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.

2^nd race [Clm 32000, 7F] – (1) Larz won his debut in a $30,000 maiden claimer by more than eight lengths and then tried a $50,000 starter allowance on a muddy track. He is projected to get loose on the lead. (5) Basic Truth got his maiden victory in his second try for a $20,000 tag by nine lengths going a mile at Aqueduct. (2) Rol Again Dancer won a maiden special weight at Monmouth Park during the summer and was claimed for $50,000 in his next start. He has been off since December and changes barns. (4) Outlaw Country was the winner of a $40,000 maiden at the Big A at the end of December and then was fourth in a starter allowance.

4^th race [NY, Md 40000, 1 mi] – (3) Two Redheads (B) stumbled at the start in her first start following a trainer change to Linda Rice and finished second. (5) Strange Fruit was third in her debut in a $25,000 race for a veteran trainer whose horses are finding the winner’s circle recently. (4) Aperol Spritz was sent off at 2-1 in her first start, finished fifth, and should move forward. (6) Hypnocurrency had a second-place finish for a $20,000 tag against open company and then tried a maiden special weight for NY-breds. She’s back to a more appropriate level here.

5^th race [Alw 25000s, 6 ½ F] – (6) Synthesis has two allowance wins sandwiched between a pair of graded stakes starts. He makes a big drop down and comes back in less than a week. (4) Famished was claimed from a five-length win for $40,000 going a mile and makes his first start for the new barn while cutting back in distance. (1) Jake Rocks won his last two starts moving from a $25,000 claimer where he was taken to a $50,000 starter allowance. (5) Money in the Bank comes back from a June layoff for a barn that excels at returns from long layoffs.

8^th race [NY, Md 40000, 1 mi] – (7) October Bliss was claimed from a third-place finish for $40,000 in December and comes back now for Linda Rice. (3) Empire Ride began his career on the turf and changed barns to run fourth on the dirt. He has been off since December and returns as a new gelding and gets first-time Lasix. (2) Two Chuckles stretched out to a mile and got second at this level last month. (4) Connect the Brocks made a big improvement when he dropped down to this level and ran third.

Best bets:  Two Redheads (4^th); October Bliss (8^th). Best value:  Larz (2^nd); Synthesis (5^th).