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 40000, 1 mi] – (1) Dark Devil began his career in maiden claimers, finished second four times, and got claimed twice. After trying two maiden special weights he drops back down. (6) Glint was second last time while running for a $40,000 tag for the first time. (2) Scottish Storm and (2B) Aint No Joke were both claimed in Kentucky by Linda Rice in October and have to be considered contenders in this field. (7) Bad Boy Butch pressed the pace and ran second last time in a $20,000 race.

5^th race [Clm 50000B, 6 ½ F] – (7) Wake Surf (C) was bet down from 10-1 to 7-1 when he dropped into a claimer for the first time in a year, finished third last month with a big jump in speed figures, and got claimed for $35,000. (2) Stolen Magic returned from a five month layoff going from turf to dirt and won a first level allowance with a career best speed figure. (3) Confabulation had top three finishes in his last five starts with a maiden claiming victory and another in a $40,000 N2L claimer. (1) Daufuskie Island will drop into a claimer after running well in a series of first-level allowances.

6^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 6F] – (7) Whatchatalkinabout (A) had the lead in the stretch after pressing the pace on a track that was favoring late runners and was second by a neck. (3) Aggelos the Great was third in his last two starts finishing behind the Hot List horse each time. (5) He’s Got It won the first-level allowance last month with a closing move as the favorite. (4) Lotsa Trouble won a $25,000 claimer against open-company with by far his best speed figure.

8^th race [OC50k/SAL50k, 1 mi] – (5) Nilo’s Rose gets Lasix for the first time in her third career start after winning a $50,000 maiden claimer. (2) Heavenly Light was claimed from a maiden breaking effort for $50,000 by Brad Cox as a heavy favorite and gets first-time Lasix. (8) Gaga’s Hamsome won for the first time in her fourth try in a $50,000 maiden claimer in which she hit the board each time. (3) Furry Fox ran only once last year and that was in November when she beat NY-breds by more than 12 lengths.

Best bets: Dark Devil (3^rd); Whatchatalkinabout (6^th). Best value: Wake Surf (5^th); Nilo’s Rose (8^th).