Belmont at the Big A Hotlist - October 21

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, October 21, 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 [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) Valentino’s Here made a huge improvement in his second start last month when he had the lead in the stretch before finishing second. (4) Ouster came back from a layoff, moved from dirt to turf, and will now stretch out in distance. (2) Conquist is projected to be on the lead as he gets back on the grass. He had a second when he finished between two horses that came back to win. (5) Born Dancer has been off since August when was third in a NY Stallion Series Stakes race.

3^rd race [Alw 50000s, 1 1/8 mi] – (1) Emperor’s Cause (C) was bet down from 7-1 to 5-1 following a three-month layoff and rallied to finish second. (3) Endowed was second in his last two races in starter allowances and can be on the lead in this field. (4) Millean returned from a layoff to show improvement in two starts at Laurel Park with increased speed figures. (7) Abundant Honor broke his maiden by seven lengths in his second race back from a layoff in his first start at Aqueduct.

6^th race [Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (2) Liquidity Provider was on the lead or pressing the pace in her first two starts for Chad Brown. Last time she finished third behind a filly that came back to win her next start. (7) Ultima Copa had two very good starts at Gulfstream Park during the winter for the Clement barn and now comes back from a February layoff. (5) Mattapoisett was a $775,000 weanling purchase making her fourth start for Bill Mott. (3) Carats and Cake will make her first career start for eFive Racing and Rudy Rodriguez. The dam produced two winners of more than $100,000.

9^th race [Md 40000, 6F TURF] – (3) Divine Wine (B) came back from more than a year off, broke very slowly in last, and rallied fast to get up for fourth. (4) Lady Firefoot was well bet in all three of her starts. Last time she was moved off the turf and ran third at BAQ. (2) Abstract Moment has been racing in maiden special weights and now moves to the barn of Michelle Nevin after setting the pace at Kentucky Downs in her last start. (5) Mostly Harmless has lot of starts but many of them produced speed figures that make her a contender in this field.

Best bets:  Liquidity Provider (6^th); Divine Wine (9^th). Best value:  Valentino’s Here (1^st); Emperor’s Cause (3^rd).