Aqueduct Hotlist - April 7

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, April 7, 2022 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 /16 mi TURF] – (1) Excursionniste (D) returns to his preferred surface on the grass where last seen he was third in December. His last two races were on the dirt at the Big A and he was bet down from 9-2 to 2-1. (5) Curlin’s Wisdom has been off since February and showed speed on the grass at Aqueduct to run third back in November. (8) Joint Resolution spent the winter training in Florida for the Clement barn and will debut here. (6) Barrel of Quests made his first career start on the turf for David Donk in November and since then had two dirt starts at the Big A.

2^nd race [OC80k/N1X, 1 mi] – (5) Tap the Faith (A) was a debut winner for Clement at Belmont Park in November and then was rank taking kickback in the Demoiselle (G2) the following month. She has been training in Florida. (4) Early Glow was maiden breaker in her third try by almost seven lengths at the Big A for Bill Mott. She has been off since that mile victory in January. (1) Diamond Collector was also a maiden winner at Aqueduct and she went on to run fourth in a stake at Laurel for Carlos Martin. Blinkers go on for this filly that has shown speed. (2) Waters of Merom was claimed for $50,000 by Linda Rice just a week ago when she set the pace and ran second.

3^rd race [Clm 35000 N3L, 1 mi] – (1) Charger (C) was claimed from his last two races, most recently for $25,000 from a N2L win by Tom Morley when he was bet down from 6-1 to 3-1. (3) No Burn has a starter allowance victory since his maiden claiming win and now drops back to the restricted claiming ranks. (6) Road to Success returns from a 17 length victory in a N2L condition where he was claimed from Linda Rice. (5) Air Show ran well in a pair of starter allowances and now drops back to the level at which current trainer Orlanda Noda claimed him.

5^th race [Clm 40000 N2L, 1 mi] – (2) Cousteau (C) has two improving races since a layoff where he was claimed and then set the pace to finish third in a starter allowance after getting bet down from 4-1 to be the 9-5 favorite. (5) Blu Grotto has been racing only in starter allowances since breaking his maiden and now makes the appropriate move to a N2L condition. (6) Rock Sugar broke his maiden when he dropped in the maiden claiming ranks and then tried a starter allowance. (4) My Brother Neil got his maiden victory with his best speed figure last time at Parx.

Best bets:  Tap the Faith (2^nd); Cousteau (5^th). Best value:  Excursionniste (1^st); Charger (3^rd).