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.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (1A) Always Be Smart (B) returned from a three month layoff, got shut off at the break, was slow into stride, finished second, and got claimed for $40,000. (8) Exploration rallied from last to just miss the win by a nose in his first start for Brittany Russell after a 10 month layoff. He was a heavily bet favorite both times. (5) Stronsino made his first start at Aqueduct after joining the barn of Jamie Ness and ran third with a career best speed figure. (7) Sardis has a second and a third in similar races at Aqueduct in the beginning of the year and shows up as a new gelding.

7^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (2) Catchphrase (A) set a very fast pace yet was able to hold on for third place. She changes barns for her second start to a New York based trainer. (3) Mulkey started twice in the spring as a heavy favorite and finished second and third. (1) Good Mission was claimed for $30,000 from her Saratoga debut and then was claimed back by Rob Atras in her next race. She came back from a three month layoff to run fourth after setting the pace. (7) Calling an Audible has been off since August when she hit the board six times from nine starts.

9^th race [Alw 92000 N1X, 7F] – (6) She’s a Tempest was third in a pair of Grade 3 races at Santa Anita earlier in the year and came back from a March layoff to finish third in a November allowance in her first start in the Bill Mott barn. (1A) All Class was claimed for $62,500 by Linda Rice from a race at Keeneland that the horse won. (5) Caldwell Luvs Gold was third in a Grade 3 on the turf in September and is a two-time NY-bred stakes winner on the dirt. (7) Striker Has Dial was second in a Saratoga stakes race and most recently tried the turf twice in allowance races.

10^th race [NY, Md 40000, 7F] – (9) Endless Vow (D) was bet down from 14-1 to 10-1 in her third start and got bumped and checked. This big filly now drops in for a tag for the first time. (4) Frankie Hiccups set the pace and finished second in a $50,000 maiden optional claimer in her third start. (10) Light Thoughts was second in her debut at 5-2 in a maiden special weight at Finger Lakes. (1) Honey in the Bank was third in her first start which was at today’s level.

Best bets: Catchphrase (7^th); She’s a Tempest (9^th). Best value: Always Be Smart (4^th); Endless Vow (10^th).