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 [Md 50000, 1 mi] – (8) Just Magic was second in a maiden special weight two races back, then tried the turf with lackluster results, and now drops into the claiming ranks for the first time. (5) Cha Cha Chukka was third and then fourth in a pair of maiden special weights at Delaware Park for Rudy Rodriguez. (1) By the Glass was well bet in both of her starts and ran well for Rick Dutrow. (2) Union Belle was claimed for $40,000 last time when fourth and the blinkers go on.

4^th race [OC62k/N2X, 1 1/8 mi] – (5) Just Katherine drops back to allowance competition after trying a pair of graded stakes races. (6) Into Happiness had a three race winnings streak in the summer and was second at this allowance level last month. (1) Amanda’s Folly won a NY-bred stakes race last time which was her fourth victory since April when Linda Rice claimed her. (3) Sweet Willemina will ship up from Parx once again with her 17 career wins.

7^th race [NY, Bay Ridge, 1 mi] – (2) Fingal’s Cave returns from a 14 month layoff after a 3-year-old campaign that included four wins and a second from five starts with a Grade 2 second and a state-bred stakes score. (3) Venti Valentine was third in a Grade 3 last time and is a multiple NY-bred stakes winner. (6) Know It All Audrey has a stellar record at Aqueduct of 16: 7-5-1 and won the Empire Distaff last time out. (5) Bustin Bay is another veteran mare that has a great record at the Big A.

8^th race [NY, Md 30000, 1 mi] – (1) Handle On You drops into a maiden claimer for the first time with a second-place finish in October. (4) Love Like Crazy was fourth in her debut earlier in the month for Linda Rice. (6) Dame Catherine had the lead in last race at this level for a trainer that has been doing very well with maidens lately. (7) Mia Nipotina was third last time in her first start for a tag.

Best bets: Just Katherine (4^th); Fingal’s Cave (7^th). Best Value: Just Magic (1^st); Handle On You (8^th).