Aqueduct Hotlist - December 16

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, December 16, 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 [Md 40000, 6F] – (3) Alita will make her first start for Rob Atras after running second in a maiden special weight at Indiana Grand. (7) Wicked Happy puts the blinkers on as she goes from turf to dirt where last winter she ran well at Aqueduct at this level. (4) My Delicious returns from an April layoff when she ran second twice at this same level. (1) Sweet Mary Lou has been off since May when she was claimed and will also move from the grass to the main track.

3^rd race [Md 20000, 1 mi] – (8) Strong Point (B) came back from a layoff and dropped down to a maiden claimer at Belmont where he got pinched back at the start, rallied for second behind a horse that came back to win, and was taken for $25,000. (9) Summary Judgment was well bet in a pair of starts at Parx and now runs for new trainer Patrick Reynolds for the first time. He showed speed in both starts. (3) Simple Sugar gets Lasix for the first time in his first start for James Chapman which came following a year layoff. (6) Incontrovertible will drop down to the level at which he began his career and finished third. Jose Ortiz gets on board.

7^th race [OC 80k/N1X, 7F] – (1) Life Is Great/(1A) Hagler make a formidable entry owned by EV Racing. Both are serious win contenders. (2) Sterling Hill has improved his speed figures in all four starts which includes his last two at Belmont Park in a maiden special weight and a stake for NY-breds. (4) Florida Gator crossed the finish line first in his first two career starts and then was second in a starter allowance at Churchill Downs. He’s back at Belmont where he broke his maiden. (3) Bold Leader ships up from Fair Hills for Michael Trombetta and cuts back in distance with a solid four race career.

8^th race [NY, Md 40000, 1 mi] – (7) Vibe Setter tried the turf in his second start but was bet to 9-2 in his debut at Belmont in a maiden special weight. Trainer Charlie Baker has strong numbers when his runners move in for a tag. (9) Workingman’s Dude was third in his last two starts at this level. (10) Devious Banker gets the blinkers on after an unsuccessful try on the grass. (11) Convertible Freeze will go from turf to dirt for Brad Cox which is the surface on which he debuted at Saratoga at odds of 5-1.

Best bets:  Alita (1^st); Entry (7^th). Best value:  Strong Point (3^rd); Vibe Setter (8^th).