Belmont at Aqueduct Hotlist - September 18

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, September 18, 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.

1^st race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (3) Skellig (D) made his debut at Saratoga in what turned out to be a very strong field. He was bet down to be the favorite and finished fourth. (1A) Ohana Honor was second in his debut in what turned out to be a very strong maiden race at the Spa going six furlongs. (6) Expected Value made his first start for Chad Brown at 6-1 in the race where impressive Echo Again romped. (4) Phelpsy was a $1 million yearling purchase who made his first start at Saratoga for Chad Brown at 4-1 and stretches out here.

3^rd race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi TURF] – (8) Veronica Greene moved from dirt to turf and ran second by just a neck for Chad Brown behind a very good filly. (7) Kinchen makes her 2022 debut also for Brown after running second twice last year in a maiden and then the Miss Grillo (G2) at Belmont. (3) Sareeha made her North American debut for Graham Motion at Woodbine last month on the synthetic running second as the favorite. (1) Whiskey Lullaby set the pace in her last two starts, finished third, and should be loose on the lead again.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi] – (8) Peace Cruiser (C) was bet down to be the favorite in his first career start for Bill Mott at Saratoga and ran second beaten by only a neck after having the lead. (1) Randomized and (1A) Tangential are a formidable entry for Chad Brown. (3) Aniston makes her debut for Todd Pletcher as a $550,000 yearling purchase and is out of a mare that produced a graded stakes winner. (7) Grand Entrance is another promising firster for Pletcher out of a mare that has produced five winners.

7^th race [Clm 25000, 6F TURF] – (1) Bay Jewel (A) returned to the turf and rallied boldly into a slow pace to finish second at Saratoga in a $32,000 claimer. Two races back she was claimed for only $12,500. (8) Angelinka was the winner of the race of the Hot List horse in which she pressed the pace and got claimed. (2) Athwaaq was second going long on the grass just two weeks ago in a different $32,000 claimer and now cuts back to sprinting. (3) Mucha Mezquina has been racing against better in the Mid-Atlantic region. She won a starter allowance two back at Laurel Park.

Best bets:  Veronica Greene (3^rd); Peace Cruiser (5^th). Best value:  Skellig (1^st); Bay Jewel (7^th).