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.

3^rd race [NY, OC 45K/N2X, 1 mi TURF] – (4) Iron Max (A) had the lead in the stretch and got passed by a very good horse to be second and finished in the top three in 5 out of his last 6 races with three wins. (2) Just for Luck won the first-level allowance in March with a last to first rally after tossing his head at the start. (3) Annexperience won by almost 15 lengths when the race came off the turf and went on a sloppy and sealed track which was his only start on the dirt. (5) Jack and Jim returns from a 20-month layoff with a perfect record in two career starts including an open-company stakes race.

4^th race [NY, Md 50000, 6F TURF] – (5) Five Dozen Roses was second in her first start of the year at this level recording the highest speed figure of her career. (10) My Lil Army Girl had her best race when she finished third last month in her first start for a tag. (3) Just One More was claimed two races back and gets back to the turf. (7) Anna Brocknana will debut for George Weaver who is a threat with first-timers and has excellent numbers with maiden claimers.

7^th race [NY, Stallion Series, 6F TURF] – (4) Spirit of New York will make his first start of the year as a 3-year-old and was a NY-bred stakes winner last year and a debut winner. (6) Illmatic returns to the turf after running second to a very talented horse in Sculcos Folly and then getting third in an allowance. (3) Wit Storm broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park in his first start on the grass in February. (7) Sunday Boy has a pair of thirds this year including that stakes with Illmatic and a turf allowance.

8^th race [NY, Md 35000, 7F] – (5) Mo Curls was claimed for $30,000 last year and then tried four maiden special weights before dropping back down now. (4) Dinner Royale makes his first start of the year following a trainer change as a new gelding with blinkers on and first-time Lasix. (8) Always Honest was third when last seen at this claiming level. (11) Big Brooklyn had six consecutive top three finishes when racing for a tag.

Best bets:  Iron Max (3^rd); Five Dozen Roses (4^th). Best Value: Spirit of New York (7^th); Mo Curls (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 (covers races 2-4) 3, 5, 6 with 2, 3, 4, 5 with 5, 7, 10 = $36.