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 [Md 50000, 6 ½ F] – (4) Lean Music Machine was claimed for $20,000 when he moved from a stalking position to miss by a neck in what was his first start for a tag. (7) Ranger Battalion spent the winter in Florida and cuts back to sprinting where he showed speed at Gulfstream Park. (6) Aerate got claimed by Linda Rice when he dropped down to the $20,000 level at Keeneland last month. (2) Henry’s Hope set the pace and was second for $20,000 two weeks ago.

5^th race [NY, Md 30000, 6 ½ F] – (5) Observer was third and then second on wet, sealed tracks since moving to the maiden claimer ranks. (6) Sounds of Summer was third in his debut in March for a $40,000 tag but did not appreciate the wet going last month. (3) Sunset Park was third and fourth at this level at Aqueduct recently. (8) Our Lil Surfergirl will make the first start of her career for Horacio De Paz.

6^th race [OC 100k/C, 7F] – (3) Rotknee (B) made his first start of the year and got steadied back to last, rushed up to second, and finished third in a similar top-level allowance last month. (4) Octane will make his 2025 debut for Amelia Green and was a Grade 3 winner last year with three career victories going seven furlongs. (1) Twenty Four Mamba was claimed from his last two starts for $62,500 after running second and then winning with a front-end effort. (6) Nova Rags comes back after a year layoff for Bill Mott with four top three finishes in his last five starts.

8^th race [NY, Md 50000, 6F TURF] – (3) Pandemic Hero debuted last year at Saratoga on the grass and has a pair of seconds this year on the main track at the Big A. (6) Cousin Ed spent the winter at Gulfstream and ran well on the turf there and gets back to state-bred racing. (9) Army Proud will come back from a winter break and drops in for a tag for the first time with first-time Lasix and blinkers on. (1) Orie will also make his first start in 2025 while running for a tag for the first time after three grass starts in large fields with good finishes.

Best bets: Lean Music Machine (1^st); Observer (5^th). Best value: Rotknee (6^th); Pandemic Hero (8^th).