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.

1^st race [NY, Md 30000, 7F] – (4) Ukrainian Princess (B) was second best last time in a $40,000 claimer behind the winner who came back to finish first in her next start. (5) Bon Adieu will drop into the claiming ranks for the first time and has a second two races back. (1) Mischief Motion did not like the grass last time but finished second on the main track in her prior start. 8) Power and Glory will drop back to maiden claiming where last she was third behind two horses that won their next starts. Her low-profile trainer has won at big odds in the past.

2^nd race [Alw 95000 N1X, 1 3/8 mi TURF] – (4) Union Dolly had two strong races since a layoff where she won a starter allowance and then was second by a nose in an allowance. She is projected to get loose on the lead. (1) Anatolian ran fourth in her 2023 debut for Mike Maker in an allowance on the main track in what seems like a prep for her return to the turf where she broke her maiden. (2) Ever Summer will make her first start of the year and gets blinkers on. She won a maiden special weight at Delaware Park. (6) Rheaume ran second four times last year after a debut maiden win and was moved to the barn of Christophe Clement.

3^rd race [Alw 50000s, 1 1/16 mi] – (3) Sa Foradada (C) changes to the barn of Rick Dutrow after a layoff from January when she was second at this level after getting bet down from 7-1 to 5-1. (4) She Caught My Eye (B) will make her third start following a layoff. Last time she reacted badly to heavy kickback but rallied for third once she got clear. (5) Chaysenbryn was a winner of an open $20,000 claimer at Belmont Park where she has two of her victories. (2) La Aguililla moved back to the main track last time and was a competitive fourth.

6^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/8 mi TURF] – (7) Sperss (D) moved to the turf, dropped down in class, and finished fourth when bet down from 18-1 to 14-1. (6) Starts Now made her first start of the year, just missed the win by a neck in a similar spot, and gets first-time Lasix. (5) Arisaema was third last time earning the best speed figure of her career. (1) Silent Melody was fourth in her debut for a trainer that wins with 26% of his second-time runners.

Best bets: Union Dolly (2^nd); Sa Foradada (3^rd). Best value: Unrainian Princess (1^st); Sperss (6^th).