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 40000 N2L, 6 ½ F] – (4) She’s Awesome was second at this level last time in what was her second start following a layoff with a big jump in speed figures. (1) Mim was claimed from her last two starts for $30,000 then $40,000 and was a winner in a NY-bred maiden claimer and lands in the barn of Rick Dutrow. (7) Harlan’s Bond finished just behind the top choice in her last race. (6) La Grotte will make her second start following a seven month layoff after breaking her maiden for a $30,000 tag.

3^rd race [Md 20000, 1 mi] – (7) Bargaining Power was claimed from his second start of the year for $40,000 and ran second after pressing the pace. He is projected to be on the lead in this field. (1) Opportunity Set gets blinkers on and drops out of maiden special weights after trainer Bruce Brown won with a 100-1 shot last week. (9) Citizen Mack changes barns, drops out of maiden special weights, and returns from an eight month layoff. (2) Motivo drops down in claiming price for Rick Dutrow after racing evenly for $40,000.

4^th race [Alw 16000s, 1 mi] – (2) April Antics raced in the Empire Classic last time after three excellent starts in NY-bred allowances and gets a fast pace for her closing move in this field. (1) Freudian drops down from a few good efforts in the $50,000 starters. (6) Suspended Campaign was a winner in a $25,000 open claimer and finds an excellent spot in this $16,000 restriction. (4) Vegas Weekend set the pace in the aforementioned $25,000 claimer and finished third. She won for $16,000 at Saratoga.

5^th race [NY, Md 30000, 6F] – (9) Necessaryandproper had the lead in her debut last time and finished third and is likely to be on the lead in here. (8) Needed will move from turf to dirt after running third in her second start in a NY-bred maiden special weight. (6) Mother Mary is another drop down for Bruce Brown and she will need to make a big improvement in this claimer. (2) Wise Convention needs to get out of the gate smoother after gaining a few places during her last race.

Best bets:  She’s Awesome (2^nd); Bargaining Power (3^rd). Best value:  April Antics (4^th); Necessaryandproper (5^th).