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 [OC 80k/C, 6F] – (1A) Durante (D) was bet down from 8-1 to 6-1 and hit the gate in the Runhappy (G3). He has been racing in stakes in his last six starts and the last time he ran at this allowance level he was second by a head. (5) He’smyhoneybadger was a high-priced claim twice recently and was a winner of an OC allowance last time by more than four lengths. His speed figures increased in his last four starts. (4) Gun It returns from a winter layoff and when last seen was second in a race similar to this spot. (2) Runninsonofagun comes back after a year off showing some fast works. He is a past Grade 3 winner in New York.

5^th race [ALW 100000 N1X, 6F TURF] – (7) Masterof the Tunes (A) was returning from a layoff, dropped back after being rank under heavy restraint, and comes back on just a week of rest. (3) Kerry came back from a five month layoff, dropped out of a couple of stakes races, got the lead in the stretch, and finished third. Irad Ortiz gets on board for the first time. (4) Proud Mary rallied from last to get second in her first start of the year and changes to the barn of Mark Hennig. (9) Cynane was a debut winner last year and then went to Royal Ascot to finish 10^th out of 26. She will get Lasix for the first time for her 2024 debut.

8^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 1 mi] – (3) Colloquy (B) was claimed from his last three races where he finished first or second in open company. In his recent start he jumped coming out of the gate dropping to last and rallied to finish second beaten by just a half-length. (7) Dr. Kraft was a winner of the first-level allowance after five top three finishes in a row. He will get a fast pace once again to set up another stalking move. (6) Horse Be With You got his allowance win on the front end by more than four lengths and is projected to be loose on the lead. (2) Rocket and Roll was claimed from a pair of open-company races which he won and then tried the Man O’ War (G2) with no luck.

9^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (12) Art of Courage (C) was bet down from 5-1 to 5-2 in his first start of the year, set the pace, and finished second. (4) Saint Bones debuted at Tampa Downs and was bet down to 4-1 in a field of 10 for a low-profile trainer. Now he changes to a New York trainer, goes form dirt to turf, and gets Irad Ortiz. (10) Nano Man ran well on the grass in his first two starts and returns from a winter layoff. (1) Launch Control has been off for a year, changes barns, and returns as a new gelding.

Best bets: Durante (2^nd); Art of Courage (9^th). Best value: Masterof the Tunes (5^th); Colloquy (8^th).