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 [Md Sp Wt, 6 ½ F] – (6) Hurricane Nelson was purchased privately after running second in his debut at Saratoga when he had the lead in the stretch and eventually finished second. He moved to the barn of Christophe Clement. (7) Private Desire was fourth in his first race for Pletcher at the Spa that included a winner that is running in the Iroquois at Churchill Downs and the third-place finisher came back to win. (5) Bounteous will make his first start and is a Juddmonte home-bred trained by Bill Mott. (1) Hedge the Risk was third in his debut at 3-1 for Chad Brown at Ellis Park last month. The winner of that race is also running in the Iroquois.

2^nd race [Alw 100000 N1X, 6F] – (4) Capone makes his first start of the year moving from the barn of Jimmy Jerkens to that of Rick Dutrow. He won a maiden special weight at Belmont Park and gets a trainer change which could get the horse back to his best. (7) Ocean’s Reserve had to be eased last time after his reins broke. The two races before had him move through the two NY-bred allowance conditions. (5) Kool Kathmandu gets Lasix for the first time returning from a seven-month layoff.  (6) Victorious Wave has a great record in claiming races and starter allowances.

7^th race [Alw 50000s, 1 mi] – (3) Warrior Richard (B) had to check early in the last race and had to rally eight-wide from last and was able to gain ground late. (7) Kunshan Bridge was claimed four times in a row before moving up to a starter allowance where she faced tougher competition and now has a pace advantage getting loose on the lead. (1) Thunderian ran well in a couple of high-priced claimers after trying the grass twice. (2) Skylander ran four times in starter allowances with a pair of thirds.

9^th race [Jockey Club Oaks (G3), 1 3/8 mi TURF] – (6) Eternal Hope will make her first start in America for Charlie Appleby following a third in a Group 2 race at Deauville in France. Appleby has had plenty of success sending horses to New York stakes races. (7) Speirling Beag made two starts in America for Graham Motion moving from a sixth-place finish in a tough field in the Belmont Oaks (G1) to a stakes race at Laurel Park where she just missed by a nose. (5) Highland Grace won her last two starts which were at Belmont Park in a maiden special weight and then an allowance. She has been off since July 4. (1) Last Call ships down from Woodbine after running fourth at Kentucky Downs and a series of stakes races at the Canada track. Last year she won the Natalma (G1) as a maiden and moved on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Best bets: Hurricane Nelson (1^st); Eternal Hope (9^th). Best value: Capone (2^nd); Warrior Richard (7^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 7-9 and includes the Jockey Club Oaks (G3) à 3, 7 with 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 with 6, 7 = $24.