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 [Alw 100000 N1X, 6F TURF] – (2) City Fever (A) was an impressive winner in his second start after pressing the pace beating a horse that came back to win his next start. (1) Acoustic Ave was second at this level last time. He won 4 out of 5 of his races as a 2-year-old against NY-breds. (4) Highly Flammable won a starter allowance two races back. (7) Vocalize made his first start of the year in June, won that race, and then had a second and a third.

8^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 6F TURF] – (6) Majestic Johnson (B/D) was bet down from 8-1 to 5-1 in his only start of the year which was in June. He was claimed back by Linda Rice for $30,000 after having to idle in traffic. (3) Image of Quality (D) was bet down from 9-1 to 7-1 in his first start since joining a New York barn. He had to steady early and then ran into heavy kickback along the rail. (7) Ortus has been off since July when he had a second and third at this allowance level. (4) Empire Sky returns to the turf after two starts in races that came off the turf where he won a maiden and then was second by a nose in his first allowance try.

9^th race [Alw 100000 N1X, 1 mi] – (8) Set Sail has two starts this year and both resulted in third-place finishes at this level. (7) Certified Loverboy won his maiden race in his sixth start after increasing speed figures in every start. (4) Abadin broke his maiden at Saratoga and then was fourth in an allowance in his next race. (3) Fenwick has two races this year and ran second in July but then was seventh last month in a much tougher field that included the top choice.

10^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6 ½ F] – (10) Book of Wisdom (B) was second in both if her races which were at Saratoga and last time she finished ahead of a horse that won her next start. (8) Ekwanok (C) was bet down from 8-1 to 5-1 in her second career start at the Spa and got third after racing wide. (9) Landed will make her debut for Wesley Ward and was a $500,000 yearling purchase from a sire with a $30,000 stud fee. (3) Granadilla will debut for Rick Dutrow and the daughter of Practical Joke sold for $190,000 as a 2-year-old.

Best bets: City Fever (2^nd); Book of Wisdom (10^th). Best value: Majestic Johnson (8^th); Set Sail (9^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 7-9 à 5, 6 with 3, 4, 6, 7 with 3, 4, 7, 8 = $32.