Aqueduct Hotlist - December 4

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

1^st race [Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (1) Check Engine Light (B) got off to a slow start in her debut at Saratoga in July and put in a late rally. (6) Divine Cross raced greenly in her first start in the BAQ meeting for John Kimmel and finished fourth. (3) Allamericanbeauty was a $700,000 yearling purchase that is out of a modest dam and Into Mischief and will debut for Shug McGaughey. (5) La Grotte has two starts that may both be throw outs. She showed speed in her turf debut at Saratoga and then lost all chance in a dirt race after a horrible break.

2^nd race [Clm 12500, 1 1/8 mi] – (3) Its All Relevant has nine wins at Aqueduct and 16 out of 20 in the top three. He is one of only two horses in the field to win at nine furlongs and drops back down to this level from $16,000. (2) Caribbean will make his first start for trainer Rob Atras and makes a significant drop in class with a win at this distance. (5) Umbria has a good record at the Big A and a five length victory last time while sprinting, but has won at a mile. (7) Scotty is another one that loves Aqueduct having three wins there including at a mile in October.

3^rd race [OC50k/SAL50k, 7F] – (5) Valenzan Day won his debut at Belmont Park and then was third in the Tremont. He also was fourth in the Saratoga Special (G2). He has an allowance victory at Delaware Park and a pair of seconds at Laurel Park for Rudy Rodriguez. (4) Rol Again Dancer was claimed for $50,000 at Monmouth Park by Kelly Breen after a nose loss in an optional claimer. (6) Victim of the Nite broke his maiden for $30,000 at Laurel last time after a poor start as the favorite and now moves to the barn of Rob Atras. (2) Going in Style dropped into a $40,000 maiden claimer and won at the BAQ meeting for Jose Camejo.

4^th race [NY, OC50k/N1X, 6F] – (5) Security Code is stakes-placed in a NY-bred race just two weeks ago and gets some class relief after three stakes starts. (4) Banterra broke her maiden two races back by more than 10 lengths in October at BAQ and then tried a state-bred stakes race. (3) Highway Harmony moved from turf to dirt in her second start and got a maiden special weight victory at Aqueduct last month. (1) Disruption broke her maiden in her third try for Chad Brown at BAQ at the end of October with a pace pressing effort.

Best bets:  Its All Relevant (2^nd); Valenzan Day (3^rd). Best value:  Check Engine Light (1^st); Security Code (4^th).