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 [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (1) The Splendid One (C) returned to the turf when the courses opened in New York. He rallied for third beaten by less than a length for the win when he was bet down from 11-1 to 7-1. (5) Bomb Squad made all three of his starts on the grass with two coming this year with improved speed figures and a close second just two weeks ago. (2) Starts Now gets first-time Lasix following a second in his only race of the year in April when he missed the victory by a neck. (3) Berning Honor is projected to be on the lead in this field after breaking slowly, rushing up to the lead, and then holding on for second with a career best speed figure.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi] – (5) Shreveport (A) was stuck on the rail on a day that the inside of the track was not the place to be and still ran third. He set the pace that day and is projected to do so again. (1) Cloud Forest made his 2023 debut in April in a maiden claimer and ran second the entire race. (7) Phelpsy made his first start of the year in April for Chad Brown going seven furlongs with Lasix and got third in his best race yet. (6) Donegal Forever will make his career first start for Todd Pletcher. He is out of a mare that earned $137,000 and was stakes placed as a 2-year-old and has produced one winner from her only runner.

8^th race [Alw 95000 N1X, 1 mi TURF] – (3) Emboite (A) made his 2023 debut in April when he looked like a horse that needed the race while finishing third and now gets first-time Lasix. (2) Al’s Rocket (B) raced from eighth and last to finish second going six-wide with a career best speed figure in his first start of the year. (6) Soulmate was claimed out of his second start of the year for $40,000 when he finished fourth with a big jump in speed figures. (7) Exact Estimate moved from his maiden win to run second in an allowance at Keeneland missing the win by a neck.

10^th race [Clm 30000 N2L, 6F TURF] – (4) Mostly Harmless (C) got rained off the turf twice this year but last time got jostled around while pressing the pace and still finished second after getting bet down from 5-1 to 3-1. (12) Candy Monet (A) was last seen at Saratoga when she was rank and raced wide the entire way and now drops into the claiming ranks. (1) Rum Runner Ready  drops out of a starter allowance and should get a good pace scenario from the expected fast pace. (8) Smokin Hot Kitty was claimed last time for $30,000 in her second start of the year and gets blinkers on.

Best bets: The Splendid One (1^st); Shreveport (5^th). Best value: Emboite (8^th); Mostly Harmless (10^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 8-12  à 2, 3, 6, 7 with 1  with 1, 4, 8, 10, 12 = $20.