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.

1^st race [Clm 14000 N3L, 1 mi] – (7) Blu Grotto returns from a July layoff and was claimed for $25,000 when third two starts back. His best races were at Aqueduct where he ran well enough to win against this field. (3) Cumberland Blues was claimed last month at Saratoga for $14,000 by Rick Dutrow and won both times at Aqueduct. (5) Union Lights was also claimed for $14,000 at Saratoga and the blinkers come off. (1) Bert Bert Bert and (1A) Cheeky Tico form an entry for Oscar Barrera that should get a piece of the trifecta.

6^th race [Alw 100000 N1X, 1 3/16 mi TURF] – (6) Avenue Niel (B) got jostled at the start of her first American race, rallied from last to get the lead, and eventually finished third. (1) Virtual Reality and (1A) Tangential make a Chad Brown entry and both of them are win contenders. (8) She’s Mo Bubbly had a 10 length maiden victory at Saratoga in a race that was meant for the turf. She also had two good turf races. (7) Biloxi Blues broke her maiden a Colonial Downs last month for Shug McGaughey following a four month layoff.

7^th race [Alw 50000s, 1 mi] – (3) Mursal made two starts at this level since being claimed by Rick Dutrow from a four length N3L victory. (7) Jolly Miss Jill was claimed from Linda Rice after a win for $25,000 and then set the pace and finished third in a starter allowance at Saratoga. (1) Freudian has three career victories and two were at the Big A. She had a troubled trip last time after a pair of seconds. (5) Bon Adieu was claimed from her maiden win three weeks ago at the Spa for $30,000.

8^th race [NY, John Hettinger, 1 1/8 mi TURF] – (5) Spungie (A) was checked on the inside in the Yaddo and ran on well to finish second clear of the rest of the field. In that same race (2) New Ginya (A) got a perfect trip when she surged to the lead from last and won by almost four lengths. (3) Runaway Rumour was third in the Yaddo and changes to the barn of Linda Rice. (1) Whatlovelookslike had three wins in a row from spring to summer including a NY-bred stakes race at Belmont Park.

Best bets: Avenue Niel (6^th); Mursal (7^th). Best value:  Blu Grotto (1^st); Spungie (8^th).