Aqueduct Hotlist - March 20

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, March 20, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race [NY, Md 40000, 1mi] – (5) Purple Hearted (B) will make his third career start after getting steadied at the gate last time and finished second. Now, he drops into a maiden claimer for the first time. (1) Got the Gold will make the second start of his career for Linda Rice whose horses usually make a big improvement after their debut and he drops in for a tag. (2) Jade’s Dream makes his second start of the year following a layoff and stretches out to a mile for Michelle Nevin. (4) King Moonracer gets blinkers on and Lasix for the first time as the George Weaver runner drops down to a maiden claimer which is a 38% winning move.

4^th race [NY, OC80k/N1X, 1 mi] – (2) Breakfastatbonnies (A) was an 11-length winner in her debut at odds of 2.40-1 on Jan. 2 for trainer Danny Gargan who is not known for winning with first-time starters. She was a scratch from what turned out to be a very tough field on March 12. (1) Pleasure Luck gets Lasix for the first time after a second-place finish in a spot similar to this behind a filly that came back to win her next start. (6) Shanes Pretty Lady was a debut winner last year at Belmont Park and has since run well in three NY-bred stakes and two allowances. (3) Teetotaler broke her maiden by almost seven lengths last time for the Chad Brown barn which is winning at a 40% clip.

8^th race [NY, OC40/N2X, 6F] – (3) Steam Engine (C) is the winner of his two recent starts including last time at this level when he was disqualified and placed fourth after crossing the wire four-lengths in front. He comes right back and no doubt will use his speed again. (8) Dark Money (B) probably took the worst of the bumping in the dq and had to steady in his second start since being claimed by Karl Broberg. (6) More Graytful returns to face NY-breds and drops in for a tag for the first time for Brad Cox. (2) Bustin Timberlake was a big winner by more than six lengths in his first start for hot trainer Charlie Baker earning a top speed figure.

9^th race [NY Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (3) Irresistible Girl (A) had a wide trip on a track favoring the inside, had the lead in the stretch, and finished third. She will cut back from a mile for Brad Cox. (8) Tellaperfecttale (B) gets blinkers on after being claimed last time by Tom Morley from a race where she lost a head bob but was far ahead of the others. (5) Winds of Capri was second in her debut for trainer David Donk after racing wide. (9) Summer Brew pressed the pace and got third in her first start of the year after a layoff for Jorge Abreu.

Best bets: Purple Hearted (1^st); BreakfastatBonnies (4^th). Best value:  Steam Engine (8^th); Irresistible Girl (9^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 is on races 7-9 à 5, 6 with 2, 3, 6, 8 with 3, 5, 8 = $24.