Aqueduct Hotlist - February 6

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, February 6, 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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race [Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (3) Continentalcongres (B) got pinched back at the start of his 2022 debut and then had to steady on the inside near the wire to finish third. (2) Diamond Collector has a pair of second-place finishes both on sloppy tracks. (5) Flaca was a $200,000 yearling purchase that will make her debut for trainer Rob Atras whose barn continues to win lots of races at Aqueduct including with a first-timer the other day. (4) Goodmorning Angel was a well bet 4-1 in his first start for the Asmussen barn and didn’t do very much running on a sloppy track.

2^nd race [Clm 25000 N3L, 1 mi] – (1) Blake B. was claimed two races back at Churchill Downs for $50,000 by Linda Rice and then was overmatched in a starter allowance in his first start at Aqueduct. He is back at a winning level. (6) The Big Grey won his N2L condition at Finger Lakes by more than eight lengths and then shipped to Parx to try a starter allowance a couple of weeks ago. (2) Mandatory Payout hit the board in several starts at the N3L level. (3) What’s My Category is likely to be ignored with the rider change to Jackie Davis who is a quality jockey.

4^th race [Jimmy Winkfield, 7F] – (5) Morello (A) was a debut winner for Steve Asmussen back in November at Aqueduct by more than four lengths over a horse that came back to win. (2) Hagler gets another chance after setting the pace in the Jerome and then fading on the sloppy track. The mile distance was a concern in that Kentucky Derby prep race and the cutback should suit him well. (3) Life Is Great popped his career best speed figure in his lone start at Aqueduct and that figure is actually the highest in the entire field. (1) Beast Or Famine will make his 2022 debut shipping up from Parx. Last year, he was an allowance winner there and then missed the win by a head in the JF Lewis at Laurel.

6^th race [Alw 82000, 6F] – (3) Ruvies in Time won the second-level NY-bred allowance last time and now moves to open company. Last year at Aqueduct, he was a stakes winner against open company. The veteran mare is an established winner. (7) Violent Vixen won her last two starts in a maiden special weight and then a starter allowance. (1) Bastet does her best running at Aqueduct where she ran seven times in 2021. Two races back she was a competitive fourth at this allowance level. (5) My Roxy Girl was claimed by Linda Rice two races ago for $45,000 and was moved to open company where she had the lead in the stretch. She will appreciate the cutback in distance.

Best bets:  Blake B. (2^nd); Morello (4^th). Best value:  Continentalcongres (1^st); Ruvies in Time (6^th).