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.

5^th race [Clm 16000 N2L, 6F] – (2) Lady Banker (B) stumbled at the break, got behind, and had to try and close on a track that was speed favoring and very tiring. (7) Pauciloquent came back from a five month layoff and did little running but finds a field where most of the horses have had too many tries at this condition already. (1) Dance With Me Babe has been off since December when he was forwardly placed but was forced seven wide. (8) Army of Thoughts comes back in two weeks after a front-end maiden victory going seven lengths.

6^th race [NY, Md 40000, 1 mi] – (5) Arco Augusta (D) was bet down from 8-1 to 6-1 and he finished fourth after failing to change leads down the stretch. [(1) Judge Rules / (1A) Eric From Miami] make an entry for owner Barry Schwartz home-breds where both are win contenders. (7) Mama’s Dream came back from a short layoff to be forwardly placed and faded on a sloppy, sealed track. (8) Air Force Cross will debut for Brad Cox who wins at 21% with firsters in maiden claiming races.

8^th race [NY, Maddie May, 1 mi] – (7) Walk With Me (A) got jostled at the half-mile pole losing a bunch of ground but still rallied for second in a NY Stallion Series stakes race. (10) Mane Squeeze won the Franklin Square for NY-breds last time with a closing move and a fast pace is expected from this field. (2) Bernietakescharge pressed the pace last time and finished second in the Franklin Square. (3) Baroness Bourbon rallied from last in an allowance to miss the win by a nose going the mile distance and gets the right pace scenario.

9^th race [NY, Md 30000, 1 mi] – (4) Friday I’m in Love (D) was bet down from 5-1 to 3-1, had a bumpy start, and then could not rally on a tiring and speed favoring track. He will drop into a claimer for the first time. (1) Good Reunion was claimed from a second at this level last time by Linda Rice who is winning at 25% with her new runners. (3) Wanna Winna returned from a nine month layoff, finished second, and now drops into a maiden claimer for the first time. (5) Wafir set the pace in his last two races and finished second.

Best bets: Lady Banker (5^th); Friday I’m in Love (9^th). Best value: Arco Augusta (6^th); Walk With Me (8^th).