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.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (5) Romeo Void (B) got steadied at the eighth pole but kept running to hold third position. (4) The Tire Man made his first start against NY-breds after racing against open company, pressed the pace, got to the lead, and finished second. (6) Outsource had a pair of third-place finishes in his last two starts and shows up as a new gelding. (7) Pistol Hip Sam ships up from Florida where he had an extensive work tab to prepare for his debut for a good trainer with young horses.

6^th race [Clm 20000, 6 ½ F] – (5) Best Bet (D) was bet down from 20-1 to 6-1 in December, set the pace, and stopped. (1) Graywing finished in the top three in 10 out of his last 11 starts and was claimed last race for $25,000. (2) J J’s Joker drops out of a series of starter allowances to the level at which he was claimed. (3) Honorary Degree was a winner two weeks ago for a $15,000 tag when he overcame a poor start.

8^th race [Clm 50000B, 7F] – (8) Chasing Daylight (B) broke in a tangle, rushed up to second, then faded, and drops out of a series of NY-bred allowances. (2) Toned Up finished second in 4 out of her last 5 starts and makes his third start following a layoff. (1) I’m Buzzy drops back in for a tag for the price at which he was claimed in November. (5) Save Us Melania has been off since December and moves back in for a tag.

9^th race [Md 20000, 1 1/8 mi] – (1A) Very Satisfactory (C) was bet down from 6-1 to 4-1 and finished fourth. (7) Tiz the Prince comes back from a December layoff as a new gelding for hot trainer David Duggan. (4) Limits of Power set the pace last time and finished fourth. (3) Bad Boy Butch was second at this level back in November.

Best bets: Romeo Void (5^th); Very Satisfactory (9^th). Best value: Best Bet (6^th); Chasing Daylight (8^th).