Aqueduct Hotlist - February 14

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, February 14, 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.

3^rd race – (4) Esotica (C) took some late money when bet from 9-1 to 7-1 in her debut in a NY-bred maiden claimer and finished second despite racing greenly and shying away from the whip. She now gets moved up to a maiden special weight by Mike Maker. (1) Vallarand has a pair of second-place finishes in maiden special weights and now adds Lasix for the first time. (5) Irresistible Girl went off at odds of 4-1 in her debut for Brad Cox and finished fourth beaten only by two lengths. (2) Epona’s Dream made her second career start while switching from turf to dirt and ran third after a stumble at the start and then racing wide heading for the wire.

4^th race – (2) Mosienko was claimed for $14,000 at Saratoga and then raced for much higher tags. Linda Rice brings her back after an August layoff at the N3L condition at which she was claimed. (1) Foley Square won at the N2L level in her last start earning the top last out speed figure in this field. (7) Dashi tried a starter allowance following an open-length victory at the N2L level on the Tapeta at Woodbine and now drops back to restricted company. (5) Sweet Mia was the favorite in her first start since July for new trainer Michelle Nevin where she had the lead early but faded to fifth. Now she drops from a $35,000 tag to $14,000 here.

7^th race – (7) Taino (C) was an easy debut winner at odds of 2-1, bet down from 9-2, in a $25,000 maiden claimer for NY-breds where he had a rough start and then had to steady at the eighth pole. Now he will try open company in a starter allowance. He is the only late runner in this field of seven. (5) Charlie Five O broke his maiden for a $40,000 tag against open company and came back to finish second at this starter allowance level after having the lead in the stretch. (2) Conformist was third in that same race as Charlie Five O as part of the pace and also got his maiden win for a $40,000 tag. (6) Doctor K broke his maiden by 10 lengths in his fourth try for a $25,000 tag while racing on the lead.

8^th race – (5) Nicky the Vest (A) was a very impressive three-length front-end winner of his debut against NY-breds that earned the highest speed figure in the field. Now, trainer Jonathan Thomas sends him into a very strong state-bred stakes race. (4) Perfect Munnings is unbeaten in two starts for Todd Pletcher with a debut win on the turf and then a stake win by two lengths at Aqueduct. He will stretch out to the one-turn mile with Manny Franco staying on board. (2) Dancing Buck was second in his debut but that was behind Perfect Munnings and then got the win in his next start by more than two lengths. (6) Uno was a well-bet winner of his first career start and then was an even money favorite in that stake against Perfect Munnings where he ran fourth.

Best bets:  Mosienko (4^th); Nicky the Vest (8^th). Best value:  Esotica (3^rd); Taino (7^th).