Aqueduct Hotlist - January 28

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, January 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 – (1) Scorpion Dynasty had the lead for the first two calls last time on an Aqueduct muddy track after a short layoff. Now, he drops down to this $20,000 maiden claimer hoping for a dry track. (5) Warfront Fighter was involved in some bumping down the stretch after pressing the pace and getting the lead. He ended up in second beaten by just a head on a sloppy track. (7) Joycee Haz Pizzaz gets a pass for his last race which came on a sloppy track and where he was eased after the jockey lost his whip. He has early speed to use as he drops his claiming price in half. (2) Confectioner has one very good race stuck between three starts on wet tracks which he clearly does not like.

3^rd race – (8) Out of Tune (B) had taken the lead in the stretch when he had to check because of the danger of a loose horse and finished fourth. He’s back in another of these $25,000 maiden claimers for NY-breds. (1A) Writer’s Regret get first-time Lasix after flashing speed in his last two races. He will drop out of a maiden special weight that was run on a sloppy track. The race before he was third for a $40,000 tag. (2) In the Zone was in the midst of a closing move and had to steady forcing him to lose about six-lengths as he finished third in similar company. (7) Skippingandajumpin will had blinkers and Lasix as he drops out maiden special weight starts for Kelly Breen.

7^th race – (7) Blu Grotto got back to a one-turn mile last time while dropping into this $50,000 maiden claiming level. He will get Lasix for the first time after running second in that last start in a pace setting effort. The winner of that race came back to win his next start. (6) Sinashack was fourth last time in a similar spot beaten by just a length. He gets Lasix also and looks like one of those George Weaver runners that is ready to win. (5) Sono Grato ran his best race to finish third when he cut back to a mile. He’s another one to get Lasix now that he’s a 3-year-old. (3) Rocco Strong gets blinkers off and adds Lasix for his third career start. He caught a couple of tough races and improved considerably when he switched to the dirt last time out.

8^th race – (5) Hooray for Harvey (B) ran a notable third after being part of a fast early pace that collapsed but he was able to finish third. He was claimed out of that race for $8,000 by Jorge Abreu, who wins with 36% of his new runners. (3) Other Things Equal was second in a similar mile $10,000 open claimer. (4) Scarf It Down finished second a head in front of the Hot List horse while closing into the aforementioned strong pace. (9) Chief Know It All moves to the barn of Jeffrey Englehart, drops down from $16,000, and returns from a brief rest. Last year he won at the Big A for $12,500.

Best bets:  Blu Grotto (7^th); Hooray for Harvey (8^th). Best value:  Scorpion Dynasty (1^st); Out of Tune (3^rd).