hot water versus cold water

In the same temperature environment, 1 ml of 212F/100C water will freeze faster than 1000 ml of 40F/5C water.

From this, Miguel, you should be able to discern that circumstances matter.

Logic tells us that the cold water would freeze faster but water never studied logic.

Cold water freezes at around 32f. Hot water doesn't freeze.

All conditions being equal and constant, cold water will freeze faster than hot water for obvious (thermal energy reasons).

However, hot water tends to evaporate faster than cold water thus releasing energy and reducing the volume of water remaining to freeze. Therefor, the real-world answer to the question is more difficult to isolate because it depends on the particular volumes of water in question as well as atmospheric conditions which affect rates of evaporation etc.

Ah, but it does if it gets cold enough Roger!

All other things being equal, cold water freezes first and the hot water will become cold water before it becomes ice.

I suppose there's an outside chance that if some warm water were placed in a freezer that it could cause the unit to respond, ie. come on, and actually freeze that water faster than some cold water that didn't cause the freezer to come on.

Granted, that's not "all things being equal".

Where did this "urban legend" start?

Don't know if it's true but ... the Mpemba effect

Yeah. When you're right, you're right.