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Keeneland Select

Aqueduct Hotlist - January 21

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 4th or worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

4th race [Clm 16000 N2L, 6F] – (5) America’s Pride was claimed for $50,000 from Brad Cox after a debut victory at Churchill Downs. She made one start at Saratoga and was then moved to the barn of Tom Morley. In this field, she is projected to be on the lead. (1) Afleet Arlene was claimed for $30,000 at Churchill in November by Linda Rice who drops her down to a winning level. (2) Darn That Song drops down in class and returns to the N2L condition where she was competitive in the only other time she raced at this level. (6) Sheza Rajun Cajun will need to use her early speed to be a contender.

7th race [NY, OC 45K/N2X, 7F] – (4) Who Hoo Thats Me has the blinkers come off after trying them last start for this colt that has top three finishes in 9 out of 12 races. (7) Excellent Timing is projected to get loose on the lead at a good distance at Aqueduct where he recorded both of his wins. (5) Big Engine will move back to NY-bred company by running for the $45,000 tag. Last seen he was a winner at this level. (1) Listentoyourheart moves to the barn of Ray Handal following an August layoff. He is a past NY-bred stakes winner.

8th race [Interborough, 7F] – (5) Betsy Blue won the Garland of Roses at the Big A last time when she rallied from last. In her career she has seven wins at Aqueduct and three of them were at seven furlongs. Her last two speed figures tower over this field. (3) Piece of My Heart was first or second in her last four starts in top allowance races at Aqueduct. Two weeks ago she was a winner on a sloppy track after a stalking trip. (2) Miss T Too ships up to New York from Kentucky for Michael McCarthy after a pair of third-place finishes in allowance races. She is projected to be on the lead in this small field. (4) Flight to Shanghai was claimed two races back by Horacio De Paz and tried the Go For Wand (G3) in her first start for the new trainer. Expect another improvement this time out.

9th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (9) Fast Boat to Skye (B) had a bad break in his second start on a sloppy track and rallied to get the place spot. (5) Wave Action (C) was away slowly in his debut and had to come from far behind to finish third after getting bet down from 8-1 to 6-1. (1) Slip Mahoney set the pace in his second career start on a sloppy track at Aqueduct and battled down the stretch to miss the win by a neck. (7) Crupi got some time off after his best finish in November when he was second going nine furlongs. This is clearly the easiest field that he has faced.

Best bets: Who Hoo Thats Me (7th); Betsy Blue (8th). Best value: America’s Pride (4th); Fast Boat to Skye (9th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 7-9 and includes the Interborough  à 4, 5, 7 with 5 with 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 = $15.

No.NameLetter
last race
Today's RaceComments
(5)Wave ActionC on 21/109Well bet in his debut, he rallied from last up the rail for third.
(9)Fast Boat to SkyeB on 12/189Broke badly on a sloppy track and still finished second.