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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

3^rd race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 6F TURF] – (1) Icy Flavor (A) made his 2023 debut at Saratoga last month where he pressed the pace and got stymied on the inside during the stretch run. (10) Image of Quality (D) will make his first start against NY-breds after running in a starter allowance at the Spa when he had to steady early and then took a lot of kickback while he was bet down from 9-1 to 7-1. (6) Ortus was second in his last race which was in July and he finished a closing second. A fast pace is expected in this field. (9) Empire Sky will also benefit from the fast pace after two good runs in races that came off the grass.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) Magic Eight Ball (B) should benefit from experience gained in her two prior starts which includes a third in her debut at Belmont as the favorite and now moves from dirt to turf. (6) Belle Gambe is a European purchase for Chad Brown out of a mare that produced Uni, a $2.6 million earner and Grade 1 winner. (10) Dynamic Pricing is another Euro-bred and purchase for Brown. (1) Just Jules was $1.05 million purchase as a yearling for Bill Mott.

8^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 1 mi] – (7) Amedeus Music (D) was bumped hard at the break and finished fourth after getting bet down from 7-1 to 9-2. (4) Mama’s Gold won a starter allowance with a front-end effort and is projected to be on the lead again. (1) Bourbon Chase tried the turf last time and moves back to the main track where he has eight top three finishes. (3) Uncle Marty was a maiden winner following a layoff and improved significantly in his first start against winners.

9^th race [Md 40000, 6F TURF] – (3) Wish List (B) returns after a year layoff following a second in his debut in a maiden special weight at the BAQ meeting. (9) Spun Special had two excellent turf starts at Belmont Park this summer. (4) Iguaza came back from a layoff to run second in August for Wesley Ward. (10) Bourbon and Honey had an excellent debut against a strong field last summer and came back on a sloppy track at Saratoga. Now she drops into a claimer for the first time.

Best bets: Icy Flavor (3^rd); Amedeus Music (8^th). Best value:  Magic Eight Ball (4^th); Wish List (9^th).