bias and now tries the turf. (4) Zulu Kingdom is undefeated in two starts with a maiden score in France in June and then in the Chad Brown barn she won the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga. (5) Concord Dream was an impressive debut winner for Shug McGaughey who does not usually win with first-time starters. (8) Early Adopter won her only start which was last month at the Spa at odds of 4-1 for Chad Brown when the jockey lost the crop.

Best bets:  War Like Goddess (6^th); Melle Mel (7^th). Best value: Disco Star (8^th); Noble Confessor (11^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 6-8 including the Turf Classic (G1)  à 4, 5, 6 with 4, 6, 9 10 with 1, 11, (13) = $24.