Belmont at the Big A Hotlist - October 2

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, October 2, 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 [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Conversing (A) raced greenly between horses in his debut and came up a neck shy of the win. (7) Scramble was third in his first start after looking like a horse that needed to get racing experience. (9) Ari Gold was sent off as the even money favorite in his first start for Todd Pletcher, pressed the pace, and finished a close fourth. (3) Kid America will debut for Bobby Flay and Bill Mott. The home-bred is a half-brother of First Captain.

4^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 1 mi] – (5) Jay’stalker (C) took late money from 6-1 to 7-2 and won first time out by more than three lengths. He is projected to get on the lead easily. (4) Misbehaved broke his maiden for a $50,000 tag two races back and then tried a starter allowance. He gets blinkers on and drops in class. (6) Southern Passage was claimed for $40,000 last time and gets blinkers on for Gustavo Rodriguez who has moved horses up in the past. (9) Iron Lion in Zion will make his third start of the year after a big improvement last time.

8^th race [Frizette (G1), 1 mi] – (6) The Great Maybe (A) broke her maiden by eight lengths at Saratoga and is projected to be a clear pace setter. (7) You’re My Girl (A) was another impressive debut winner beating NY-breds by 14 lengths. (2) American Rockette (B) was a rare first-out winner for Bill Mott who then bolted out of the gate in the Spinaway (G1), had to race wide, and still finished fourth. (4) Chocolate Gelato ran a big race to break her maiden in her second start after finishing third at short odds in her first try.

9^th race [Pilgrim (G2), 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Battle of Normandy (B) lost the With Anticipation (G3) by a neck after finding traffic on the inside in the stretch. (10) I’m Very Busy (A) broke his maiden at first asking for Chad Brown and was labelled as a “promising turf horse”. (9) Lachaise (C) was bet down to be the 5-2 favorite from 9-2 and won his debut at Saratoga for Jorge Abreu. (1) Fly Right is still a maiden after his first start when he missed the win by a neck after a stalking trip at this distance.

Best bets:  Conversing (2^nd); The Great Maybe (8^th). Best value:  Jay’stalker (4^th); Battle of Normandy (9^th).