Aqueduct Hotlist - December 20

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, December 20, 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.

2^nd race – (3) Irish Constitution was a debut winner at Saratoga against NY-breds who came back to run fourth in the Spinaway (G1). Most recently, she had the lead in a state-bred stake at Belmont Park and got caught at the wire. Now, she is in allowance company again going seven-furlongs. (1) Frost Me is a NY-bred daughter of Frosted that also won her first start. She was then second in a stake against state-breds at Belmont. (4) Secret Love won her initial start by more than six lengths back in September at Belmont going six furlongs. (6) Rossa Veloce joins the other picks as a debut winner with a place finish in a NY-bred stake with hers coming at Aqueduct last month.

4^th race – (3) Gwaun River Valley will make his debut for Christophe Clement who has been winning at a 27% rate with firsters. The dam was a winner as a 2-year-old who has had only one other foal who is stakes-placed with earnings of $189,000. (6) Repo Rocks has faced some tough fields at Saratoga, Keeneland, and Churchill Downs having run third last time under the Twin Spires for Bill Mott. (7) Nepotism was second in his debut at odds of 5-2 for Jonathan Thomas who wins with 34% of his second-time starters. (2) Bird Ruler was claimed from a second-place finish at Churchill for $50,000 by Bruce Levine who grabbed a few horses off the track in Kentucky recently.

8^th race – (6) Neuro (C) was heavily bet from 10-1 to 9-2 in his last start going long on the turf where he set the pace and finished third. He’s back on the dirt with turf racing finished for the winter in New York. He was second in October on the Belmont main track in a similar NY-bred maiden special weight. (4) Whichwaytomalibu (D) was bet down from 10-1 to 6-1 in a state-bred maiden claimer. He’ll cutback in distance at Aqueduct where he ran second in a maiden special weight last winter. (3) Black Irish is in fine form with a second last time at this level for David Donk. (9) Not Phar Now makes his third start after a long layoff for Linda Rice with hopes of catching a dry surface.

9^th race – (8) Jemography (C) has a pair of seconds in NY-bred first-level allowances since moving to the barn of Mark Hennig. Last race at the Big A he was bet down from 7-1 to 9-2. (6) Luna’s In Charge ships up from Churchill Downs to get back to state-bred competition where, last at Saratoga, he was second twice. (10) Notorious Flirt makes his third start off a long layoff for Linda Rice in two races behind the top choice. (4) Raven Rocks broke his maiden in his second career start at Belmont Park for trainer Jeremiah Englehart with a pace pressing effort.

Best bets:  Irish Constitution (2^nd); Jemography (9^th). Best value:  Gwaun River Valley (4^th); Neuro (8^th).