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.

1^st race [Clm 16000 N2L, 1 mi] – (6) La Grotte (D) was bet down from 10-1 to 6-1, had the lead in a starter allowance, and now drops back to a N2L claimer with blinkers on which means she could get loose on the lead. (4) Shasi has also shown early speed which will aid her chances. (3) Afilada came back from a seven-month layoff to finish third and then second at this level. (5) Alterina was third in her last two starts which were at the N2L level.

3^rd race [Clm 10000, 6 ½ F] – (2) Vintage (D) was bet down from 10-1 to 5-1, got the lead, then raced wide in the eight-path, and drops down to this lowest claiming price available. (5) Liberty Flame will get class relief after two starts that came following a layoff and is expected to be loose on the lead. (7) Mariah’s Fortune has a win and a pair of thirds in these lower claiming races. (8) Just a Nyquist cuts back to a sprint distance at which she won her only start.

4^th race [OC50k/SAL50k, 6F] – (2) I Got Busted comes back on 17 days rest after breaking his maiden by almost six lengths and is projected to get loose on the front-end. (5) Wecallemfuncoupons was second in a similar spot last time and gets a favorable rider change. (3) Augustine Red got claimed from his maiden win for $50,000 by Linda Rice and has since finished in the top three twice at today’s level. (7) Black Almighty is a NY-bred that was a debut winner at Camarero in Puerto Rico in November who since moved to the barn of Rice.

6^th race [Clm 16000, 6F] – (5) Cajun Casanova (D) was bet down from 16-1 to 10-1, gained some ground late to get fourth, and was claimed by a hot trainer. (4) Commerce Comet (D) pressed the pace after taking late money from 7-1 to 9-2, also ran fourth, and drops down a notch. (2) Clem Labine returns on two weeks rest and makes a big drop in class. He runs from off the pace in a field that is loaded with speed. (3) Can’t Beat Me was a winner for a $12,500 tag with a stalking trip that earned his top speed figure.

Best bets: Lady Grotte (1^st); Vintage (3^rd). Best value: I Got Busted (4^th); Cajun Casanova (6^th).