Belmont at the Big A Hotlist - October 7

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, October 7, 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 mi] – (2) Chulligan (A) raced greenly in his debut as the favorite for Christophe Clement and finished second ahead of a horse that came back to win his next start. (4) Atlanta’s Acuna was sent off at 5-2 for his first start and ran just behind the pace most of the race a couple lengths behind the winner. (1) Quick to Accuse pressed the pace in his debut and finished in fourth behind the top choice. (6) Mr. Marlin has made two starts for Barclay Tagg both at Saratoga.

3^rd race [Clm 35000 N3L, 6F] – (1) Daufuskie Island drops back into the claiming ranks following a brief layoff. He won a starter allowance against open company at Belmont Park in July. (6) Quickflash will also return to claiming races after running third in a second-level allowance for NY-breds two weeks ago where he finished third. He was second twice the last time he was in for a tag. (5) Cousin Andrew moves from turf to dirt and goes back in for a tag where he was a winner in July at Saratoga. (2) Risk Profile ran twice at Saratoga and was third in that pair of open company allowances.

4^th race [Clm 30000 N2L, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (9) Gooch Go Bragh (C) was second in a similar spot in July beating a horse that came back to win his next start while getting bet down from 8-1 to 6-1. (4) Ginnsu Warrior (B) was under heavy restraint, had to steady, and finished fourth in a similar spot at Saratoga. (7) Fast Gordon pressed the pace in his first start of 2022 which came after a year off in a tough field for a $50,000 tag. (3) Fieldstone has a third and then a second at this level in a pair of races at the Spa.

9^th race [Clm 30000 N2L, 6F mi TURF] – (11) Union Dolly (C) was bet down from 9-2 to 5-2, broke awkwardly in last, and rallied to get second. (8) Smokin’ Hot Kitty broke her maiden for $40,000 and then tried a starter allowance. This N2L is an appropriate level. (5) Aunt Virginia broke her maiden on the turf and then was second in a NY-bred allowance that came off the grass. (3) Romanosa drops out of a pair of open company allowances where she was well bet and were her first American starts.

Best bets:  Chulligan (1^st); Daufuskie Island (3^rd). Best value:  Erin Go Bragh (4^th); Union Dolly (9^th).