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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

4^th race [Alw 95000 N1X, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (6) Emboite (A) pressed the pace in his first start of the year and finished third after likely needing that race. (4) Shutters ended 2022 with three wins in a row when he won through the NY-bred allowance conditions. He had to start this year in the first-level allowance against open company and was second. He changes barns and Joel Rosario gets back on board. (3) Good Medicine will make his first start of the year for Todd Pletcher with a chance of getting loose on the lead. (5) Activist Investing broke his maiden in his third start last year with improving speed figures each race for Chad Brown.

6^th race [Alw 50000s, 7F TURF] – (5) Bobby the Tank (A) set the pace in his first start of the year, looked like he was going to drop out of contention down the stretch, but fought back to finish second. (1) Highly Flammable made his 2023 debut at Woodbine for Mark Casse and romped to a victory on the artificial surface and now moves to the turf. (11) Be the Boss changes trainers to Mike Maker and gets Irad Ortiz as the rider. (10) Don’t Let Me Down moved back to the turf and broke his maiden with a strong move down the stretch to win easily.

7^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 6F] – (6) Reigning Chick used a late rally to win last time for a $25,000 tag and was claimed. A fast pace is expected in this field and that will benefit Reigning Chick. (8) Luna’s Song broke her maiden in her second start to end 2022 for Brad Cox. (7) Red Moon won her first two starts at Turf Paradise in Arizona as a heavy favorite this Spring and now changes barns to Bill Morey and gets Irad on board which means this horse probably is a win contender. (4) Song Parody broke her maiden in her debut race last year against a return winner and then tried a stakes at Saratoga.

9^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (5) Jessica’s Ride (B) used a late rally to finish second in her debut behind an impressive winner. (2) Danseur d’Oro missed getting her first win by a nose after pressing the pace. (3) Foxy Cara was third in her second start behind Danseur d’ Oro. (1) She’s a Nine was bet to a short price in her debut and showed speed but did not have a smooth trip  which included a rough start and lugging in down the stretch.

Best bets: Emboite (4^th); Jessica’s Ride (9^th). Best value: Bobby the Tank (6^th); Reigning Chick (7^th).