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 [Clm 40000 N2L, 6 ½ F] – (5) Proud Divi (A) had the lead and missed the win by a head but finished well clear of the rest of the field. (4) She’s Cool (C) took late money with odds that dropped from 6-1 to 7-2 and finished third. (1) Despo’s Dream drops out of a pair of starter allowances to the N2L level where in October he finished second and was claimed by Linda Rice. (7) Saucy Six has been toiling at this level and should get used underneath in this field.

6^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (7) Stone Cold Kelly was second in both of her starts which were this year at Aqueduct. (4) More Than Grace was second in her debut last year and then was fourth as the favorite in January. Blinkers go on. (6) Madam Opus ships up from Florida for Chad Brown where she finished third in her only start as the 2-1 favorite. (3) That’s Funny will step up from two starts in maiden claimers at Tampa Downs as she joins the New York division of the Sacco barn which is a high percentage winner.

7^th race [NY, Md 30000, 6 ½ F] – (4) King Solomon (B) had a big improvement to finish second in his second start and was well ahead of the rest of the field. (8) Tarpaulin ships up from Maryland for his debut for Brittany Russell who wins at a very high rate with first-time starters in claimers. (2) Nine N Four was claimed for $40,000 last month and was then outrun in a maiden special weight. He is competitive in this kind of claimer and blinkers go on. (1) Monte Avi was second last time in a $25,000 claiming maiden.

10^th race [NY, Md 30000, 6 ½ F] – (6) Rum Cay (B) stumbled at the start of his debut for Linda Rice, got to the lead, and finished third. (7) Renew the Blue (B) steadied at the start to be last following a layoff and passed horses late. (1) Total Silence missed a win by a nose the last time that he ran for a tag in December at Aqueduct. (11) Consider It Done debuted last month in a maiden special weight where he flashed some early speed and faded.

Best bets: Proud Divi (5^th); Rum Cay (10^th). Best Value:  Stone Cold Kelly (6^th); King Solomon (7^th).

@NYHotList Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 5-7 à 1, 4, 5 with 3, 4, 6, 7 with 2, 4, 8 = $36.