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 25000, 1 1/8 mi] – (7) Frizzante comes back in six days after running third for a $45,000 tag in his first start since getting claimed by Linda Rice for $30,000. (5) Indy Rags was a winner going the two-turns last month for $20,000. (4) Hermoso Hombre won a starter allowance at Parx last time in March. (1) Military Road was claimed by Linda Rice after winning a N3L condition by 17 lengths.

3^rd race [Md 12500, 7F] – (5) Reign It In has been running against better horses where he was second a couple of times in the late winter. (6) Gaulillo has also been racing against better including in February when he was claimed for $20,000. (4) Isola d’Oro returns from a February layoff and drops down to his lowest level for his fourth start. (7) Beck’s Dreamer was third at this level at the beginning of the month and shows up as a new gelding.

4^th race [Kelso (G3), 1 1/8 mi TURF] – (5) Deterministic makes his first start since winning the Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga which established him as one of the best American turf runners. (1) Ridari is a stablemate of the top choice and he makes his first start in America and last seen won a Group 2 in France in October. (2) Battle of Normandy won four races in a row in 2024 and was second in the Canadian Turf (G2) at Gulfstream in February. (4) Uncatalyzed is a lightly raced winner of his last two starts with European bloodlines.

7^th race [Md 20000, 6F] – (9) Chardonnay Derby (A) set the pace in his first start of the year, got passed by the eventual winner, and was claimed by Linda Rice. (3) Bengalese had the lead and finished second in her last two races at this level. (2) Barbour County drops out of a pair of NY-bred maiden special weights for a hot trainer and blinkers come off. (1) All of My Whatif’s showed early speed in her second start and is now first-time Lasix.

Best bets:  Deterministic (4^th); Chardonnay Derby (7^th). Best Value: Frizzante (1^st); Reign It In (3^rd).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 3-5 and includes the Kelso (G3) 4, 5, 6 with 1, 5 with 3, 6, 7 = $18.