Aqueduct Hotlist - February 28

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, February 28, 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.

1^st race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (2) Iaintfraidanoghost (B) finds herself in very strong spot after running third, beaten by just a neck, with a late rally following a layoff from September. (1) Tekila will make her second start after a layoff from November for red hot trainer Mark Hennig. In that start, she added Lasix, got bet to 6-1, and ran second while sandwiched between two horses that came back to win their next starts. (6) Coal Shaft was 3-1 in her second career start for Danny Gargan and finished a head in front of the Hot List horse and a head behind the winner. (4) Strong Point was 4-1 in her debut for John Terranova and has every right to improve has she stretches out to a mile.

3^rd race [OC62k/N2X, 1 mi] – (6) Empty Tomb (B) bobbled at the start and had to rally wide on an inside favoring track at Aqueduct and still finished second. He is entered for the optional $62,500 tag on this day. (3) Danny California (B) was fourth in the same race as the top choice but pressed the pace while racing on the outside which made the going very tough. He is also in for the claiming price. (2) Tenderfoot is in the best form of his career since winning a maiden claimer by 10 at Belmont Park in October. He added a starter allowance win and a first-level allowance victory before running second in the Jazil behind the formidable Mr. Buff. (1) Chestertown has found his way with three wins in his last four starts as the expectations for the $2 million yearling purchase have become more realistic.

5^th race [Alw 82000, 7F] – (5) Glass Ceiling (D) was bet down to be the 8-5 favorite from 3-1. She has been right there in a series of allowance starts at Aqueduct after being claimed for $32,000. (2) Sirenic had a career best victory last time in a starter allowance with a top speed figure and a nine-length win margin. (7) Invaluable has been off since December when she beat Sirenic in her first start since the claim that was mentioned above. (4) Elegant Zip has two wins in two starts in 2021, the first was a N3L claimer and then a second-level allowance for NY-breds.

7^th race [OC80/N3X, 7F] – (6) Wicked Trick (B) returned from an October layoff in a second-level allowance where he stumbled at the start and then rallied to finish second. He should take a step forward in his second start off the break for Linda Rice on his favorite track, the Big A. (7) Letmetakethiscall is on a three-race winning streak after getting claimed four races back for $40,000 by Orlando Noda. He moved through his NY-bred conditions and now has two wins against open company. (2) Honor Up returns from a June layoff to run at Aqueduct where he has a great record of 9: 4-3-2. This will be her first start for a tag after racing exclusively in stakes races against NY-breds and open company. (4) T Loves a Fight lost all chance last time out when she leapt up at the start and was eased by the rider.

Best bets:  Iaintfraidanoghost (1^st); Wicked Trick (7^th). Best value:  Empty Tomb (3^rd); Glass Ceiling (5^th).