Aqueduct Hotlist - April 8

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, April 8, 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.

3^rd race [Alw 82000 N1X, 6F] – (1) Frosted Ice (B) raced wide last time going a mile and gave way but now he cuts back in distance in his second start for trainer Michelle Nevin. (6) O’ Trouble missed by a nose in the same company in his most recent races for Tony Dutrow who had a great winter meeting at the Big A. (2) Zaevion was third in a stakes race at Aqueduct just two weeks ago and now drops back in class, although the purse is big. (3) Morning Breez was also second in one of these first-level allowances a month ago.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (4) Dovima had two seconds in his first two starts on the turf last summer and now returns to the grass and makes her 2021 debut for Chad Brown. (3) Candy Jar has a pair of place finishes on the grass at Gulfstream Park including one against the boys for Bill Mott. (5) Political Gridlock will make her debut for Chad Brown and that alone makes her dangerous in this turf race. (6) Star Devine is an European-bred making her first start for Jorge Abreu who has a strong record with first-timers.

5^th race [Clm 14000 N3L, 6 ½ F] – (6) Dr. Devera’s Way (D) had a series of lackluster performances at this N3L level and was still heavily bet from 15-1 to 8-1 with late money. (3) Road to Meath was claimed back in January for $25,000 by George Weaver. He drops down to a tag at which he won his N2L. Weaver does not claim a lot of horses but when he does, they come back running. (8) Cobble Hill makes her third start off a layoff for Rudy Rodriguez, who ran away with the winter trainer’s title. She dropped to this level last time and ran third. (4) No Lime makes a big drop down to this claiming price where he was successful at the N2L and N3L level.

8^th race [Md 40000, 1 mi TURF] – (5) Wicked Happy (C) was bet down from 9-2 to 2-1 and was second best after having the lead in the stretch on the main track and now switches to the turf where he also ran well. (7) Cherokee Song also goes dirt to turf after competing with the Hot List horse on both surfaces. (3) Zerenia is more lightly raced than the top two choices. She did run second on the turf at Belmont Park in the fall at this level. (4) Laugh It Off had three competitive starts on the grass at Fair Grounds to begin her career.

Best bets:  Dovima (4^th); Wicked Happy (8^th). Best value:  Frosted Ice (3^rd); Dr. Devera’s Way (5^th).