Aqueduct Hotlist - December 13

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, December 13, 2020 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 – (1) Lucky Move was an impressive winner of the Empire Distaff in October and she was second in this Bay Ridge for NY-breds by a nose last year. (6) Mrs. Orb now has a string of four seconds in three state-bred stakes and most recently in the Turnback the Alarm (G3). Last year she won five races and she has a great record at Aqueduct of 8: 3-2-1. (5) Singular Sensation has two races back from a layoff as another one who is competitive against NY-breds. (4) Kilkea returns to dirt racing where she began her career. In her most recent turf start, she was a front-end winner by five lengths at the Big A.

4^th race – (6) Unbridled Humor (B) was sent off at 5-1 in his debut for Todd Pletcher. On that day, he raced greenly when having to deal with heavy kickback on the Big A main track. (4) Constitutional Law, who is a full brother to Constitution, will make his second start for Pletcher after catching a sloppy track in his debut at Belmont Park. (7) Rock Sugar raced on that same sloppy track as the second choice when he switched from turf to dirt for Bill Mott. (3) Hardison is also a regally bred son of Tapit and the multiple Grade 1 winning mare Octave. He will make his first start on the dirt after racing on the grass for Bill Mott.

7^th race – (11) Hawaiian Noises (C) dropped down a notch in the claiming ranks to win going wire to wire for $12,500 in a race where he was bet down from 23-1 to 19-1. (9) Flowers for Lisa was claimed for $16,000 three races back and after two starts for the new connections he drops back to today’s $16,000 open claimer. (4) Grit and Glory will make a drop from starter allowance to this claimer. Two races back he was second in a starter allowance and earned a big speed figure. The move to this claimer comes after a poor effort in his last start. (8) Chief Know It All was third at Aqueduct for a $25,000 tag as one that was claimed for $12,500 back in January. They could be willing to risk getting claimed to pick up a win.

9^th race – (4) Touch of Nirvana (D) was very heavily bet when her odds dropped from 28-1 to 10-1 as she returned from a layoff and dropped in class from $40,000 to $16,000 with both races in the N2L condition. (1) Well Brush Mytooth pressed the pace in her first start in five months and finished third in her first start after moving to the barn of Linda Rice. (8) Mia Bea Star broke her maiden against NY-breds and then moved up to a $25,000 N2L spot. She finds a more appropriate spot here for David Donk. (11) Nicky Scissors will make her first start for Rob Atras after switching barns several times recently. She was a maiden special weight winner against NY-breds last year in her second career start at the Big A.

Best bets:  Lucky Move (3^rd); Unbridled Humor (4^th). Best value:  Hawaiian Noises (7^th); Touch of Nirvana (9^th).