Aqueduct Hotlist - March 13

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, March 13, 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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

5^th race [Md 40000 N2L, 6F] – (7) Smart Storm (D) dropped into a claimer in his second start and got bet down from 7-1 to 5-1. He got bumped and stumbled out of the gate and then raced greenly. (5) Inspiration Point was claimed for $50,000 in the summer by Mike Maker and then was off until January and raced twice at Turfway Park back in maiden special weights. (3) Motion to Strike set the pace on a sloppy track in January and got passed in the late going. (6) Funny Joke will make his debut for Rudy Rodriguez as a horse that sold for $260,000 as a yearling.

6^th race [NY, Damon Runyon, 7F] – (1) Best Idea was an impressive debut winner as the favorite for Todd Pletcher earning a speed figure that towers over this small field. (5) Rotknee won his last two starts with a maiden score at Saratoga and then an allowance last month at Aqueduct. Both wins were front-end efforts. (4) Agility gets blinkers on after a second in a NY-bred stake and a stalking maiden victory. (2) Mister Larry broke his maiden by five lengths and then ran into the second choice in the allowance.

8^th race [NY, Alw 72000 N1X, 6F] – (6) Saint Selby was a debut maiden winner a year ago at the Big A and then was away from the races until June when he missed winning an allowance by a head after setting the pace. Now, he has been off for nine months. On his best, he is the winner of this gathering. (8) One Whirlwind Ride has been racing against open company in his last three starts which may explain his current form which does not look good. (5) Honor Among Men has three second-place finishes in a row including the last two from which he was claimed. New trainer Chris Englehart immediately moves him to state-bred racing. (7) Lookin for Trouble has early speed which put him into contention in his starts at this level.

9^th race [NY, Md 25000, 6F] – (5) He’sgottashortfuse (D) was heavily bet down from 10-1 to 5-1 as he dropped down to this lowest level maiden claimer for NY-breds. He showed speed and then finished fourth. (6) Vincent had the lead in the stretch and ended up second in his first career start. (2) Appalachian Legend returns from a December layoff as a new gelding with first-time Lasix. (9) Crostata B C was 6-1 in her debut race in January for a $40,000 tag. Blinkers come off after being fractious in the gate. Maybe, improves with a race of experience.

Best bets:  Best Idea (6^th); Saint Selby (8^th). Best value:  Smart Storm (5^th); He’sgottashortfuse (9^th).