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.

5^th race [NY, Md 30000, 6 ½ F] – (4) Ariana Rye will move back to the dirt after one start this year which was in a turf sprint for maiden special weights. Trainer Rob Falcone Jr. has 43% winners at Saratoga. (5) Dancing Liana was second in her last two starts having set the pace last month. (2) Troubled Luck returns to a dirt sprint where last seen she was second for a $40,000 tag. (1) Good Mission will debut for Rob Atras in this maiden claimer which is a 29% winning move.

6^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) McDiesel (A/C) was bet down from 5-1 to be the 2-1 favorite in his debut. He refused to leave the rail when twice asked to do so by his rider and still finished second. (8) Iron Max (A) broke slowly putting him far back in last and then rallied to get fourth just two weeks ago at 7-2 odds. (4) Richard Ave moved to the turf in his second start and rallied for second-place. (7) Orio gets blinkers on after finishing fourth in his first start for trainer Mike Maker whose barn is hot at Saratoga as of late.

7^th race [Alw 25000s, 1 3/16 mi] – (3) On a Spree won her last two starts for Mike Maker and comes back after a two-month layoff. (6) St Andrews was claimed twice for $40,000 and $32,000, finished first and second, and thus fits well at this level. (4) Mystic Night finished second after a layoff at 7-2 and was claimed for $25,000 by Linda Rice who probably had this race in mind. (5) Grandpa’s Kid was the winner of a $50,000 starter allowance in March going nine furlongs.

9^th race [Glens Falls (G2), 1 ½ mi TURF] – (5) Eternal Hope won both of her starts last year in America as a 3-year-old in graded stakes and this year was sent to Saratoga as part of Charlie Appleby’s string to run for the first time in 2024 in this country. (7) McKulick won the Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream Park in March and then tried a pair of top turf races in New York for Chad Brown. (3) Chop Chop finished first or second in her last seven starts with a victory in the Bewitch (G3) at the Keeneland Spring meeting. (1) Alpha Bella like others in this field is a Grade 3 winner earlier in the year.

Best bets: Ariana Rye (5^th); On a Spree (7^th). Best value: McDiesel (6^th); Eternal Hope (9^th).