Aqueduct Hotlist - February 18

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, February 18, 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 40000 N2L, 6F] – (4) Mostly Harmless drops from a pair of maiden special weight starts back to the $40,000 level at which he was claimed by a low-profile trainer who won a race with this rider last week. (3) Afilada exits a couple of thirds at this level and gets blinkers on for a hot trainer in Rob Falcone. (6) Dusted will make his debut for Bruce Levine who wins with first-time maiden claimers at a 25% clip. (2) Herecomesangelina will make her first start for Rudy Rodriguez in a race where the firsters deserve serious attention just because the form of the experienced horses is questionable at best.

3^rd race [Clm 25000 N2L, 6 ½ F] – (2) Thegoddessofsnakes was claimed for $20,000 at Parx when she broke her maiden three races back. Since then, she stepped way up to starter allowances and actually ran well on a fast track before catching a sloppy surface. (6) Flower Moon broke her maiden for a $40,000 tag at Aqueduct and tried the starter allowance just once. Linda Rice claimed her for $50,000 out of her debut race in November. (1) Boss Cara broke her maiden for $40,000, moved up to a starter, and then ran third in a N2L condition for that $40,000 price. This spot makes a lot of sense. (5) New York Banker just broke her maiden for $25,000.

4^th race [Clm 20000, 6 ½ F] – (2) Mount Travers (D) drops down after getting bet from 12-1 to 8-1 in a $32,000 claimer when he was fifth. This is the lowest level at which he ran in more than a year. (3) Eucharist won his last two starts going from a N2L to a N3L condition which is hard to do. He ran well in open company in the summer. (1) Alcools has early speed and drops back to a claiming level where he won during the summer. (5) Free Enterprise has been off since November but has several wins against much better company including twice at Saratoga last year.

6^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 1 mi] – (3) Mister Candy Ride was second for $50,000 in November for Linda Rice when he was claimed. At Aqueduct he ran once in a starter allowance. (8) Straight Skinny was second in a N2L claimer two races back after having the lead. Subsequently, he tried a NY-bred allowance. (5) Make It in Ny was claimed by Rob Atras for $25,000 when he was second two races ago. Last time he was competitive in a state-bred allowance. (6) Big Castle will drop down to $25,000 in only his second start against claimers.

Best bets:  Thegoddessofsnakes (3^rd); Mister Candy Ride (6^th). Best value:  Mostly Harmless (1^st); Mount Travers (4^th).