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 [Clm 32000, 6 ½ F] – (8) Funny Joke (B) returns from a 15 month layoff when he was popular at the claim box. In his last race he got jostled at the top of the stretch. He has been working steadily for this comeback which is at his prior level. (7) Kneedeepinsnow was claimed for $40,000 by Linda Rice when he dropped in for a tag and ran second as the favorite. (1) Tetsu is part of a Rick Dutrow entry that he claimed last race for $20,000 when he earned the best speed figure showing in his past performances. (2) Emerald Forest was claimed a few times recently for higher prices than this race. He finished second three races back for $50,000 and was taken for the current connections.

8^th race [NY, Critical Eye, 1 1/8 mi – (8) Fingal’s Cave ran twice this year in graded stakes races and drops back to NY-bred racing where she won her last two in stakes. (9) Bustin Bay was a winner against open company when last seen in March and is three times stakes-placed against state-breds. (6) Midtown Lights won through the NY-bred allowances then took one against open company. (2) Venti Valentine has nine top three finishes in a row and was second at Monmouth Park in the Serena’s Song last month. She is a multiple winner of NY-bred stakes. Irad gets back on board.

9^th race [NY, Alw 90000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (10) Whistler’s Honor (D) was bet down from 8-1 to 4-1 and finished fifth following a three-month layoff with a career best speed figure. (8) Gem Mint Ten returned from a winter break, set the pace with pressure all the way, and was second by a nose. (3) Miracle Mike also comes back from a winter layoff and won an open company starter allowance in his first start for a new trainer. (5) Slapintheface was last seen winning a maiden special weight after running well in a few races.

10^th race [NY, Mount Vernon, 1 mi TURF] – (1) Silver Skillet (A) was rank early following a layoff, got jostled between horses putting her last early, and improved position to finish fourth. (9) Stonewall Star (C) was heavily bet down from 13-1 to 9-2 in March and was a clear winner of a NY-bred stakes race. (4) Masterof the Tunes (A) broke sharply, then dropped back to last under hard restraint, moved up to second, and faded. (5) Marvelous Maude was third in an open company stakes race at Aqueduct in her 2024 debut. She won this race last year.

Best bets Fingal’s Cave (8^th); Silver Skillet (10^th). Best value: Funny Joker (2^nd); Whistler’s Honor (9^th).