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.

2^nd race [Alw 50000s, 6F] – (3) Forward Move won a N2L claimer two races back and then moved up to today’s starter allowance condition and finished second after stalking the pace three weeks ago. (1) Dillinger has three second-place finishes at this level since winning a $25,000 N2L claiming race. (6) Laser Sharp returns from a May layoff as a new gelding with a maiden special weight victory at Aqueduct in April. He tried the turf unsuccessfully just before his break began. (4) Hatch was claimed from his last five races having won his last two starts for $10,000 then $12,500.

3^rd race [NY, Md 25000, 1 mi] – (6) Cha Cha Wren was third and then fourth in a pair of NY-bred maiden special weights and makes the big drop down here for Brad Cox. (3) Lookin to Rock changes back to her original trainer, moves from turf to dirt, and drops out of only racing in special weights. (2) Dancing Dakotah will also make the move to race for a tag for the first time for a trainer that wins at 31% with that move. (4) Vino Paella lost all chance at the break in a large field and will make her second dirt start in a claimer.

4^th race [NY, OC 80k/N1X, 1 mi] – (1) Bernieandtherose broke her maiden by almost eight lengths in her second career start. Both of her speed figures are much higher than any of the others in the field have earned. (3) Timia moved from turf to dirt, pressed the pace, and got her first win in her third start overall. (2) Playful Lass got her maiden victory in her second start which was at Saratoga and then had bad luck in a pair of stakes races. (6) Grace and Grit was a debut winner on the grass at 9-2 in September and then tried a pair of open company turf stakes with a fifth in the Chelsey Flowers at Aqueduct last month after setting the pace.

6^th race [Clm 20000, 1 mi] – (3) Bold Victory (B) rallied eight-wide from last to just miss the win by a nose in his second start after a layoff. (4) Runnin’ Ray won a $50,000 claimer at Saratoga three races back. Last time he stumbled and lost the rider out of the gate. (2) First Glimpse was claimed seven times from his last 12 starts for prices ranging from $16,000 to $32,000 with his most recent win in October for $16,000. (7) J J’s Joker was claimed for $16,000 last month from a win by two lengths after a stalking trip.

Best bets: Cha Cha Wren (3^rd); Bernieandtherose (4^th). Best value: Forward Move (2^nd); Bold Victory (6th).