Aqueduct Hotlist - January 16

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Saturday, January 16, 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.

3^rd race – (4) Conformist (C) was a debut winner for a $40,000 tag who came back to run third in a starter allowance on a sloppy Aqueduct track while getting bet down from 8-1 to 3-1 and he now returns in a similar spot with Lasix for the first time. (5) Taino (C) won his first career start against NY-breds for a $25,000 tag after rallying from tenth place going six furlongs and taking late money to go from 9-2 to 2-1. He was not claimed and stays in the barn of Carlos Martin. (6) Charlie Five O was claimed for $50,000 after his debut by Danny Gargan who worked his magic to win for the new trainer by more than five lengths while improving his Beyer Speed Figure by 33 points. Now, as a 3-year-old her can race with Lasix, also. (7) Bowing Snowman broke his maiden for $40,000 against NY-breds by 2 ½ lengths for the red-hot Horatio DePaz. He will also go with first-time Lasix.

5^th race – (6) Square Shooter (C) was claimed out of his last four starts for tags of $12,500 to $25,000. He was second in his last two starts, claimed for $20,000 by Wayne Potts when he was bet down from 6-1 to 3-1. (7) McErin was claimed out of his most recent front-running win for a $25,000. (8) Clench will drop down after two tough races in starter allowances with blinkers on and goes to the $25,000 level at which he won back in September. (4) Air Attack is one of eight horses in this field that was claimed from their most recent start. He was taken for $20,000 by Eddie Barker who has great stats with new runners to his barn, winning with 50% of his last eight.

6^th race – (3) Jump for Joy (C) hit the board in the top three in her last seven starts including a second in her most recent effort in a first-level allowance where she was bet down from 7-1 to 5-1. She has a great record at Aqueduct. (8) Mrs. S made a late run in her most recent race against the top choice beaten by less than a length. She will get a great set-up in this allowance that is loaded with speed horses. (7) Sweet Kisses has some back class for trainer Jeremiah Englehart having been stakes placed last winter. (4) Dovey Lovey has caught three straight sloppy tracks and is another one who goes to the bank during the Big A winter meeting.

9^th race – (8) Fiftyshays Ofgreen (D) will make her second start for Linda Rice after moving to her barn from that of John Servis. (2) Love and Love will shift back to open company after her recent win used up her conditions in state-bred allowances. She has beaten non-NY-breds in starter allowances while racing at Aqueduct where she has a great record of 7: 3-3-0. (4) South of the Shore came back from a lengthy layoff for Todd Pletcher to run third in another first-level allowance and gets blinkers on. (1) Say Moi has faced very tough competition in her last few allowance starts while facing stakes quality horses for Bill Mott.

Best bets: Conformist (3^rd); Jump for Joy (6^th). Best value:  Square Shooter (5^th); Fiftyshays Ofgreeen (9^th).

@NYHotList Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 is on races 4-6 à 7 with 4, 6, 7, 8 with 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 = $28.