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 [Clm 50000B, 1 mi] – (1) Royal Bubble (A) got off to a slow start, eager under restraint, and finished third. (5) Vekomancer comes back after seven days when he was third at this level after pressing the pace following a five month layoff. (3) Smokin’ Hot Kitty returned from a nine month layoff in a second level allowance and now drops in for a tag for the first time since 2024. (6) Bourbon Serengeti raced eight wide at this level a week ago.

2^nd race [Clm 30000 N2L, 1 1/8 mi] – (5) Ambridge (B) had to steady while making an inside move. (2) Egyptian has five top three finishes in a row and drops back down after finishing third for a $50,000 tag. (6) Magnanimous Max was a maiden winner for $20,000 and was claimed by Linda Rice. (4) Apalta was a maiden $20,000 winner in November, can back last month in a starter allowance, and drops down for Rice.

4^th race [Clm 50000, 7F] – (6) Tuskegee Airmen (A) moved from last to second while rallying on a speed favoring track. (4) Big Hat Willie got his ninth victory 17 days ago in a $30,000 claimer. (2) Twenty Four Mamba returned from a three month layoff and got claimed for $50,000 after running third in an OC starter allowance. (1) Bermuda Blitz drops back to a claimer for the first time since September after winning a starter allowance and trying first-level allowances.

7^th race [Jimmy Winkfield, 6F] – (2) Easy Decision (A) was sent off as the 9-5 favorite and won his debut by more than six lengths in an eight-horse field at Aqueduct. (5) Blue Forty Two (A) rallied for second on a speed favoring track with a trainer change following a brief layoff. (4) Igniter was sixth in the Remsen (G2) on the Kentucky Derby trail before winning an allowance by more than four lengths last month. (3) Time to Roll has two wins against NY-breds and a third last time in a state-bred stakes.

Best bets: Royal Bubble (1^st); Easy Decision (7^th). Best Value: Ambridge (2^nd); Tuskegee Airmen (4^th).

@NYHotList Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 7-9 and includes the Jimmy WInkfield 2, 3, 4, 5 with 1, 2, 6 with 7, 8 = $24.