Aqueduct Hotlist - March 14

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, March 14, 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.

4^th race [MSW, 7F] – (4) Hometown (C) was last seen racing at Saratoga finishing second beaten by just a neck in a nine-furlong maiden special weight and now returns with a barn switch to Chad Brown. (6) Risk Profile (C) returns from a December layoff following four consecutive third-place finishes and gets blinkers on, also for Brown. (7) Mandatory has a second and a third this year after showing speed and now cuts back to seven-furlongs for trainer John Kimmel. (1) Clemenza had a troubled trip in his 2021 debut but he finished second in maiden special weights last year, once at Aqueduct and the other at Monmouth Park.

6^th race [Alw 50000s, 6F] – (5) Cause of Action (C) is the winner of his last two races in the claiming ranks including last time with late rally in an open $20,000 race where he was bet down from 8-1 to 6-1 and was on top in a head bob. (7) Brilliant Brooks won three of his last four starts dating back to September with a third last time in a starter allowance. (2) Much Trouble moved to the dirt when winter came along and finished second and fourth at this level for Mike Maker. (6) Mister Bobby has run several good races in a row at this level except he still only has one career victory. He is still likely to be part of the trifecta.

7^th race [NY, OC40k/N2X, 1 mi] – (2) Just Right (C) was claimed out his last three races, most recently for $25,000 by Horatio de Paz when he ran fourth at the end of January in a blanket finish after getting bet from 8-1 to 3-1. (4) Daddy Knows has big speed figures in his last three starts including a third at this level after setting the pace for Rudy Rodriguez. (5) Cold Hard Cash won a NY-bred allowance last time out for Linda Rice and won a starter allowance at Saratoga this summer. (6) Wudda U Think Now is also from the barn of Rudy R. with speed figures and results that make him a contender in this spot.

9^th race [Md 40000, 6F] – (5) Bastet (B) raced wide last time on an inside favoring track and ran second behind a horse that came back to win again. (3) Becca’s Wish (C) was bet down from 9-1 to 7-1 and finished third in a maiden special weight and should be tough dropping in for a tag. (1) Despeight All Odds also makes the move from a maiden special weight in his third start for Mike Miceli. (6) Up Seventyfour debuted in January against the boys and then came back in a maiden special weight for trainer Rob Atras. This may be the right spot for her third start.

Best bets:  Hometown (4^th); Bastet (9^th). Best value:  Cause of Action (6^th); Just Right (7^th).