Belmont at Aqueduct Hotlist - September 16

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, September 16, 2022 
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.

2^nd race [OC62k/N$Y, 1 3/8 mi TURF] – (4) Space Launch has been off since July 1 when he was second at this level after setting the pace. He has five top three finishes in his last five starts for Christophe Clement. (2) Tide of the Sea was rained off the turf in his last two starts and finished third twice since he was claimed by Tom Morley. He is projected to be on the lead in this field. (3) Founder gets blinkers on for Bill Mott for his third start of the year after racing twice at Saratoga. He got a career high speed figure last time. (6) Bluegrass Parkway was second after having the lead in the off the turf John’s Call at the Spa. He was a stakes winner last year on the grass for Mike Maker.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (7) Adam’s Angel moves from dirt to turf for Shug McGaughey in a field that looks to be loaded with front runners. This filly rallied for second in his debut in November at Aqueduct. (4) Expand the Map will cut back to a sprint after setting the pace and finishing second in April at the Big A. In her debut last year, she was second behind the eventual Breeders’ Cup winner. (6) Glitter Up was on the lead in all of her starts but gets blinkers off as she stays on the turf and maybe will rate more kindly. (8) Wish List is a first-timer for John Terranova showing three turf works at the Spa.

7^th race [Clm 25000, 1 mi] – (4) Vintage Hollywood (D) was bet down from 13-1 to 9-1 and now drops out of allowance races to the $25,000 tag from which he was claimed at Aqueduct in March. (7) Blue Jays was claimed from his last four starts by Brad Cox most recently from a $25,000 victory at Saratoga. (3) Dust Devil was taken for $20,000 from a second at the Spa which dropped him to a competitive level. (6) Amount was taken for the $20,000 from a third in the race mentioned above. Earlier in the year, he won three in a row including one at the Big A.

8^th race [NY, OC45k/N$Y, 6F TURF] – (6) Fontanafredda (B) had to race wide throughout his last start and got bumped hard which resulted in her getting moved up to third by disqualification. (4) Towering Orbit typically races on the lead, but last time had a rough start and had to rally from 10^th and still finished second. (8) Theodora Grace won her last two starts by narrow margins which were an open company claimer and then a first level NY-bred allowance. (9) Kokopelli won the first two starts of her career and now will make her second start of 2022 for the Clement barn.

Best bets:  Space Launch (2^nd); Adam’s Angel (4^th). Best value:  Vintage Hollywood (7^th); Fontanafredda (8^th).