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 10000, 1 1/8 mi] – (5) Ice Road was a winner last month in a $16,000 claimer with a late rally and shows five top three finishes from six starts. (2) Bad Larry was second in a $15,000 race in January and then tried to step up to tougher company twice. (6) Commandperformance was second at today’s level when he cut back in distance and dropped down in class. (7) Retail Man has several past races that make him a contender in this spot for a low profile trainer who has two recent wins at Aqueduct.

2^nd race [Clm 25000, 6F] – (2) Roshiell My Belle will drop drastically to a claimer for the first time after winning her debut at Churchill Downs in June and went on to try two turf stakes and an allowance. She makes her first start in 2025 with first-time Lasix. (6) Brooklyn Rhapsody was a winner for a $25,000 tag at Parx in January. (1) Lookin to Rock and (1A) Selectively Sweet make an Amira Chichakly entry with past races that make them contenders. (7) Wildcat Annie broke her maiden in her last start against NY-breds.

4^th race [NY, Maddie May, 1 mi] – (3) Storm Changer (A) had the lead, lost a shoe at the half-mile pole, and got caught approaching the wire. (4) Bernieandtherose won her last three starts against state-breds including the East View last month. (7) Lottie Margaret won her last two starts in NY-bred company with a pair of 10-length victories moving from a maiden to an allowance. (6) Army Gal is undefeated in two starts this year with her maiden and an allowance.

6^th race [NY, Md 30000, 1 mi] – (9) Fines Creek (C) was bet down from 8-1 to 5-1, broke a step slow, and finished second. (3) Damage moves back to NY-bred racing after a pair of starts against open-company for a $20,000 tag which includes a career-best third last month. (2) Stimuli debuted as the 2-1 favorite for a $25,000 tag, pressed the pace, and finished third. (8) Play the Gray has a series of speed figures at Parx and Aqueduct that make him fit in this field.

Best bets: Ice Road (1^st); Roshiell My Belle (2^nd). Best Value:  Storm Changer (4^th); Fines Creek (6^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 1-3 à 2, 5, 6 with 1/1A, 2, 6, 7 with 1/1A, 8 = $24.