Aqueduct Hotlist - February 20

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, February 20, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race – (1) B C Glory Days (A) was bet to 5-1 in his debut in a NY-bred maiden special weight at Aqueduct where he had the lead while battling on the front-end and held on for third beaten by only a half-length even after that pace collapsed. (2) Judge Bern was fourth behind the now stakes winning Nicky the Vest two races back. He’ll go a mile again in here. (3) What’s My Category was claimed from the hot Carlos Martin barn after running second in a $40,000 maiden claimer against state-breds. (4) Vodka Lemonade made his dirt debut and finished fourth behind a horse that came back to win his next start.

2^nd race – (6) Tapizearance had the lead in his last start and finished second in a N3L claimer for a $14,000 tag and comes back in a similar spot. (5) Dr. Devera’s Way was second in one of these N3L spots and then was moved up to the $25,000 level to no avail and now drops back down to this $14,000 spot. (2B) Cobble Hill was last seen in October running third for a $50,000 price and before that he ran well in a  and seincestarter allowance. He gets class relief in here for Rudy Rodriguez. (3) Beach Front ran third in his last two starts behind the top two choices in this field.

4^th race – (2) The Big S (C) finished second in a $25,000 N2L spot after setting the pace where he was bet from 7-2 to be the 9-5 favorite. New trainer Tom Morley sends him into this starter allowance going six furlongs. (6) Brilliant Brooks has won his last three starts in a row, progressing from a maiden special weight at Finger Lakes to a N2L claimer in October where he was taken by Rob Atras. Then last month, he moved up at a $25,000 N3L spot for a five-length score. (1) Siena Magic was a wire to wire winner of a starter allowance last time out only to be taken down and placed second for bumping and herding down the stretch. (5) Jake Rocks is a consistent type in three starter allowances who could find the trifecta again.

8^th race – (8) Brattle House (A) was an impressive five-length debut winner at Aqueduct back in November for OXO Equine and trainer Christophe Clement. The $775,000 yearling purchase has been training at Payson Park in Florida for Clement and will ship back north to take on state-breds in the Maddie May for 3-year-old fillies. (5) Shanes Pretty Lady (A) was a debut winner back in September at Belmont Park for Gary Gullo who has since retired from training. He was moved to Todd Pletcher and since he was third in a NY-bred stake at Aqueduct and hit the board twice in allowance races. Most recently, she got stuck on a bad rail and still managed to rally for third and, thus, has 8-1 morning line odds. (7) Secret Love won first-time out at Belmont in September for Jon Kimmel and has an allowance second and a stakes win at Aqueduct since then. She will stretch out to a mile now. (3) Make Mischief raced in three graded stakes as a 2-year-old including a second in the Schuylerville (3) and then in the Adirondack (G2) at Saratoga. She was moved to the barn of Chris Englehart and returned last month to win an allowance by more than three lengths after racing seven wide turning for home.

Best bets: B C Glory Days (1^st); Tapizearance (2^nd). Best value:  The Big S (4^th); Brattle House (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 is on races 1-3 à 1 with 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 with 4, 5, 6, 7 = $20.