Aqueduct Hotlist - December 3

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, December 3, 2022 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.

1^st race [Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (5) Classic Legacy (C) made a big improvement to run second behind an impressive Todd Pletcher runner in his second start for Bill Mott after getting bet down from 8-1 to 5-1. (2) Power in Numbers makes his debut for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables. The son of Girvin is from a mare that was a graded stakes winner as a 2-year-old and now has produced four winners from four to start. (4) Bearings is a full brother to the graded stakes winner Mastery who won all four starts in his career. (1) One Bite ships up from Parx with a pair of third-place finishes.

7^th race [Remsen (G2), 1 1/8 mi] – (6) Quick to Accuse should appreciate the added distance after running second in the Sleepy Hollow behind Artic Arrogance. (2) Tuskegee Airmen won both of his starts for Kentucky Derby winning trainer John Servis. He broke his maiden at Parx and then shipped to Delaware Park to win the Rocky Run Stakes going a two-turn mile. (4) Artic Arrogance is another NY-bred and the winner of 2 out of 3 starts against state-breds including the Sleepy Hollow. (7) Dunyuhnell broke his maiden at the Belmont at the Big A meeting for Danny Gargan. In his debut at Saratoga he was fourth behind two very good horses including Instant Coffee, the recent Kentucky Jockey Club winner.

8^th race [Go For Wand (G3), 1 mi] – (3) Battle Bling is the winner of her last three starts moving from a handicap at Colonial Downs to a stakes win at Laurel Park and most recently in the Turnback the Alarm (G3). Since being claimed for $62,500 by Rob Atras a year ago she has a record of 9: 4-4-0. (10) Bank Sting has a great recent record against NY-bred competition, but she did win the open company Heavenly Prize at Aqueduct in March. She should get an ideal set-up for her stalking style. (7) Dr B gets the services of Irad Ortiz as she once again ships up from Parx. Last time she was second in the Pumpkin Pie at the Big A. (5) Sharapova has been off since April yet trainer Peter Eurton opts to ship her from California.

9^th race [Cigar Mile (G1), 1 mi] – (7) Mind Control will make the final start of his career that shows 11 wins and seven of those were in graded stakes. He won four races at Aqueduct and four races at the mile distance. The 6-year-old is known for winning heated battles down the stretch. His sire Stay Thirsty won the Cigar Mile in 2012 and his trainer Todd Pletcher won this race fives times. (2) Zandon will face older horses for the first time after battling with the best 3-year-olds in the country. He won the Blue Grass (G1) and then was third in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Last year he was second in the Remsen. He will cut back in distance and go one-turn for the first time since his debut maiden victory. (1) Double Crown stepped up to win the Kelso (G2) which was the final prep race for the Cigar Mile. (3) White Abarrio won the Florida Derby (G1) and three other races at Gulfstream Park. Since then he has not been able to win again with four starts outside of Florida, but he has tactical speed which should serve him well in this one-turn format.

Best bets: Classic Legacy (1^st); Mind Control (9^th). Best value: Quick to Accuse (7^th); Battle Bling (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 7-9 and includes the Remsen, the Go For Wand, and the Cigar Mile à 2, 4, 6, with 3, 5, 7, 10 with 2, 7 = $24.