A rematch of older horses is featured in the Jazil at Aqueduct
New York Hot List | Friday, January 21, 2022
The top two finishers from last month’s Queens County headline the field of seven that was drawn for Saturday’s $100,000 Jazil at Aqueduct. Forewarned was the winner at odds of 42-1 for the longshot specialist from Parx Uriah St. Lewis and Empty Tomb was second for red-hot trainer Rob Falcone Jr.
The 7-year-old Forewarned, who now has 10 careers wins, rallied from last to win the Queens County.
“Distance is his best friend,” St. Lewis said. “He needs a mile and a quarter, but he can handle a mile and an eighth. It worked out fine for him last time – they went fast up front and that really helped him.”
Empty Tomb set the pace in the Queens County and will now try to stretch his early speed to win at nine furlongs for the first time.
“Props to the winner, Forewarned, but we had a couple challengers throughout the whole race and on top of having to turn them away, he had that one come on late,” Falcone, Jr. added. “He ran as hard as he could. It was a great race but he did a lot of the dirty work and for him to keep running on and get beat was tough. He ran his heart out.”
Here are the Hot List picks for the Jazil:
The $100,000 Jazil, Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 7.
(7) Forewarned was a longshot winner of the Queens County last time at the same nine-furlong distance at Aqueduct with a wide late rally. He was recently an invitee to the Pegasus World Cup but opted for the Jazil. Trainer Uriah St. Lewis has won several stakes at the Big A while shipping up from Parx Racing. (4) Empty Tomb was second in the Queens County after setting the pace and getting run down by the winner. He has yet to get a victory at the 1 1/8 mile distance, but last time took a lot of pressure while setting the pace. (1) Why Why Paul Why won his past four races at Parx including a stakes race going two turns against a field of eight. He will also look for a fast pace to set-up a closing move (5) Core Conviction won his last two starts at the Big A in a maiden race for Chad Brown and then an allowance which was only the third start in the career of this now 5-year-old. Both of those wins were front end efforts, so he will have to battle with Empty Tomb.
The rest of the NY Hot List picks and the Special Saturday Pick 3 are available free of charge at this website.