Aqueduct Hotlist - December 30

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, December 30, 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 [NY, Md 40000, 6F] – (3) Damilano (B) came off a three-month layoff and appeared eager to run pre-race which caused him to break through the gate. He subsequently finished second ahead of a horse that came back to win his next start. (4) Brew Pub takes blinkers off as he drops back into the maiden claiming ranks with plenty of close calls in recent starts. (6) D’vinicris will move from turf to dirt for trainer David Donk and drops down seeking that first win. (1) Boom Boom Kaboom has run well at this level many times in the past on both turf and dirt for George Weaver.

2^nd race [Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (5) Diamond Collector ran second in her debut for Carlos Martin at odds of 5-1 behind Radio Days who came back and won an allowance at Aqueduct by more than eight lengths. (1) Exxaltress will make her debut for Chad Brown. The $350,000 2-year-old purchase is out of a mare that was stakes-placed and has produced 4 winners from 4 to start. (4) Geometrique is the second foal from a mare that won at first asking. Trainer Bobby Ribaudo does well with 2-year-olds when he gets them. (2) Rosebug will move from turf to dirt and cutback in distance for Bill Mott. She was first in her dirt debut at Saratoga.

3^rd race [NY, Alw 72000 N1X, 1 mi] – (4) Top of the Mint was a clear winner on the front-end for Mark Hennig following a layoff of just more than a year. The third-place runner in that race came back to win his next start. (5) Emperor’s Cause will cut back to sprinting after two solid results at this allowance level. (3) Quickflash was claimed last time after appearing for a tag for the first time at Aqueduct. He has plenty of top three finishes. (6) Kodiak Brown brings an excellent record from Finger Lakes for trainer Chris Englehart who is one of the best shuttling horses from that track to Aqueduct.

6^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 1 mi] – (5) Rocco Strong makes the big drop from starter allowances to the N2L condition, blinkers come off, and he gets a rider change back to Dylan Davis. Last year, he broke his maiden at the Big A for $50,000. (7) Corkman will make a similar drop in class for Linda Rice who claimed him out of a maiden win for $25,000 two races ago. (3) Air Show was claimed last time for $40,000 by Tom Morley. If he can regain his form from the summer, he will be hard to beat. (1) Make It in Ny was second at this level two races back.

Best bets:  Damilano (1^st); Diamond Collector (2^nd). Best value:  Top of the Mint (3^rd); Rocco Strong (6^th).