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 16000 N2L, 1 mi] – (4) Afilada (C) was third in her first start after a seven-month layoff when she was bet down from 3-1 to be the 9-5 favorite. (1) Shasi set the pace and finished second last time and is expected to contend for the lead again. (6) Alterina broke her maiden for a $30,000 tag at Saratoga, returned in November, and was third at this N2L level in her third start since the layoff. (5) Shigeko has been racing in N2L claimers and hit the top three.

3^rd race [Clm 10000, 7F] – (1) Darn That Song comes back from a May layoff with a $14,000 claiming win back then and is projected to be on the lead. (4) Suspended Campaign won a $25,000 claimer in October and then faced two strong fields. She was claimed by the current connections for $12,500. (2) Trade Secret ran her best race recently when she was second for today’s claiming price. (5) Captivating Cara will make a significant drop in class in her second start after a five month break.

6^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (1) Play (A) got checked and shut off early last race in his debut and now gets blinkers on. (8) War Stride pressed the pace last time, got the lead, and finished second last month. (3) Xcellent Men has a second and a third in maiden special weights in the fall. (2) Login Required has pressed the pace in three starts since back from a three-month layoff.

8^th race [OC 62k/N2X, 1 1/8 mi] – (5) Olympic Dreams was an allowance winner last time going farther than this race and is one of the few in the field with a win going the nine furlongs. (1) I Am the Law has a pair of thirds at this level and may be part of the pace. (8) Montauk Point changes trainers, moves from turf to dirt, and drops in for a tag for the first time. (6) Luigi’s Spirit ships up from Laurel Park with 10 top three finishes from his last 12 starts.

Best bets: Afilada (2^nd); Olympic Dreams (8^th). Best Value: Darn That Song (3^rd); Play (6^th).