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 16000 N2L, 7F] – (3) Vax was claimed from a third-place finish in a $40,000 open claimer by Linda Rice and makes this big drop in price and race condition. (4) Our Rosie Diamonds stepped up to $25,000 claiming where she had the lead and just missed by a neck. (2) La Aquililla made a big drop in class to this level and finished second after rallying from last. (5) Trust the Numbers was a debut winner at Tampa for Chad Brown in 2022 and made only one other start in March at Aqueduct in an allowance.

7^th race [OC 62K/N2X, 6F] – (2) Unsung Melody (B) was third in the Wilton at Saratoga behind the winner that just came back to take the Alabama (G1). She got taken up early in that race and has speed in a better spot. (3) Headland won her last two starts. She was claimed for $50,000 two races back and then won a third-level allowance in an excellent performance for Linda Rice. (8) Ontheonesandtwos returned from a year layoff and set the pace in a similar spot for Norm Casse who is winning at 56% at Saratoga. (5) Hydra was claimed from a victory for $40,000 last time and placed in a Grade 3 at Aqueduct in the spring.

8^th race [Alw 149500 N1X, 1 3/8 mi TURF] – (1) Avenue Niel (B) was off slowly in her American debut after getting bounced around, got to the lead, and finished third. (4) Anatolian actually finished ahead of the top choice in their most recent starts. She has raced in long turf races recently. (6) Sweet Dutchess finished in the top three in 10 out of 12 starts in allowances. (7) Modern Love was an $825,000 yearling purchase who second in her first start for Ian Wilkes after moving from Chad Brown.

9^th race [Personal Ensign, 1 1/8 mi] – (5) Nest was an impressive winner of the Shuvee (G2) last month in her first start of the year when she defeated Clairiere by more than two lengths. On that day the field was lacking any early speed and Nest was able to sit in second-place before taking control of the race at the top of the stretch. (6) Clairiere draws the far outside post and will again make the last run trying to overtake the pace setter and Nest in the final yards of the race. (1) Idiomatic won the Delaware Handicap (G2) last month and the Shawnee (G3) at Churchill Downs and is likely to be on the lead in her first try in a Grade 1. (3) Secret Oath will try and recover from a poor performance in the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park in June. She won the Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn Park in March.

Best bets: Avenue Niel (8^th); Nest (9^th). Best value: Vax (2^nd); Unsung Melody (7^th).