Aqueduct Hotlist - March 21

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, March 21, 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 [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (2) Lucky Girl (A) was rank in the early going after a couple of month layoff, made a premature move on the outside, and still finished third. She now stretches back out to a mile. (1) Moon Sweeper finished ahead of the Hot List horse last time and she also had some traffic problems in that race. (4) Misspotofgold had the lead in a similar spot two weeks ago following a layoff and was second and will add on a quarter mile of distance. (6) She’sfirstclass ships up from Parx where she was last seen in June running second in a maiden special weight against open company.

2^nd race [Clm 8000, 6F] – (4) Macho Jack drops down to an $8,000 open claimer which is the lowest level of his career. Last seen he used up his restricted conditions with a victory for $14,000 in a N3L race. His best speed figures make him hard to beat. (5) Justin Front was last seen in the beginning of January where had the lead in the stretch and finished third at this $8,000 level, the lowest that is offered at Aqueduct. (2) Earned Success has early speed and will drop back down from a fifth-place run for a $12,500 tag. (7) Brush Country makes a big move down the ladder from a $16,000 race. He was claimed two back for $12,500 at the end of January. A win at this level still turns a profit.

6^th race [Alw 50000s, 1 mi] – (6) Poncho Song is a lightly raced 3-year-old with two wins from four career starts including last race in a starter allowance with a closing move at this same distance. (5) Mia Bea Star had the lead and finished fourth in a similar spot following a win at the N2L condition for Linda Rice. (2) Did I Stutter won her last two races as part of the early pace in a $40,000 maiden claimer and then a N2L spot. Trevor McCarthy rode both of those wins and stays on board. (4) Fair Lassie is in fine form lately including her last start where she was claimed for $25,000 from Bruce Levine. Her late running style fits well with this group.

7^th race [NY, Alw 72000 N1X, 1 mi] – (3) I’m Fine (A) got off to a slow start last time, raced wide on an inside favoring track, and still finished second. (2) Dancing Kiki drops out of an open company starter allowance which came after a maiden claiming score against state-breds. (1) Ellarella was part of the pace last time when she raced along the inside and got the lead eventually finishing third. Looks like she could get a similar trip breaking from the rail. (5) Foley Square has been away for two months since winning a N2L condition. She began her career racing in Florida and has never faced NY-breds. It is likely that she will be put in the early pace by rider Kendrick Carmouche.

Best bets:  Macho Jack (2^nd); I’m Fine (7^th). Best value:  Lucky Girl (1^st); Poncho Song (6^th).