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 [Clm 50000B, 6 ½ F] – (4) 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) Daufuskie Island will drop into a claimer after running well in a series of first-level allowances. (6) J D Factor won a $25,000 claiming race by more than five lengths and then tried a starter allowance. (3) Life and Length has shown speed in recent allowances races and drops into a better spot.

4^th race [NY, Md 40000, 6F] – (4) One Vision (D) was bet down from 5-1 to 3-1 and ran into a sloppy track for the second time and did not run at all. He got claimed and comes back in two weeks. (7) Strand Road dropped into a maiden claimer after a four month layoff, got to the lead, and finished second with his best speed figure. He then tried an open company maiden special weight to no avail. (2) Dead Aim debuted last month in a maiden special weight that featured a very talented horse that is headed to the Kentucky Derby trail. (1) King Phoenix debuted at 3-1 in November, flashed speed, and got claimed for $40,000. He comes back with blinkers on and first-time Lasix.

5^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 1 1/8 mi] – (5) Russian Realm was second at this level last time as a horse that only once has not run well and that was in the Empire Classic. (4) Neural Network missed by a nose in this type of race at Saratoga in August, has been off since September, and moves to a new barn. (1) Kolomino has two wins and a third in his last three starts including an allowance victory a month ago. (3) Quiet Wisdom won twice at Aqueduct in the Spring and returned from a seven month layoff. Now he shows up as a new gelding.

8^th race [NY, OC 80k/N1X, 6 ½ F] – (5) Nina Kay won her first start in September and then moved to a state-bred stakes race to finish second behind the impressive unbeaten filly With the Angels. (4) Carmen’s Candy Jar will drop out of successful efforts in stakes races and into an allowance for the first time. (6) Boston’s Phinest finished ahead of the second choice two races back and will also make her first allowance start. (9) Princess Mischief is a late runner who has run her best two races in her last two starts.

Best bets: Wake Surf (3^rd); Russian Realm (5^th). Best value: One Vision (4^th); Nina Kay (8^th).