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.

3^rd race [NY, Md 25000, 7F] – (3) Silver Samurai returns from almost a year layoff when he had a pair on third-place finishes after setting the pace at Aqueduct. If he comes back in form, he is expected to get loose on the lead against a field that he should beat. (5) Our Son Jake will make his third start following a layoff and improved in most recent start. (6) Tyrannosaurus Rex was last seen racing at Saratoga and changes barns to Jeffrey Englehart who wins with 26% of his new horses. (1) Makart has been competitive at this level in his recent starts.

4^th race [Clm 40000, 6F] – (2) Customerexperience was claimed two races back for $40,000 and then came back to win a starter allowance impressively for the new trainer John Toscano. (3) Hydra won a starter allowance at Laurel last time but has excellent past form at Aqueduct. (5) Baba used her speed to run second at this claiming level last time and she has a great record at the Big A – 12: 3-2-1. (6) Blue Paynt finished in the top three in 10 out of her last 12 starts including her last two which came after a layoff.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (2) American Law returned from a seven month layoff and was beaten by just a head for the win while earning his career best speed figure. (4) Norgay was second by a neck in his first start for David Jacobson (3) Pricing Power flashed speed in his debut at Keeneland in October for Chad Brown and is projected to get loose on the lead in here. (1) Magical Ways gets blinkers on for his third start and will need to make a step forward for the Bill Mott barn.

7^th race [NY, Alw 72000 N1X, 6F] – (7) Safalow’s Mission (A) had to check at the break in what was his first start following a six-month layoff. He was last and then rallied to finish second for Linda Rice whose barn is having an excellent Aqueduct meeting. (6) Daufuskie Island runs well fresh and trainer Charlie Baker has a 30% win rate with horses that get time off between starts. (4) Warrior’s Revenge changed to the barn of Mark Hennig and ran third after frequently winning at Finger Lakes. (3) Dee Bo was claimed from a win at Aqueduct against open company and now gets a fast pace to set up a stalking trip.

Best bets:   Silver Samurai (3^rd); American Law (5^th). Best value:  Customerexperience (4^th); Safalow’s Mission (7^th)