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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

3^rd race [Clm 20000, 6F] – (4) Can’t Beat Me won a $12,500 claimer two races back with a best speed figure for the 5-year-old and one that makes him a win contender. He is the only legitimate closer in this field of front runners. (1) Chateau won a $16,000 tagged race by more than six lengths and earned the best figure in this field while racing on the lead. (3) Horn of Plenty comes back in 19 days and for the most part has been racing against better. (2) Talkin Pharoah was claimed for $14,000 last time after a win on the front-end by three lengths.

5^th race [Alw 82000 N1X, 1 1/8 mi] – (6) Mr. Ripple ships up from Florida for the Clement barn where he ran twice this year following a seven month layoff and went to the lead both times. Last year he was fourth in the Florida Derby (G1) behind the Kentucky Derby winner. (3) Magical Ways was second and then first in a pair of starter allowances. (1) Cheeky Tico won his last two starts moving from a N3L claimer to a starter allowance. (2) Macallan ran third and second since a three month layoff against strong competition and gets blinkers on for the Pletcher barn.

6^th race [Clm 10000, 7F] – (4) Killy Start (B) got bumped and taken up at the start, rallied from last to second, and got claimed. (1) Vintage (D) was bet down from 10-1 to 5-1, had the lead, went eight paths wide, and now drops down to this lowest claiming level. (8) Vegas Weekend drops down to this low level claimer after running against better. (3) Sister Linda won a $25,000 claimer in November. She was claimed for $16,000 two starts ago.

8^th race [Clm 32000, 6F] – (12) Luna Patina (A) finished second in her first start at odds of 4-1 and had trouble changing leads down the stretch. (8) Aunt Yola (A) got pinched back and steadied at the start of her debut at 6-1 putting her in last and still got fourth. (4) Geopolitics went to the lead in her debut as a favorite for Bill Mott last month, battled down the stretch, and got beat by a nose. (9) Peony made her first start last month and finished a close third after pressing the pace.

Best bets: Mr. Ripple (5^th); Killy Start (6^th). Best value: Can’t Beat Me (3^rd); Luna Patina (8^th).