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.

2^nd race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (5) Identity Crisis (A) was third in his debut at 9-2 for a trainer who does not win with first time starters. (2) Annexperience was second in both of his starts in turf sprints. One was at Saratoga in August and then three weeks ago, both at 3-1 odds. (1) King Puck was second twice last year and then after running seventh took a break until now. (7) Roofer moved from dirt to turf for his ninth start following two seconds.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 3/8 mi TURF] – (2) Mendee (C) was bet down from 8-1 to 6-1 and finished third against a big field in her first start following a winter layoff. (6) Our Prosperity debuted at Saratoga in August but was off until last month when she finished third at Gulfstream Park. (7) Lady Meis made two starts since a winter layoff and improved last month to run third at Monmouth Park. (5) Cailin Dana comes east for a California trainer and was last seen finishing third in April at Santa Anita and has three works at Belmont Park.

5^th race [OC50k/SAL50k, 7F] – (5) Social Hour (B) broke last, got steadied leaving the back stretch, and finished third in her first start after a $50,000 claim. (3) Uncle Jim won a similar race in February on the front end by open lengths with a speed figure that tops this field and was claimed for $50,000 by Linda Rice. He was fourth in April in a much tougher allowance at Aqueduct. (2) Lou was claimed two starts back for $30,000 by Linda Rice who will be his fourth trainer. (1) E Z Bourbon was second at this condition when last seen in April behind a horse that won his next start.

8^th race [NY, Md 50000, 6F TURF] – (9) Good Mission (C) was bet down from 9-1 to 7-1, finished third and that was her sixth finish in the top three from 10 career starts. (8) Gattatiz drops into a maiden claimer for the first time in her 2025 debut after showing some early speed and gets first-time Lasix. (5) Aperitif made her first start in April against a strong field where the winner and third-place finisher both came back to win. (12) Artistic Success was second in November in her second start for a $40,000 tag and gets blinkers on for her first race of 2025.

Best bets: Identity Crisis (2^nd); Social Hour (5^th). Best value: Mendee (4^th); Good Mission (8^th).