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 17500 N3L, 1 mi] – (3) She’s Complicated made a big drop in class last time to win a N2L $17,500 claimer by almost eight lengths and avoided getting claimed away from Linda Rice. (2) Best Impression ran well in her last three starts, got claimed twice from N2L races, and then was third stepping up to the N3L. (1) Foxy Cara made her last five starts at this level and was a contender. (6) Rodeo Star set the pace, finished third in her only appearance in a N3L, and got claimed. She ran her next two in NY-bred allowances.

2^nd race [Clm 17500 N2L, 6F] – (4) Ragtime Sizzle broke her maiden for $20,000 at Saratoga in July and then ran in a pair of races that were way too hard. She drops back to the right level now. (6) Auroralinna won a maiden special weight at Penn National, ran in three allowances there, and drops in for a tag for the first time. (1) Handle On You ran her best race to make a closing move at Saratoga to miss the win by a half-length. (2) Belle Cherie returns from an April layoff after racing at Oaklawn Park where she finished second for a $35,000 tag.

5^th race [Clm 40000, 1 mi] – (6) Sagamore Mischief was a front-end winner for a $32,000 tag at Saratoga in August. (7) Ridgewood Runner hit the board twice at the Spa in second-level allowances and last month was fifth for $50,000. (1) Systemic Change won a $25,000 claimer in August and was taken. Last time he was fourth in a starter allowance. (4) Jackson Heights won two in a row for $25,000 and then a first-level allowance before also trying a starter allowance.

8^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Sky Low Low (B) got pinched back towards the rear of a full field at Saratoga last month and rallied to finish second in a $50,000 maiden claimer in her first start of 2025. (1) Amazing Gracer had to steady in the middle of her second start and was able to make a strong closing move to just miss the win by a head. (6) Off Script moved to the turf for her last 2 races at Saratoga and finished second and then third. (2) Hello Beauty had a pair of thirds at Churchill Downs, made her first start against NY-breds, and now changes barns. Blinkers come off.

Best bets: She’s Complicated (1^st); Sagamore Mischief (5^th). Best value: Ragtime Sizzle (2^nd); Sky Low Low (8^th).