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 [Sheepshead Bay (G3), 1 3/8 mi TURF] – (4) McKulik won her first start of the year in the Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream Park and is, by far, the most accomplished horse in the field. (5) La Mehana was third in her American debut in the Orchid after having to check early in the race. (1) Parnac will make her first start of the year after winning the Flower Bowl (G2) at Saratoga. (2) Star Fortress won the Cardinal (G3) at Churchill Downs last year and ran in three top turf races this year without being able to duplicate that top effort.

4^th race [Alw 50000s, 6 ½ F] – (5) Status Seeker (D) got bet down from 6-1 to 4-1, broke poorly to last, rallied for fourth, and blinkers go on. (7) St. Benedicts Prep won an $80,000 claimer at Keeneland last month and was claimed by Linda Rice. She has had a lot of success with horses claimed in Kentucky. (6) Dazzy was the winner of her 2024 debut for a $25,000 tag when entered for the waiver. (4) Roman Goddess is a veteran of these starter allowances with a few top three finishes.

8^th race [Westchester (G3), 1 mi] – (4) Post Time won his last four starts, all in stakes races, and two of them earned 100+ BSFs in graded stakes. Now for his career, the Maryland-bred is the winner of 8 out of 9 career starts at four different tracks. (3) Messier crossed the finish line first in the Exselsior at Aqueduct but was disqualified and placed second. (7) Charge It makes his first start of 2024 after racing exclusively in Grade 1 and 2 with a victory in the Suburban (G2). (5) Whittington Park won 2 out of 3 races this year.

9^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (4) Master Freud (A) ran second in his debut on the dirt after an awkward start and then finished well clear of the rest of the field. He moves to the turf and gets Lasix. (9) Union Trail was fourth at Gulfstream in his first start of the year on the turf and moves back to NY-bred competition. (11) English Castle ran once in November for the Clement barn, finished fourth at 9-2, and gets Lasix for the first time. (3) My Life Story will make his first start against state-breds after five races at Gulfstream beginning in December including two on the grass.

Best bets: McKulik (3^rd): Post Time (8^th). Best value: Status Seeker (4^th); Master Freud (9^th).