Aqueduct Hotlist - December 31

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, December 31, 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 Sp Wt, 7F] – (4) Castle Chaos ran second in his first two starts at Sarataoga and then Belmont Park. Both times, the winning horse won his next start. (5) Mandatory set the pace going a mile following a seven-month layoff and finished fourth. The cutback makes a lot of sense. (1) Comedic Timing gets blinkers on following a trio of third-place finishes at three different Mid-Atlantic tracks. (3) Exulted Charm will come back from an August layoff for Kelly Breen when she also had a series of show finishes.

3^rd race [Md 40000, 6F] – (6) Good Skate ran the best race of his career which came in his second start following a layoff and produced his best speed figure and a second-place finish. (3) Runninsonofagun was claimed for $30,000 after a third in his debut at Churchill Downs where he got squeezed badly at the start at odds of 4-1. (1) U Kant Whip It was well bet in both starts and now drops into a claimer for the first time for Kelly Breen. He’s back on the main track after not liking the turf last time. (5) Gun Maestro comes back as a new gelding and moves to a maiden claimer after taking money in both starts.

4^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 6 ½ F] – (6) Mazal Eighteen ran two good races at this level in her last two starts after switching from the turf. It’s only a matter of time until she gets that second victory. (7) Infringement moves from turf to dirt having broken her maiden on the main track at Belmont in her debut. (1) R Working Girl made a huge improvement in her second start following a layoff which was also her first after getting claimed for $40,000. This former Wesley Ward runner broke her maiden at first asking. (3) Ghostghostghost will drop out of a starter allowance having gotten her first win in the start before in a maiden special weight at Finger Lakes.

8^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (6) Bossmakinbossmoves has the look of a horse that is improving with each start. He rallied well in his last two starts and the extra distant can’t hurt. (4) Excursionniste moves back to the dirt with past efforts that can beat this field. Dylan Davis stays on board. (10) Curlin’s Wisdom debuted on the dirt, ran fourth, and then tried the turf where he set the pace and ended up third. (8) Bointheback was claimed last time and gets moved back up for the new trainer who has good stats with new horses. His form in the summer makes him a contender.

Best bets:  Castle Chaos (1^st); Good Skate (3^rd). Best value:  Mazal Eighteen (4^th); Bossmakinbossmoves (8^th).