Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, December 17, 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.

4^th race [Alw 50000s, 6 ½F] – (2) True Empress (B) got herded down the stretch and was only beaten by a head while finishing third after a pair of wins in claiming races. All of her top three finishes were at Aqueduct. (4) Charley Rude ships up to New York from Kentucky for trainer Michael McCarthy following a win in a $50,000 maiden claimer. (8) Saint Eros Girl was claimed for $50,000 at Churchill Downs by Tom Morley who brings her back to his Belmont Park barn. (3) Mia Bea Star has four top three finishes when she flip-flopped starts in this starter allowance condition with first-level NY-bred allowances.

5^th race [Alw 90000 N1X, 6F] – (6) Sheriff Bianco (A) used up his NY-bred allowance conditions after two fast open-length victories. He is still eligible for this open company first-level allowance. (3) King Angelo will move from turf to dirt but has a couple of good performances on the main track at Aqueduct and Belmont. (7) Twelth Man returns from a May layoff after running second in a similar spot with a late rally. Trainer Michell Nevin wins at 23% after long layoffs. (4) Vidal ships up from Parx in fine form and is expected to set the pace.

6^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (6) Slip Mahoney (A) broke last in his debut and rallied for fourth. He had the look of a horse that needed more distance and gets it in this one-turn mile. (2) Summer Cause was second in his debut for Christophe Clement making up some ground late in that race. (3) Tapit Trice was in that same race as Summer Chase and he rallied from seventh to get third at 2-1 for Todd Pletcher. (4) Assertive Attitude is projected to be on the lead after his debut where he set the pace and get second at 3-1.

9^th race [NY, NY Stallion Series, 7F] – (2) Bustino Santino (A) checked hard and had to rally late and still got third while looking for his first victory. He will step up to this $500,000 stakes race giving this rich race seven maiden runners in an 11 horse field. (8) Lifetime of Chance (B) He was was third and then second in his two career starts in NY-bred maiden special weights. The Linda Rice barn is very hot right and the veteran trainer has been placing horses in winning spots. (1) Jackson Heights actually broke his maiden in the Bertram Bongard which is a stakes race for NY-breds at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. (11) Vacation Dance is expected to be on the lead which he did in all three of his starts on the turf. Last month he won the Atlantic Beach on the grass at Aqueduct on the front-end. He is the fastest horse in the field and should be on the lead if he takes to racing on the dirt.

Best bets: Sheriff Bianco (5^th); Slip Mahoney (6^th). Best value: True Empress (4^th); Bustino Santino (9^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 4-6  à 2, 3, 4, 8 with 6 with 2, 3, 4, 6, 9 = $20.