Aqueduct Hotlist - April 2

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, April 2, 2021 at Aqueduct
                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.

1^st race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (1) Our Man Mike (A) rallied from last on a sloppy track at Aqueduct to run third in the first start of the year while racing six-wide. Last year as a 2-year-old he was stakes-placed twice against state-breds. (6) Brew Pub has been a consistent performer at this level. (2) Forty Two Ace has several competitive starts at this level and tries a mile for the first time. (5) War Novel will debut for Chad Brown with Irad Ortiz in the saddle. The son of Laoban was a $100,000 purchase as a 2-year-old.

4^th race [Md 40000, 1 mi TURF] – (3) Brazillionaire was last seen running third at Gulfstream Park for a $50,000 tag on the turf. After that race he shipped up to train at Belmont Park and this the first grass race of the year in New York. (5) Johnnypump will drop out of the maiden special weight ranks for trainer Michael Maker following a two-month layoff. He raced well twice on the grass last year. (6) Prince of Caps will make his 2021 debut after taking the winter off to wait for the grass racing to return. He almost broke his maiden at this level back in June at Belmont. (10) Loaded Joe will now move back to the grass which looks like his best surface after running on the main track at Aqueduct during the winter.

6^th race [Alw 82000 N1X, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Dreams of Tomorrow missed by a neck in an allowance on the turf at Gulfstream Park back in February which came right after his maiden win on the grass. (1) La Hara/(1A) Kuramata are a formidable Chad Brown/Peter Brandt entry. (8) Singapore Trader will make his 2021 debut for Horatio DePaz who last year entered this gelding twice in races meant for the turf. (9) Box N Score will also make his first start of the year. He was a debut winner on the grass at Belmont followed by three tries in grass allowances. [(7) Malibu Star (A) and (4) Vintage Hollywood (C) were entered for Main Track Only.]

7^th race [Distaff Hand, 7F] – (1) Honor Way will make her 2021 debut after ending last year with stake victories in the Pumpkin Pie at Belmont and the Garland of Roses at the Big A. (5) Portal Creek has two seconds in New York stakes after shipping up from Parx. She cuts back in distance which should help her early speed to carry. (4) Paris Lights won the CCA Oaks (G1) when last seen in July at Saratoga. This race may be a tightener for the Bill Mott trainee. (3) Kansas Kis has never run worse than third in nine starts at Aqueduct in maiden, allowance, and stakes.

Best bets:  Our Man Mike (1^st); Brazillionaire (4^th). Best value:  Dreams of Tomorrow (6^th); Honor Way (7^th).