Belmont At Aqueduct - September 24

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, September 24, 2022 – Belmont at the Big A 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.

1st race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (6) Excursionniste (C) was bet down from 8-1 to 6-1 and finished third at Saratoga. In his prior start, he was moved up to second by disqualification. (8) Silent Running was second at Belmont in June and then stepped up to try a NY Stallion Series stakes race at Saratoga. (5) Uragano pressed the pace, had the lead, and ended up second in a maiden claimer last time. This is not a strong field of maiden special weights. (1) Dreampoint had lots of tries to break his maiden, but he has a bunch of top three finishes.

2nd race [Clm 35000 N3L, 1 mi] – (3) Arrio (C) has been away since December when he was claimed out of a similar spot. On that day, he was bet down from 7-1 to 5-1 with past wins on the turf and the dirt at Laurel Park. (7) Kinetic Sky ran his first start this year at Saratoga last month in an allowance race for Brad Cox who drops him into a claimer. (4) Spectatorless is projected to be the pacestetter and returns from a July layoff. (5) Corkman was third last time in a starter allowance at the Spa. He is a past winner at Aqueduct going the one-turn mile.

3rd race [Athenia (G3), 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) Love and Thunder (A) was blocked down the stretch and had to alter course in the De La Rose at Saratoga. She got up for third once she found running room. (5) Kalifornia Queen will make her 2022 debut for Chad Brown after facing graded stakes company last year when she hit the board three times at three different tracks. In Germany, she was a Group 2 winner. (4) Tass is projected to be on the lead in the Athenia after a win in a stakes race at Colonial Downs last time. Rider Jose Lezcano excels on the turf with speedy runners. (1) In a Hurry won the All Along at Pimilco just two weeks ago with a front-end effort for Shug McGaughey after training at Fair Hills recently.

11th race [NY, Md 40000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Capital Gal (B) was steadied back to last at the start, raced wide, rallied for fifth, and now drops in for a tag for the first time. (11) Latest Edition (B) will be the second choice if she gets into the race from the Also Eligible list. (3) Jannie Mae is projected to be on the lead in this field. (9) Oak Loves a Fight was third and second at this level in her last two starts. (4) Mouly was claimed from her last race and gets blinkers off for a low-profile trainer who is having an excellent year in New York.

Best bets: Excursionniste (1st); Capital Gal (11th). Best value: Arrio (2nd); Love and Thunder (3rd). @NYHotList Saturday Pick 3 Special -- The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 1-3 and includes the Athenia (G3) à 5, 6, 8 with 3, 4, 5, 7 with 3, 5 = $24.

No. Name Letter last race Today's Race Comments

(6) Excursionniste C on 9/2 1 Bet down last start and finished third.

(3) Arrio C on 12/2 2 He was claimed in Dec. and makes his first start of the year.

(3) Love and Thunder A on 8/7 3 She got blocked down the stretch.

(5) Capital Gal B on 8/11 11 Steadied to last, raced wide, and rallied for fifth.

(11) Latest Edition B on 8/12 11 First on Also Eligible List.