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.

4^th race [OC 62k/N2X, 7F] – (2) Secret Rules (B) came back from a three month layoff, got pinched back in the turn, and stayed close. (3) Midlaner has three top-three finishes in his most recent races with a win at Parx Racing in January. (1) Beachwalker used a closing trip to win a $40,000 open claimer by more than three lengths with an improved speed figure. (5) Life Changer was taken from the aforementioned claiming race when he ran second.

6^th race [Cicada, 6F] – (1) Ghalia Princess was a debut winner at the Fair Grounds for Brad Cox and then came north to set the pace and get second in the Ruthless at Aqueduct last month. (3) Value Area also ran in the Ruthless following a maiden win and she was third for Todd Pletcher while racing from off the pace. (4) Miss Harriet ships up from Maryland and will make her first start away from Laurel Park where she won 3 out of 4 starts. She won her first start against state-breds and then tried a stakes race. This year she ran twice and won an allowance and then the Wide Country Stakes with front-end efforts, both times as heavy favorites. (2) Anna’s Wish won a starter allowance last time while racing on the lead beating a horse that came back to win her next start.

7^th race [NY, Alw 72000, 6F] – (3) Liberty Flame (C) got bet down from 8-1 to 5-1, raced eight wide, the rider lost the crop, and finished a close fourth. (5) Mim (D) was heavily bet pushing down her odds from 12-1 to 7-1, broke a bit slowly, and now the blinkers go on. (4) Mouly won a starter allowance against open company by more than four lengths after stalking the leaders. (1) Ghostbustin has beaten two of the horses in this race earlier in her career and gets blinkers on now.

8^th race [Alw 25000s, 1 mi] – (3) Mason Mania (C) was bet from 7-1 to 7-2, had the lead, finished second, and got claimed for the second race in a row. (6) American Law won 2 out of his last 3 starts in a starter allowance and then a first-level allowance. The Oscar Barrera entry of (1) Bold Victory and (1A) Optic Way are both contenders for a top three finish. (2) Gentleman Joe got claimed for $40,000 from a place finish after getting to the lead in the stretch.

Best bets: Secret Rules (4^th); Ghalia Princess (6^th). Best value: Liberty Flame (7^th); Mason Mania (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 6- 8 and begins with the Cicada à 1, 3 with 3, 4, 5 with 1/1A, 2, 3, 6 = $24.