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.

4^th race [Md 100000, 1 mi] – (2) Interceptor was second in his second start in a maiden special weight and drops in for a tag for the first time with blinkers on. (3) Barb was claimed for $75,000 after a third-place finish and gets blinkers for the new connections. (1) Vow of Secrecy will also drop into a maiden claimer for the first with a second-place finish in March. (6) Nantz was claimed for $50,000 by Linda Rice from his second start where he was third.

5^th race [Clm 32000, 7F] – (8) He’smyhoneybadger was claimed from his last two starts for $25,000 after a victory and then for $32,000 following a third. (1) Legal Deal and (1A) Street Swagg make a Rob Atras entry where both are win contenders. (4) Solo Ridge drops back to the claiming ranks after three starts in an allowance and starter allowances where he had a win and a second. (7) Tageguache missed a win by a head two races back in a $32,000 claimer.

6^th race [NY, Alw 81000 N1X, 6 ½ F] – (5) Sir Kartrite returns from a December layoff when he was second in his first allowance try after a maiden victory. (1) Uncle George was second in his first try at this level in May. (7) Fireballin was a debut winner last year and was then third in an allowance. He came back from a four-month layoff just three weeks ago. (6) Trust Fund was a first out winner at Saratoga last year and then was second in a pair of state-bred stakes race. Last month he won a $35,000 N2L claimer against open company.

7^th race [Clm 35000 N2L, 1 mi TURF] – (9) Feral’s Joy shows very consistent speed figures moving from his maiden victory to allowances and drops in for a tag for the first time as a new gelding. (10) Gene and Jude broke his maiden in his second try at Gulfstream Park in December and then tried an allowance in January. He makes his first start for a new trainer after a five month layoff. (7) Mo Kreesa moved back to the grass and ran his best race to finish third in a NY-bred allowance. (1) Doomed broke his maiden for $50,000 at Aqueduct in April and was claimed by Brad Cox who of course has gaudy numbers with his new runners.

Best bets: Interceptor (4^th); Sir Kartrite (6^th). Best Value:  He’smyhoneybadger (5^th); Feral’s Joy (7^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 4-6 à 1, 2, 3 with 1/1A, 4, 8 with 1, 5, 7 = $27.