Aqueduct Hotlist - January 18

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Monday, January 18, 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 – (1) Barista Vixen made a late run to miss the top spot by a neck last month at Aqueduct in a $40,000 maiden claimer like today’s race. She’ll add a furlong of distance to go a mile for Bill Mott. (5) Malibu Anthem had place finishes in the first two starts of her career in Kentucky. Then, she tried the turf for a few races. The 4-year-old filly sold for $180,000 as a 2-year-old. (4) Boom Boom Girl set the pace and eventually finished fourth behind the top choice. A rare NC-bred ships up from Parx for John Servis. (3) Wicked Happy began her career racing at the Big A last winter and then moved to the turf during the summer. She can definitely handle the mile distance, the question is will she like racing on the dirt again?

2^nd race – (4) Miami Mumbles makes his first appearance in the N2L condition after winning a maiden special weight and then trying starter and first-level allowances. He ships up to Aqueduct from Laurel for this $40,000 claimer. (5) Dangerous Edge returns to a N2L race where two back he was second by a neck going today’s distance of a mile. (1) Dust Devil makes his first since being claimed from this restricted condition where he ran second just 10 days ago at the Big A. (2) Time to Testify has been racing in California, first for Keith Desormeaux and then Doug O’Neill for whom he won a $20,000 maiden claimer at Del Mar by more than 11 lengths. He moves to the barn of Wayne Potts for his first try at this level.

3^rd race – (6) Doctor K has shown early speed in his first three starts most recently at Aqueduct in a $50,000 maiden claimer. He gets Lasix for the first time since he is now a 3-year-old. (5) Magnificent Mags gets blinkers on for Wayne Potts after running second last time and now this filly drops down to a $25,000 maiden claiming sprint. (7) Streetcar Jones will debut for Natalia Lynch. She is the third foal from a mare who won $180,000 racing and has produced two foals who both are winners of six figures already with one being a stakes winner. (1) Our Lucky Man was last seen running third at Monmouth Park for a $20,000 tag. Since then, he was gelded and has been training at Belmont Park.

4^th race – (6) Letmetakethiscall is the winner of her last two starts with a win at the highest allowance level against NY-breds and then in a first-level allowance beating open company. Now she continues her streak in a second-level allowance versus open company. She has a stellar record at Aqueduct with six wins from 13 starts. (7) Timely Tradition won a first-level allowance at Saratoga this past summer and then tried two stakes races, running third against NY-breds and sixth in open company. She is the winner of 11 races in her career. (1) Madam Meena ships up from Parx with a great record that includes seven wins in her career in 12 starts with only 1 race off the board. She won a stake at Delaware Park in September. (2) Gone Glimmering was claimed last time by Linda Rice for $62,500 out of an optional claiming allowance. Two races back she was a winner at this level and Rice brings her back for the same tag.

Best bets:  Barista Vixen (1^st); Doctor K (3^rd). Best value:  Miami Mumbles (2^nd); Letmetakethiscall (4^th).