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.

4^th race [Md 20000, 1 mi] – (10) Second and Reed makes a big drop down to this lowest maiden claiming level after running ok in his first three starts at Aqueduct and gets Lasix for the first time. (6) Basic Truth got bumped hard at the break of his debut race and could get loose on the lead in here. (7) Excalibrate set the pace in a few of his prior races and shows up as a new gelding after an October layoff. (5) Saratoga Strong gets Lasix and blinkers after his debut three weeks ago.

5^th race [Alw 82000 N1X, 1 3/16 mi] – (2) Bold Victory had wide trips in his last two starts and should appreciate the added distance. (7) Tonal Impact is riding a four-race winning streak with speed figures jumping up during that time. He was claimed three times during that sequence with a starter allowance score most recently. (6) Vasariano makes his second start at the Big A for trainer Norman Cash who runs his horses frequently. He was fourth last time at this level. (4) Gasoline came back from a layoff for Todd Pletcher and could get to the lead.

6^th race [NY, Alw 72000 N1X, 1 1/8 mi] – (2) Mason Mania (B) had a rough start which put him at the back of a large field forcing him to rally which is not his preferred style and still managed to finish third. [(1) Simply / (1A) Ouster]are both contenders to win this state-bred allowance. (7) Ria’s Angel returns to NY-bred company for the hot Linda Rice barn who claimed him two races back and then got a win. (8) Dr. Marbooz changed barns recently and moved to race at Aqueduct from Finger Lakes.

8^th race [NY, Md 25000, 6F] – (8) Bonana Fanna Foe (B) got pinched back at the start, rallied from last to third, and gets blinkers on. (9) Chiara moved from turf to dirt and finished second behind a horse that came back to win her next start. (7) Menily gets blinkers on and makes a big drop from maiden special weight to this lowest level claimer at Aqueduct. (5) Try It Again has not run since 2021 but faced two fields that were filled with winning horses.

Best bets:   Second and Reed (4^th); Bonana Fanna Foe (8^th). Best value:  Bold Victory (5^th); Mason Mania (6^th)