Aqueduct Hotlist - December 18

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, December 18, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (7) Bold Journey (B) moves to the barn of Bill Mott after running second in his debut at Aqueduct last month while finishing well ahead of the rest of field. Blinkers go on for this second start. (3) Golden Code will make his first career start for Todd Pletcher. This son of Honor Code out of a stakes-winning mare who produced 7 winners from 7 to start with five that won more than $100,000. (6) Bert Bert Bert will debut for Kelly Breen and is out of a mare that was graded-stakes placed as a 2-year-old. (10) Our Son Jake was fifth in his first race for Mike Miceli.

6^th race [NY, New York Stallion Series, 7F] – (1) Unique Unions (A) was an impressive maiden breaker in his second start for Rick Schosberg. (9) Iron Lion in Zion (C) won his first race in his second try for Tom Morley when he broke poorly and had to rally from last to first in a large field while getting bet down from 7-1 to 5-1. (2) Bustin Pietre won his first start in a maiden claimer and came right back to finish second in a NY-bred stake at Aqueduct for trainer Bruce Levine who has had unexpected success with juveniles this year. (3) Maseta will move from turf to dirt for Linda Rice who has excellent stats doing that. Last out he ran third in a stake against open company and blinkers go on.

8^th race [NY, New York Stallion Series, 7F] – (9) Bank On Anna (A) will try this stakes race after running second in her debut where she finished well ahead of the rest of an 11-horse field. (4) Laochi (B) is still a maiden after four tries. Last time she had to race in tight quarters down the stretch and finished third in a blanket finish. (6) Morning Matcha broke her maiden and then won an allowance at Parx for trainer Butch Reid. She will get to run in this restricted race as a Pennsylvania-bred because she is sired by New York stallion Central Banker. (7) Howdyoumakeurmoney began her career at Saratoga with a maiden win on the turf and since became stakes-placed and stakes-winning on the Tapeta.

9^th race [NY, Alw 72000 N1X, 6 ½ F] – (3) Raven Rocks (C) was claimed for $25,000 last month at Aqueduct in his second start off a layoff when he was bet down to be the favorite. (4) Reggae Music Man (D) has been off since June when he was bet down from 8-1 to 9-2. He has had some fast works for trainer Pat Reynolds who does well with long layoffs. (2) Uncle George will move from turf to dirt for Christophe Clement after an allowance second following a year layoff. [(1) Dee Bo and (1A) Big Brown Shoes are both contenders].

Best bets:  Bold Journey (5^th); Raven Rocks (9^th). Best value: Unique Unions (6^th); Bank On Anna (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 on races 5 – 7 which includes the $500,000 NY Stallion Series à 3, 6, 7, 10 with 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9 with 9 = $24.