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.

2^nd race [OC 55k/N1X, 1 ½ mi TURF] – (5) Trail of Gold (A) was last after the break, tossed her head under restraint, and rallied wide for second. (3) Midnight Concerto finished in the top three in her last five starts including a NY-bred stakes race last month at Saratoga. (7) Trading Strategy won a maiden with a career high speed figure at Aqueduct in May. (8) Scarlett’s Halo was third in her last two starts at this level.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi TURF] – (4) Zodiac Warrior (B) was taken up at the start of his debut at 4-1 and ended up fourth. (9) Sanke was a $40,000 Not This Time yearling purchase making his first start for Wesley Ward. (10) Antonelli was a $500,000 March purchase as a 2-year-old from a $25,000 stallion running for the first time for a trainer who is excellent with debut runners. (11) And the Runner Is will make his initial start and was touted by his trainer as a talented juvenile.

5^th race [Md 55000, 5 ½ F TURF] – (2) Pulling Threads (C) was bet down from 3-1 to even money in April, pressed the pace, and was claimed from Chad Brown for $75,000 by Linda Rice. (7) Americanexpression was third in her only start in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park in May at 5-2. (6) R P Byrne was second in April in Florida when she dropped in for a tag for the first time. (1) Undercover Agent will also go to the claiming ranks for the first time after five starts where she had early speed.

6^th race [OC 80k/N2X, 6 ½ F] – (3) Limes Don’t Lie (B) had to steady on the inside behind the lead and ended up second at 5-2. (7) Alyeska will make her first start of the year after winning an allowance in September at the Big A as an odds-on favorite. (1) She’s a Gamer finished first or second in her last six races with four in Florida and two at Monmouth Park. (6) The Big Calhouna was claimed for $80,000 last month after pressing the pace and finishing third.

Best bets: Pulling Theads (5^th); Limes Don’t Lie (6^th). Best value: Trail of Gold (2^nd); Zodiac Warrior (4^th).