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 [NY, Md 30000, 1 mi] – (4) Freud’s Fancy will drop down to make her first start on the dirt after two tries on the grass. (3) Khali’s Storm was off for eight months, tried a maiden special weight, and drops back to the level at which she was third three times in a row. (1) Montauk Mystique has seven top three finishes in maiden claimers. (2) Lucky and Gorgeous fits well with this field as she returns to state-bred racing.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (2) The Taco Lady (B) stumbled, broke last, rushed up into contention and finished third for the second time since a layoff. (4) Happy Henry debuted for Chad Brown in November at 9-2 and finished fourth behind two horses that came back to win their next start. (5) Ignite the Light comes right back after setting the pace and missing by a neck less than three weeks ago. (7) Sardis was fourth twice recently and that was after a five month layoff.

5^th race [Clm 32000, 7F] – (3) Jackson’s Dixie (A) had his saddle slip, the rider lost his irons, and still the horse rallied boldly from last to finish second. (4) Play Good Pay Good ships back up to Aqueduct where in the summer she was a winner for a $50,000 tag. Last time in Kentucky she lost all chance after getting checked. (2) Trade Secret and (2B) Our Liberty Bell are both win contenders. (7) Maggie T was claimed for $25,000 after a victory against NY-breds.

8^th race [NY, Md 25000, 1 mi] – (6) I Heard Somethings gets first-time Lasix after a third-place finish against open company. (8) Rodeo Star will also get Lasix for the first time which has been a winning move for trainer Abreu. (7) Honey in the Bank was third in her debut in October and drops to this lowest level claimer. (10) Toxic Girl was eased three weeks ago but comes right back after posting a layoff so draw a line through that recent race.

Best bets: Freud’s Fancy (3^rd); I Heard Somethings (8^th). Best value: The Taco Lady (4^th); Jackson’s Dixie (5^th).