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 [Clm 25000 N2L, 7F] – (4) Aint No Joke made his first start for Linda Rice after she claimed him in Kentucky in October and he broke his maiden for $20,000 by more than nine lengths. (1) Camm’ Duke got out to a big lead last month and finished second at this level as the favorite. (6) Alpha Sonny has a third and a second in his last two starts at this level. (3) Eric From Miami will cut back in distance for Rick Dutrow.

4^th race [Clm 25000 N3L, 6F] – (3) J D Factor gets blinkers on and drops back down to the $25,000 level where he was an impressive winner of the N2L condition. (6) Muazarah won the N2L race two races back by nine lengths. (2) Neuschwanstein was claimed for $16,000 last month after having the lead as the favorite. (1) Java Buzz makes a significant drop in class after showing speed in his last two races.

5^th race [Md 20000, 1 mi] – (2) Barstool Babe has been off since July and makes a big drop in maiden claiming price for Linda Rice. (1) Lucky and Gorgeous was second in her last two starts against NY-breds for a $30,000 tag. (3) Looking for Ginny has five top three finishes from her last seven starts in maiden claimers. (4) Exotic Cat has two much improved performances in his two most recent races.

6^th race [Clm 35000B, 1 mi] – (3) Alternate Reality (B) got jostled at the top of the stretch and gamely battled to get second going a mile. (6) Bold Victory (B) battled twice down the stretch, had the lead, finished second well clear of the rest of the field, and got claimed. (1A) Certified Loverboy was claimed twice for $35,000 in his last three races and finished third and second. (5) Suerte was claimed from three out of five starts and has races in that stretch that make him a contender.

Best bets: Aint No Joke (3^rd); J D Factor (4^th). Best value: Barstool Babe (5^th); Alternate Reality (6^th).