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.

1^st race [Md 20000, 6 ½ F] – (3) Purple and Gold was claimed for $50,000 at Keeneland in October by Linda Rice when she set the pace and finished fourth. (5) Rogue Justice ships up to New York from Kentucky for hot trainer John Ortiz and returns to the dirt after running at Turfway Park. (1) Classic Cara moves from turf to dirt and drops to the lowest level of her career. (6) Katerina Ristova flashed some early speed last time.

2^nd race [Moc 75000C, 1 mi] – (5) Grumblyrumhogan set the pace and finished third at this same level in November moving from turf to dirt. (3) Swiss Army Knife gets blinkers on and first time Lasix in his first start as a 3-year-old and drops in for a tag for the first time for Todd Pletcher. (2) Southeastern came back from a five-month layoff, dropped in for a tag and finished third in November. Here he is listed as a new gelding. (4) Tiger Rocket was claimed for $75,000 by Brad Cox from his second start.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (6) Roger Roger made his first for Amelia Green after racing five times for Chad Brown and ran third with a big jump in speed figures. Blinkers go on. (1) Copious was fourth last time behind two horses that won their next starts while earning his top speed figure. (4) Alias started five times and hit the board in all of them with some in maiden special weights and a couple for a tag. Two races back she was claimed for $50,000 by Linda Rice. (5) Shadow Banking comes back from a July layoff for Chad Brown as a new gelding after two starts at 3-1.

7^th race [Alw 83000 N1X, 6 ½ F] – (9) Hue moved from turf to dirt and won a starter allowance with a stalking trip and finds a field loaded with front runners. (8) Waveless was a debut winner last month at 2-1 for Todd Pletcher and Repole Stable in a starter allowance. (6) Lucille Ball returns from a year layoff following a five-length debut victory for a trainer that does not often win with firsters. (4) Romantic Dancer won twice at Keeneland this fall and should also appreciate the fast pace.

Best bets: Purple and Gold (1^st); Roger Roger (4^th). Best value:  Grumblyrumhogan (2^nd); Hue (7^th).