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 [Alw 25000s, 1 mi] – (5) Killy Start (B) got bumped and taken up at the start, rallied from last to second, and got claimed. (1) Bustin Bay returns after six days following a second in the Biogio’s Rose for NY-breds to find the softest spot she has faced in a long time. (4) I’m Buzzy won her last four starts stepping up in class each time from $16,000 claiming to a starter allowance and most recently a $50,000 open claimer. She was claimed twice including a claim back. (3) Movie Moxy was second in the Heavenly Prize two races back at Aqueduct.

4^th race [Md 20000, 6 ½ F] – (4) Heard On Thestreet was second by a nose at 5-1 in his debut and got claimed for $40,000. He tried two tougher races since then. (2) The Elusive Drwong ran in four $40,000 maiden claimers and returns from a November layoff. (3) Mr. Georgie raced very wide in his debut three weeks ago at 7-2 for a $40,000 tag. (8) Citizen Mack changed barns after a third-place finish at this level two races ago.

5^th race [Alw 10000s, 6F] – (5) Poppy’s Pride (D) got bet down from 12-1 to 7-1 in a tougher starter allowance and raced wide on a track that was favoring the inside. (2) First Deputy (D) also took late money getting bet down from 4-1 to 5-2 and got claimed by Rudy Rodriguez. (2B) Printrack has five wins from his last seven starts. (6) Big Engine is a horse that needs a fast pace to set up his closing style and will get it in this field. (3) Colonel Vargo won his last two races and five out of his last seven starts also.

8^th race [Excelsior, 1 1/8 mi] – (4) Kinetic Sky has five top three finishes in a row including three wins. His last three races were in stakes at Aqueduct with a victory in the Stymie earlier in the month. On that day he rallied from behind to win gamely by a nose going a one-turn mile. (6) Olympic Dreams has three wins in his last five starts including a top-level allowance going the Excelsior distance of nine furlongs with a front-end effort. A slow pace is projected, so his early speed may be an advantage. Of his six career starts, four were going the 1 1/8 mile distance. (5) Messier ran in the 2022 Kentucky Derby after two victories on the Derby trail when he was trained by Bob Baffert. He will be making his second start since joining the Rick Dutrow barn. Last seen he was second in a top allowance at Laurel Park. (7) Quality Chic was second in the Stymie behind the top choice and just missed the win in the Queens County going nine-furlongs.

Best bets: Heard On Thestreet (4^th); Kinetic Sky (8^th). Best value: Killy Start (3^rd); Poppy’s Pride (5^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special -
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 3-5 à 1, 4, 5 with 2, 3, 4 with 2, 3, 5, 6 = $36.