Aqueduct Hotlist - January 17

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, January 17, 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 – (4) Too Boss (B) ran second in his debut behind an impressive Christophe Clement first-time winner. This Todd Pletcher runner was well bet in that race and finished clear of the rest of the field. (2) Khafre is a well-bred $500,000 yearling purchase who has two bullet workouts in his last two breezes for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. (1) Repo Rocks will cut back to the seven-furlong distance at which he ran third at Churchill Downs for Bill Mott in November. He’ll get Lasix for the first time in here, as will the top choice. (5) Highland Beach will make his debut for Jeremiah Englehart. He is out of a stakes-placed mare.

3^rd race – (6) Make It in Ny (B) broke his maiden for a $40,000 tag against state-breds by a nose after a closing move in a race where he got stopped more than once during the race. He will try winners in this starter allowance while again going a mile. (5) Bourbonic gets Lasix for the first time now that he is a 3-year-old after breaking his maiden against open company for $50,000 for Todd Pletcher. He was the favorite in that win when he added blinkers. (2) Respect for All is the horse formerly known by the controversial name Grape Soda. He was claimed away from Eric Guillot by Rob Atras after he won a $25,000 maiden claimer by almost seven lengths. (1) Prospect Mountain ran second in a starter allowance with conditions similar to this spot just two weeks ago.

4^th race – (2) Mebs Web (B) got rushed up early in his first start off the claim for A. C.  Avila and finished second. She will come back in another N2L condition for a $16,000 tag while stretching out to a mile. (1) Choose Happiness finished second following a late rally after having to alter paths and go wide down the lane in a similar spot. (4) Nicky Scissors ran second in her first start for Rob Atras in this N2L condition and will add more distance. (5) Not a Problem was claimed for $30,000 at Keeneland back in October and will now make her first start for a new trainer while shipping up from Fair Hills.

9^th race – (6) Holmdel Park (D) will drop in claiming price from $25,000 to $16,000 in what is the second division of the race four N2L claimer. She was bet down from 5-1 to 5-2 last time and will now stretch out to this mile. (8) Foley Square pressed the pace and finished fourth in her first start for trainer Orlando Noda after racing in Florida for her first five starts. (2) Happycrest will make her first start for a new trainer after competing at Laurel and Delaware most recently. The blinkers come off for this mare who was third in the N2L condition. (5) Hayezhee will continue at this same level for Steve Asmussen assistant trainer Toby Sheets who actually owns this horse.

Best bets:  Too Boss (1^st); Holmdel Park (9^th). Best value:  Make It in Ny (3^rd); Mebs Web (4^th).