Belmont at the Big A Hotlist - September 25

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, September 25, 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.

3^rd race [NY, OC45k/N2X, 1 mi TURF] – (2) Spungie (D) returned from a year layoff at Saratoga and was bet down to be the 5-2 favorite for Bill Mott. (1) Home for Christmas is currently in excellent form for the Clement barn with a pair of seconds at this level at the Spa. (7) Howdyoumakeurmoney has been racing strictly in stakes races around the Mid-Atlantic region for Mike Trombetta and gets some needed class relief. (6) My Lips Are Sealed made her 2022 debut last month when she pressed the pace and finished third beaten by less than a length.

4^th race [NY, OC45k/N2X, 6F] – (2) Miss Alacrity set the pace and finished second behind a horse that has won three races in a row as of yesterday. (5) Leeloo moves back to the barn of David Duggan after a two starts at Saratoga including a victory in the first-level allowance. (4) Ruvies in Time returns to NY-bred competition where she was last seen in the winner’s circle. She will be in for the $45,000 claiming option after chasing open company allowance horses. (6) Khali Magic chased that aforementioned three-time winner in her last two starts after a victory at this level in which she actually beat that streaking horse.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (1) Ouster (B) was keen early in June at Belmont Park, lacked room, and came running once clear. (4) Salty Heir (B) returns from a December layoff when he was rank and green. Now, he shows up as a new gelding with first-time Lasix. (6) Kreesa rallied boldly to miss breaking his maiden by a head in his debut for David Donk at Saratoga. (5) Empire Sky moved from two maidens at Monmouth Park to a NY-bred brad maiden and just missed the win by a neck. Blinkers go on for the first time which is a 30% winning move for trainer Kathy DeMasi.

9^th race [Gallant Bloom, 6 ½ F] – (5) Kimari defeated Frank’s Rockette, who came back to win her next start, in the Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga when she moved out of a pair of Grade 1s. (1) Lady Rocket ran the best race of her career, which includes seven victories, at Aqueduct last year in the Go For Wand (G3). (2) Remain Anonymous won her last two starts including a Pennsylvania-bred stakes race at Parx after getting claimed for $32,000 by Rob Falcone. (3) Sterling Silver will make her first start against older horses after missing the win in the Prioress (G2) by a neck.

Best bets:  Miss Alacrity (4^th); Kimari (9^th). Best value:  Spungie (3^rd); Ouster (5^th).