Aqueduct Hotlist - January 8

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, January 8, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

4^th race [Alw 82000 N1X, 7F] – (1) American Monarch has had two races back from a year layoff and returned in fine form. Both races were on the Aqueduct dirt at this level after racing on the grass as a 3-year-old for Bill Mott. (7) Sound Money ran third in an allowance for the first time at Parx and was third behind two horses that became return winners. He will cut back to seven furlongs now. (6) Starting Over began his career on the Belmont Park dirt and ran well. He has been racing on the turf against better competition and has been off since April. (5) Malibu Star did his best racing at the Big A where was second at this level last year.

5^th race [Clm 14000 N3L, 1 mi] – (12) Striking Speed (C) set the pace and finished second in a similar spot last time when he got bet down to be the 6-5 favorite. (8) Profusion got claimed by Linda Rice out of an open-length victory in a N2L claimer last time at Aqueduct. (6) Scotty was also a winner in a N2L race in his prior start. He won by more than three-lengths for trainer Eduardo Jones at the Big A. (5) Lokoya Road fits well in this type of claiming race and finished just the Hot List horse in their last start.

6^th race [Alw 50000s, 6F] – (8) American Gentleman (B) stumbled at the break and steadied at the eighth pole but still finished fourth in his second start for Gustavo Rodriguez. (1) Trash Talker (D) was bet down from 9-2 to be the 2-1 favorite last time out and caught a sloppy track that may not have been to his liking. (5) Jake Rocks was a contender at the finish of three of these starter allowances including his most recent when he beat the gate and got disqualified from third. (4) Extreme was claimed in Kentucky by Ray Handal and will now make his first start in New York where he has trained smartly.

9^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (3) Royal Currency returns from an August layoff when she was second in her debut behind a very good horse. (2) Celine the Queen was an even-money favorite in her first start at Aqueduct last month in a field of 10. She flashed early speed and then stopped running which may have been due to the sloppy track. (5) True Empress has a pair of show finishes in her first two races. (10) Ribot’s Valentine was second in her debut for Ray Handal on a sloppy track at the Big A last month.

Best bets:  American Monarch (4^th); Striking Speed (5^th). Best value: American Gentleman (6^th); Royal Currency (9^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 4 – 6  à 1, 5, 6, 7 with 8, 12 with 1, 5, 8 = $24.