Aqueduct Hotlist - February 26

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, February 26, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (4) Linarite (B) made her debut for David Donk last time at odds of 5-1 and rallied for second well ahead of the rest of the field. (1) Galaxina set the pace in her initial start for the Bond barn and finished second behind another good firster. (5) Frosty Invasion was second in her second start when she dropped into a maiden claimer, but her speed figure fits with the rest of this field. (6) Empire Lily was heavily bet in two starts last year for Jorge Abreu where she flashed speed in both. She has been off since October.

3^rd race [NY, Alw 72000 N1X, 6 ½ F] – (4) The Cobbler was a debut winner at Aqueduct last month beating a return winner who was successful against a few horses that are in this field. (7) Reggae Music Man was second last time in one of these allowance races. (6) Johnny Fontaine was also second in another running of this first-level allowance for NY-breds. He was more on the pace than second choice. (1) Big Brown Shoes is in good form right now for a hot trainer in Jeffrey Englehart.

4^th race [NY, Clm 25000, 1mi] – (7) Dare to Be Great (C) made her initial start for a low-profile trainer and was bet down from 9-1 to 7-1 and finished third. (3) My First Love ships up from Parx where she took a lot of betting action and now returns to face NY-breds after three starts against open company. (1) Pals Ally has a recent second and third at this level. (6) Kay Tee Gal was sent off at 7-2 in her debut in a $40,000 maiden claimer.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt 80000, 6F] – (5) Jester’s Song (B) raced greenly down the stretch in her first start and finished second well ahead of the rest of the field. (9) Mystic Guide is a first-time starter for Todd Pletcher. The dam has produced four winners from five to race with a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 winner. (2) Strapped is another well-bred firster for Pletcher. This one is out of a mare that was Grade 1 winner herself of $354,000. (6) Highly Respected is another debut runner, this one from Chad Brown. The dam produced a graded stakes winning 2-year-old.

Best bets: The Cobbler (3^rd); Jester’s Song (5^th). Best value: Linarite (1^st); Dare to Be Great (4^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 3 – 5  à 4 with 1, 3, 6, 7 with 2, 5, 6, 9 = $16.