Aqueduct Hotlist - February 25

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, February 25, 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 – (1) Miss Peppina ships back up to New York after two third-place finishes in optional claimers at Gulfstream Park since joining the barn of Todd Pletcher. As a 2-year-old he was a debut winner and had a pair of fourths in graded stakes. This will be his first start in a N2L condition. (5) Did I Stutter was a front-end winner of a $40,000 maiden claimer last time at Aqueduct and now faces winners in the right type of race. (2) Bonus Baby was also a maiden winner for $40,000 who tried a starter allowance which was too tough and drops to a more appropriate spot for Jeremiah Englehart. (6) Princess Pinky ran third and then second in his only tries at the N2L level and both of them were at the mile distance.

3^rd race – (4) Brooklyn Law (A) got credit for a win in his last start in an open $25,000 claimer when he was on the lead and had to check as three horses bumped down the stretch. He finished second but was placed on top by disqualification. (3) Run Casper Run was claimed out a victory for $25,000 by Chris Englehart and moves up to $32,000. That win was in a race that provided significant class relief, so this move up may not be too tough. (2) Taino makes his third career start following a debut win against NY-breds for $25K and then a show finish in a starter allowance. (6) Kentucky Cool has two career victories which is more than most of this field. He was claimed by Wayne Potts last time for $25,000 after he shipped up from Laurel Park.

6^th race – (3) Blu Grotto exits a second and a third in a pair of $50,000 maiden claimers and now drops down to $40,000. He is one of two in this race with early speed, but he will cut back from a mile to seven furlongs. (1) American Gentleman moved from turf to dirt last time and used speed to get second going six furlongs for Ray Handal. (7) Tapit’s Flashback was claimed for $25,000 out of a second-place finish at Aqueduct and will benefit from the likely pace duel between the top two choices. (6) Epona Rising makes the big drop from his debut in a maiden special weight into the claiming ranks for trainer Mark Hennig who is having a very strong winter meeting at Aqueduct.

8^th race – (9) Cape Cod Gem flashed speed in his last two starts for trainer Hennig and faded, but now finds a field of bottom-level NY-bred maiden claimers that is lacking in early pace. (3) Majestic Sky will make his career debut after a series of workouts which includes a bullet at the beginning of the month. Not sure what to think about this spot for a horse that sold for $100,000 as a yearling, but he could just be too good for this group. (2) Boo Who adds Lasix for his second start which comes after a layoff from a $40,000 race back in December. (5) In the Zone gets blinkers on and first-time Lasix after running third and then fourth at this level and gets a favorable jockey change to Manny Franco.

Best bets:  Miss Peppina (2^nd); Blu Grotto (6^th). Best value:  Brooklyn Law (3^rd); Cape Cod Gem (8^th).