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 [OC 80k/C, 1 mi] – (3) Masmak (A) beat a stakes quality field last month and now has won two races in a row with a career best speed figure. (2) Ouster (A) has been off since May when he had a bad start, was rank racing in tight quarters, moved outside, and lost a head bob after battling down the stretch. (4) Winit ran a top speed figure last time and got claimed for $80,000 while getting passed at the end to lose by a nose. (1) Kinetic Sky was last seen in March after running in four stakes and winning the Stymie.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (6) Runamor (A) made his debut going a mile at 6-1, got off to a slow start, was unsettled under restraint, and faded. He gets a new rider and Lasix. (4) Tap It Easy moved from turf to dirt for his second start, got the lead, and lost by a head. He now gets blinkers and Lasix. (8) Roofer got to the lead in his second start and also finished in the place spot. (3) Outsource debuted on a muddy track in November, was slow to get running in a full field, and passed some horses late.

7^th race [NY, Alw 75000 N1X, 6 ½ F] – (3) Embraceable Gal (A) in her first start for a new trainer she tossed her head at the start, was last, and rallied for second. (4) Evaluation was a first out winner at Saratoga for Chad Brown and has been off since an allowance try in August. (5) Ariana Rye made a big improvement in her start after a layoff winning a starter allowance on the front end. (2) Valentine Gift moved from turf to dirt and won a $25,000 claimer against open company.

8^th race [Jerome, 1 mi] – (3) Ican (A) went down to his nose at the break, then got bumped hard, and still ran second. (7) Studlydoright has been facing better competition than the rest of this field. His three wins include the Nashua at Aqueduct. (6) Cyclone State won his last two starts in one-turn miles at the Big A. (4) Omaha Omaha also won his last two races including an allowance by seven lengths.

Best bets:  Masmak (3^rd); Embraceable Gal (7^th). Best Value:  Runamor (5^th); Ican (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 6-8 and includes the Jerome Stakes à 6, 8 with 3, 4, 5 with 3, 4, 6, 7 = $24.