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 [Clm 35000 N3L, 6 ½ F] – (2) Elite Forces won the first two races of his career at Ellis Park for Brad Cox in a high-priced maiden claimer and then a first-level allowance. In October he was third at Keeneland while moving up in allowance class. He has been training at Belmont Park since November. (5) President Z pressed the pace and improved in his second start after a layoff in a starter allowance. (1) Return the Ring won a N2L for a $40,000 tag two races back following a layoff and then tried a starter allowance. (4) Street Swapp exits a series of races in open claimers and moves to restricted company since being a maiden.

2^nd race [Alw 20000s, 1 mi] – (2) Freudian was an impressive winner of a starter allowance two races back and then was fourth in an allowance. (1) Jackie the Joker is in excellent form in her last three starts which were in open claimers. (3) Timed Out ran twice within a week last month after coming back from a short layoff with a win for a $20,000 tag. (4) Run Devil has a pair of seconds in a starter allowance and then a claimer since switching back to Aqueduct.

3^rd race [NY, Md 30000, 7F] – (2) Nobilis (D) was bet down from 5-1 to 5-2 in a spot similar to today, got bumped at the break, and went wide to get fourth. (8) Beary Funny will drop from four maiden special weights where he ran third and fourth with speed figures that top this field. (4) Waflr had his best finish getting second last month at today’s level. (7) Munny for Nuthin was third in an open company race in his most recent start.

6^th race [Alw 50000s, 6F] – (5) Mim (D) was a 20-1 long shot and took late money which is unusual at high odds and dropped to 16-1. This will be her second start since getting claimed. (7) She’s Awesome was claimed from a win three races ago by Linda Rice and moved up to a pair of starter allowances where she finished third and then second. (1A) Divine Cross won for the third time in her career last time for a $35,000 tag and now returns after seven days of rest. (3) Magniloquent will try the dirt again after racing on the turf and synthetic and should set the pace in this field.

Best bets: Elite Forces (1^st); Freudian (2^nd). Best Value: Nobilis (3^rd); Mim (6^th).