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 Sp Wt, 6F] – (4) Crossingthechannel finished second in his two starts and last month it was behind a very good horse in Iron Honor that earned him a speed figure that towers over this field. (3) Buntus Foclora had his best finish with a second going a mile in December. (1) Fightforallegiance gets blinkers on for Linda Rice and leading rider Flavien Prat. (5) Crude Intentions has been training well for his debut for a trainer that does well with first-time starters.

3^rd race [NY, Md 35000, 1 mi] – (1) Romeo Void will move from turf to dirt with a few good races showing on the main track at Aqueduct earlier in 2025. (7) Lucky Dragon set the pace last month at this level and ended up second. (4) Blame It On K J will also go back to the main track after three on the grass. He was second for a $50,000 tag at Saratoga. (8) Projectablility was fifth in his debut for Bill Mott at 8-1 after having gotten within a neck of the lead in the stretch.

6^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6 ½ F] – (8) Three Nines Fine (C) was bet down from 6-1 to 2-1, went right to the lead, set the pace, and finished second last month in an eight-horse field. (1) Sassetti moved from turf to dirt and finished fourth after stalking the pace. (6) Lady Delilah set the pace and finished second going a mile at Aqueduct in November. (2) Garden of Grace had four good races on the turf and is now back on the dirt where she did start her career in April.

7^th race [OC 50k/N1X, 1 1/8 mi] – (5) Purloin pressed the pace, got to the lead, and missed by a neck in a similar spot in November. (2) Noticeable broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park in her second start for Todd Pletcher which was at Gulfstream Park in September. Last month she tried the Comely (G3). Blinkers go on now and she is back on Lasix. (1) Metfardeh got her maiden win in her third try also for Pletcher. (8) I’m Buzzy was a winner of a $40,000 claimer which was the 10^th victory for the now 7-year-old.

Best bets: Crossingthechannel (1^st); Romeo Void (3^rd). Best value: Three Nines Fine (6^th); Purloin (7^th ).