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 [Mdn 40000, 1 mi] – (6) Warrior Richard (A) was well-liked in his debut at 9-2 odds but was bumped at the start and lost action but then was able to rally to finish second well ahead of the rest of the eight horse field. (9) Outlaw Country will make his second start since being claimed by Charlie Baker. Last time he finished second after a rough start but the addition of blinkers in that race seemed to help. (3) Nieuwendyk has a pair of third-place finishes since returning to the races at Aqueduct. He is projected to be on the lead. (2) Pine Alley was third in his debut at Parx after pressing the pace at 8-1. The second-place finisher in that race returned to win his next start.

3^rd race [Clm 40000 N2L, 6F] – (5) One Whirlwind Ride (C) was bet down from 10-1 to 5-1 and pressed the pace before finishing second. He was claimed for $16,000 and now makes his first start for Rob Atras who wins at 27% with his new claims. (7) Drink the Wind drops out of three starter allowances to try N2L company for the first time and may be on the lead in this field. (8) Hatch also makes the drop from starter allowances where he had a pair of seconds before catching a sloppy track which was not to his liking. (3) Necromancer broke his maiden for a $40,000 tag two races back and then stepped up to a starter allowance.

4^th race [NY, OC45k/N2X, 1 mi] – (8) Honey Money (B) made a big improvement after moving into the Atras barn when she was second in a starter allowance. Moving back to face NY-breds she will have to run for a $45,000 tag. She gets a rider upgrade and has a great record at the Big A. (1) Golden Rocket has a pair of thirds at this level as she once again ships up to New York from Parx. (9) Silken Dollar set the pace and finished second in NY Stallion Series stake at odds of 5-2. (3) Happy Sophia is projected to be on the lead in this field as she stretches out to a mile for a barn that is very hot as the year ends.

7^th race [NY, Alw 75000 N1X, 7F] – (12) Safalow’s Mission (A) had to check at the break in what was his first start following a six month layoff. He was last and then rallied to finish second for Linda Rice whose barn is having an excellent Aqueduct meeting. (4) Agility (C) recorded the best speed figure of his career when he had the lead and then was second after getting bet down from 6-1 to 3-1. (6) Dangerous Edge (C) was bet from 7-1 to 9-2 as he continued his steady performance at this level with another third. (11) Joey Loose Lips was claimed for $25,000 from a front-end victory back in October and will make his first start for Rudy Rodriguez.

Best bets:   Warrior Richard (1^st); One Whirlwind Ride (3^rd). Best value:  Honey Money (4^th); Safalow’s Mission (7^th).