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.

1^st race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (5) Twirling Vine (B) has finished third in his last two starts. Last time he got rated back as a horse that does best running on the lead and now cuts back from a mile where he is better suited. (4) Caldo Candy ran his best race second back from a layoff where he set the pace and then missed the top spot by a head. (1) Paschal Moon was second three weeks ago at the same level. (7) Flip’s Dream pressed the pace after starting poorly as the favorite in his second start.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (1) Capital Idea (B) had to wait and check in the turn and then rallied for third beaten by only a half-length in his debut at 6-1. (2) J D Factor returns from a three month break for his third start. Last seen he set the pace and was second by a neck behind the winner who won his next start also. (3) Strategic Decision will make his debut for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables. (7)  Rossington will make his third start after getting third following a slow start.  

7^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (9) Mel’s Baby Sister (B) was keen early, had to steady, rallied on a speed favoring track, and lost a head bob for the win. (3) Elite Status was third in his debut which happened in a $500,000 New York Stallion Series stakes race. (6) Five to Two finished in the top three in both of his starts for Linda Rice. (1) Princess Vino was third in his two starts and was only back a head in a blanket finish last time for Repole Stable and Todd Pletcher. Blinkers go on and he gets first-time Lasix.

10^th race [OC50k/SAL50k, 7F] – (4) Augustine Red (B) climbed from kickback three weeks ago, lugged in, steadied, and then finished third. Blinkers come off. (9) Stormquist was claimed in Kentucky in November for $50,000 by Linda Rice after a third-place finish. (5) Vino Barbarino was a maiden winner last time in his second race and got claimed for $50,000. (10) Goldfire was a winner last time and gets a great set-up for his closing move.

Best bets: Capital Idea (5^th); Augustine Red (10^th). Best Value: Twirling Vine (1^st); Mel’s Baby Sister (7^th).