Aqueduct Hotlist - November 19

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, November 19, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

3^rd race [OC 62k/N2X, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Kinenos (B) makes his first start since getting claimed for $62,500 by Mike Maker from a race where he had a wide trip after pressing the pace. (6) Ocean Atlantique (D) was bet down from 12-1 to 6-1 after getting back on the grass. He is projected to be on the lead in this field. (3) Analyze It is a past graded stakes winner for Chad Brown who was second by a nose in his first start after a four month layoff. (1) It Can Be Done rarely runs a bad race and was graded stakes placed last year. He will make his second start for Todd Pletcher.

7^th race [Gio Ponti, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (2) Grand Sonata gets some class relief after four starts in graded stakes in which he was third and second in his last two. In the winter at Gulfstream Park, he won two stakes in a row including the Kittens Joy (G3). (1) Churchtown ships down from Woodbine for Hall of Famer Roger Attfield after a narrow pace-pressing loss in a September stakes race which came after a brief layoff. (6) Dakota Gold is one of the pair entered in this race by Danny Gargan. This NY-bred began his career last year with two wins against open company and then was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf of 2021. He came back as a 3-year-old to win twice in state-bred stakes. With $575,000 in earnings, he returns from an August layoff preparing for the Hollywood Derby (G1) next month. (8) Steady On won his last two starts at the BAQ meeting for Todd Pletcher and will now step up to a stakes for the first time in just his fourth career race.

9^th race [NY, Alw 75000 N1X, 6F TURF] – (9) Masterof the Tunes (A) had bad luck in her last three starts including a second at this level two races back. (5) Smokin’ Hot Kitty will cut back to turf sprinting after running second two weeks ago at Aqueduct. (12) Tis a Pity has three strong efforts in a row with a second and a third at today’s NY-bred level and a win in a starter allowance. (8) Bustin Bullet tried the dirt last time and now returns to get one last turf start in New York this year.

10^th race [NY, Md 40000, 6F] – (3) Super Slide (D) got bet down from 20-1 to 13-1 in her third start when she dropped into a maiden claimer for the first time. Blinkers come off. (5) Ma Mi Jo Dreams is projected to be on the lead as she goes in for a tag for the first time in her fourth start. (9) Maddie’s Grace was third in her debut at Saratoga and then needed a break after her second start. She also will race in a maiden claimer for the first time. (6) Irish Empress raced against tougher fields in her first races and will get some class relief against this group as she is up for sale for the first time.

Best bets: Grand Sonata (7^th); Masterof the Tunes (9^th). Best value: Kinenos (3^rd); Super Slide (10^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 8-10 à 2, 3, 5 with 5, 9 with 3, 5, 6, 9 = $24.