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.

2^nd race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (5) Black Rain was fourth in his debut going seven furlongs at Saratoga for Todd Pletcher at 7-1 and Irad stays on board. (4) Opportunity Set ran third at the Spa following a five month layoff for Chad Brown. (3) Cloud Forest has had seven tries already with three second-place finishes, got claimed last time for $40,000 in July, and comes back as a new gelding for Ray Handal. (1) Quality Chic makes his second start since moving to the barn of David Jacobson during the summer.

3^rd race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (6) Quiet Wisdom was second in his first start last month at Saratoga for Todd Pletcher at odds of 7-2. (8) Aggelos the Great was the 8-5 favorite in his first start in July for George Weaver when he pressed the pace and finished a close third. (7) Catalina Crush was third in his debut for Norm Casse which was at the Spa where Casse had a great meeting. (4) Slammin Gold is a home-bred from the Bromans by Tapit out of the champion sprinter Bar of Gold.

5^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 1 mi] – (7) Gut Feeling broke his maiden for a $50,000 tag last year, has been racing in starter allowances since then, and now drops to the N2L condition while making his first start for Rick Dutrow. (5) Playingwithmatches was second at this level two races back then tried to step up to a starter allowance in his first start after being claimed by Linda Rice. (1) Happy Bob set the pace last time going 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga and finished second beaten by just a half-length. (4) Good Rapport will drop down to the lowest level of his career in his second start after getting claimed for $30,000.

8^th race [Clm 40000 N2L, 7F] – (6) Ghostly Girl gets blinkers on while making her first start after getting taken for $35,000 at Saratoga last month when she set the pace and finished third. (2) Yogi was claimed for $25,000 two races back and tried a starter allowance last time out. Blinkers go on. (1) Roman Goddess won a maiden special weight at Horseshoe Indiana last time with a front-end effort. (8) Divine Cross will run for a tag for the first time in her career. This will be her fifth career start after appearing in a Saratoga allowance after a seven month layoff.

Best bets:  Black Rain (2^nd); Gut Feeling (5^th). Best value:  Quiet Wisdom (3^rd); Ghostly Girl (8^th).