Aqueduct Hotlist - February 27

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, February 27, 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 [Clm 16000 N2L, 1 mi] – (6) Gringotts (C) just missed the top spot by less than a length when he was bet down from 8-1 to 4-1 after a late rally going a mile. (1A) Make Or Break drops down to a $16,000 tag for the first time since he was claimed for that amount in December when he finished second. (4) Choose Happiness was claimed two races back for the $16,000 when he finished fourth. The new trainer then moved him up to $25,000 where his speed figure improved in a show finish. (2) Imprsstheprofessor takes the blinkers off after using them unsuccessfully in his last two starts.

2^nd race [Md 40000, 6F] – (6) One Glamorous Gal (B) made his debut in a maiden special weight in December where he raced on the outside on a track that was favoring the inside. Now, trainer George Weaver drops her in for a tag which is a 38% winning move. (3) My Delicious set the pace for the first two calls in a maiden special weight and faded down the stretch. She is in a claimer against a field that lacks much other speed. (2) Hollywood Gina debuted on the grass for Danny Gargan in October against a very strong field and now gets Lasix, switches to the dirt, and is in for a tag. (8) Absolute Privilege woke up and finished second while racing for a $25,000 tag.

3^rd race [Stymie, 1 mi] – (3) Mr. Buff was at his best when he won the Jazil for the third year in a row by seven-lengths while earning a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure. The 7-year-old’s record at Aqueduct is fantastic, 16: 9-4-0, with two of those wins coming at today’s one-mile distance. Nine-furlongs might be his best distance, but he is clearly the horse to beat in here. (4) Limonite was claimed away from Repole Stable for $40,000 two races back when he finished second. New trainer Amira Chichakly brought him back to win a second-level allowance at Aqueduct by five lengths while racing nine furlongs. (5) Alwaysmining was a five-length winner of an upper level allowance at Laurel Park last time out. We know this now 5-year-old from the Triple Crown series in 2019, but he won two stakes at the Maryland track last year going a mile or longer. This will be his first start at Aqueduct. (2) Musical Heart set the pace in the Jazil and finished third behind Mr. Buff. His early speed will serve him well in this five-horse field.

4^th race [Clm 25000 N3L, 7F] – (5) No Lime (C) returned from a two-month layoff, was stepping up from a N2L victory, and got bet to be the 6-5 favorite from 3-1. He got pinched back at the start, raced up the rail to finish second, and was claimed for $14,000. (9) Financialstability has two thirds this year in a $35,000 N3L and then a starter allowance. He drops now to a level where he should be more competitive. (1) Not That Brady has early speed that got him a second and a fourth for a $35,000 tag. (3) Tri Saint Lorenzo was third at today’s level last time in a race where the top two both came back to win their next starts.

Best bets: One Glamorous Gal (2^nd); Mr. Buff (3^rd). Best value:  Gringotts (1^st); No Lime (4^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 is on races 1-3 à 1A, 4, 6 with 3, 6 with 3, 4, 5 = $18.