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 [NY, OC 80k/N1X, 1 mi] – (3) Land d’Oro was a maiden winner in his second start when he rallied from sixth in a large field last month at Aqueduct. (2) Quiet Wisdom was a runaway winner of his maiden in his seventh try in a field of five. His speed figure made a big improvement after his prior numbers were all relatively close. (4) Brick Ambush ran second in a pair of similar allowance races as a heavy favorite. (5) Boss Three O Two was a debut winner in March as part of an entry for trainer Rick Dutrow where the third-place finisher came back to win his next start.

4^th race [Md 20000, 6F] – (6) Apuro will drop down to this claiming level with speed figures from his three races that are far higher than any other horse in this race. He was second in his debut in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. At Aqueduct for his last two starts he ran third and then fifth when he ran for a tag for the first time. Blinkers come off. (1) Piccolo Diavolo was third last time while racing for a $40,000 tag and drops down now. (3) Pappou’s Laugh was sent off at 6-1 in his debut in December at the Big A, set the pace briefly, and faded badly. He’s back with first-time Lasix and blinkers on. (4) Crown That Saint finished second three races back and is now listed as a new gelding.

6^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (1) Aunt Yola came back from a trouble debut trip to finish second last time ahead of a horse that came back to win her next start. (2) Calling an Audible finished second or third in her last five starts, all of which were at Aqueduct. (4) Ekwanok began her career at Saratoga where she did finish third. Since then, she changed barns and finished fourth in January at the Big A. (8) Margaux Treasure debuted last month at Gulfstream for Barclay Tagg and did not do much running after a bumpy start.

7^th race [Plenty of Grace, 1 mi TURF] – (5) Silver Skillet will make her 2024 debut with the return of turf racing at Aqueduct where she ran fourth in the Pebbles (G3) back in November. (4) Tass has a great record on the Aqueduct turf with three wins. She was fourth in January at Gulfstream in the LaPrevoyante (G3). (1) Midnight Mile will make her American debut for Chad Brown after racing in Great Britain where she was a past Group 1 winner at Newmarket. (3) Spirit and Glory won a turf stakes race at Fair Grounds in February.

Best bets: Apuro (4^th); Aunt Yola (6^th). Best value: Land d’Oro (2^nd); Silver Skillet (7^th).