Belmont at the Big A Hotlist - October 13

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, October 13, 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 20000, 6F] – (7) Free Chickens (B) was taken up early in her last start and lost all chance. Now she makes a significant drop in class and moves from turf to dirt where she ran well. (2) In Traffic was second in her debut back in December at Aqueduct where she was well bet and she drops down a claiming notch. (4) Gracefully Wild now has three second-place finishes in a row on turf and dirt and moves back to the main track. (6) Tekila ran his best race of the year last time at Monmouth Park.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (1) Chiringo had a troubled trip in his first start at Saratoga where he was sent off at 5-1. (10) Best Defense will make his debut for Todd Pletcher, Spendthirft Stable, and Irad with an extensive work tab. (7) Iron Man Jimmy got taken up early in his first start against a good field and gets blinkers on which is a strong move for trainer Chad Summers. (3) Don’t Let Me Down was third in his first start which was at Saratoga for a trainer that doesn’t usually win with firsters.

7^th race [NY, Md 25000, 7F] – (9) Tough Street will make her third start following a layoff after making a big improvement last time when she moved from turf to dirt for Chad Brown. She is expected to be on the lead once again. (8) Unkoalafied will make a big drop down from a maiden special weight in her second start after getting claimed for $40,000. (1) Lemme Get It returned from a layoff going from turf to dirt and ran her best speed figure. (10) Bern Rosey Bern will move back to the main track after three poor tries on the grass and a third on the dirt in her debut.

9^th race [Clm 35000 N3L, 6F TURF] – (4) El Mayor (A) returned from a layoff and was hard held early, got unsettled in traffic, and raced wide. (6) Swashbuckle has been off since July, has early speed, and drops into a claimer for the first time. (7) Vocalize was a recent allowance winner at Colonial Downs and races for a tag again in here. (10) Veterans Beach was claimed last time when finishing third, gets blinkers on, and appears to be on the lead easily in this field.

Best bets:  Free Chickens (1^st); Tough Street (7^th). Best value:  Chiringo (5^th); El Mayor (9^th).