Aqueduct Hotlist - February 19

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, February 19, 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.

2^nd race – (3) Wicked Title (B) got off to a slow start and had to rally from last in an eight-horse field to finish second on a track that was speed favoring in that N3L claimer. (1A) Lottie’s Mizzion was claimed out of a two-length victory in a N2L claimer which came after a two-month layoff. She was claimed out of there by Charlie Baker. (7) La Negrita was claimed two races back for $14,000 and was moved up to $25,000 by new trainer Rick Schosberg. Now, he drops back down to that original level while stretching out to a mile. (4) Mani Pedi was also a winner last time at the N2L level going the mile with an effective stalking trip.

3^rd race – (3) Montauk Traffic drops into a claiming race for the first time in his career. He won the Jimmy Wakefield last year and was third in the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct. Here he drops into a N3L condition for a $50,000 tag after two poor races in allowances. (1) Merchants of Cool heads north after running third in a stake at Turfway Park on the synthetic track for Wesley Ward. He did debut on the dirt at Keeneland running fourth. (4) Mission Wrapitup will return from an October layoff. He was taken at Saratoga for $32,000 from an open claimer. He won a state-bred allowance at the Big A last winter. (5) Montauk Daddy won a N2L claimer last month and came back in a starter allowance to press the pace. He was a $30,000 claim in November.

4^th race – (1) Doyouknowwhoiam (A) has not been seen since his debut at Saratoga for Linda Rice when she lost a head bob for the win in a $50,000 maiden claimer against open company. She returns here to face NY-breds with Lasix for the first time. (7) Half Day Pam was bet to 5-1 in her debut at Aqueduct last month for Rudy Rodriguez and ran fourth. She will add blinkers for her second start. (2) Nebo ran second at this $40,000 claiming level back in December at the Big A and then ran badly with blinkers on twice. Now, the shades come off and that could be all that she needs. (3) Tellaperfecttale changes barns following a debut third at this same level. In that race she was just behind a horse that came back to win her next start for a $25,000 tag.

6^th race – (5) Shesadirtydancer (C) broke her maiden for a $40,000 tag against NY-breds on the front-end in her second start after a long layoff when she was bet down to be the 1.40-1 favorite. (7) Gun Hill Girl (A) broke her maiden against state-breds for $25,000 in her first start for Mike Miceli when she broke slowly and went from last to first in the turn and then won easily down the stretch. (8) Investment Grade (C) was a wire to wire winner in her first start in New York after racing on the turf at Del Mar. George Weaver dropped her in for $25,000 and she got claimed away by Chris Englehart. She was heavily bet from 3-1 to be the 1-1 favorite. (2) Timed Out returned from an October maiden claiming win against open company to try a starter allowance like today’s race. She had the lead in the stretch and ended up second for Rudy R.

Best bets:  Montauk Traffic (3^rd); Doyouknowhoiam (4^th). Best value:  Wicked Title (2^nd); Shesadirtydancer (6^th).