Aqueduct Hotlist - November 19

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, November 19, 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.

5^th race [Alw 82000 N1X, 6F] – (8) Messidor (A) was bumped twice at the start, pinched back, and then got stuck in traffic, but still managed to finish third once clear beaten by just over a length. (2) Sport Model (A) quickly used up her NY-bred conditions when she won three races in a row on the grass ranging in distance from six furlongs to a mile. Last race against open company, she was hard held early and then came up empty down the stretch going a mile for Christophe Clement. (7) O’ Gotten Girl broke her maiden for Todd Pletcher at Belmont Park and then came right back to run second after having the lead in her first try against winners. (10) Silky Blue will make her first appearance against open company after winning through the state-bred ranks. She has two strong efforts following a summer layoff.

6^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (9) Safalow’s Mission (A) lost at the wire in his debut in an open company restricted by auction price maiden special weight. He will face NY-breds now for George Weaver who gets good results with second-time runners. (10) Devil Or Angel (D) moves to the dirt after three tries on the grass for David Donk. Last race he was bet down from 4-1 to be the favorite. (6) Salute to America will debut for hot trainer Tom Morley and a micropartnership group from My Racehorse. The dam’s only horse to race thus far is a winner. (7) Built to Last will make his first career start for Mark Casse.

9^th race [OC 80k/N2X, 1 3/16mi TURF] – (3) Perjury Trap (B) got off to a slow start for Chad Brown and had to race wide on a turf course at Belmont that was favoring the inside. (10) Temple was third in the Knickerbocker (G3) last time, won at this condition in his prior start, and must race for the $80,000 tag. (5) L’Imperator will get blinkers off which might help him to be easier to handle since he was keen in the Knickerbocker for Chad Brown. (4) Doswell opted to run here instead of the Red Smith (G2) on Saturday. At Gulfstream Park, he was second in a Grade 2 and third in a Grade 3 for Barclay Tagg.

10^th race [Md 40000, 1 1/16mi TURF] – (10) Raving (A) walked out of the gate in his debut, got bumped, raced wide, and finished fifth. This second start will be for new trainer Jimmy Jerkens. (2) Synonymous gets a favorable rider change from an apprentice after having to check while rank in the early going last time. Before that, she had the lead and got caught at the wire. (3) Wicked Happy ran a big race following a brief layoff while finishing a close second. She has had a lot of close calls in her career but that last effort is enough to win in this field. (7) Peacebethejourney has claimed for $40,000 two races back by Mike Maker and was brought back quickly in a maiden special weight which was too tough. Now she is back at the right level and dangerous.

Best bets:  Messidor (5^th); Perjury Trap (9^th). Best value:  Safalow’s Mission (6^th); Raving (10^th).