Belmont Park Hotlist - April 30

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, April 30, 2022 at Belmont Park
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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

2^nd race [Clm 40000, 6 ½ F] – (4) Happy Farm (B) was claimed from his last four starts for prices ranging from $32,000 to $50,000. He was third, beaten only a half-length last time out. (2) Aristocratic looks to be the early speed in this field. He was third in a stake at Aqueduct last month and won two claimers before that. (5) Glory Road was claimed from his last two races and now cuts back in distance for new trainer Orlando Noda. (6) Uno romped to victory in his last two starts and was claimed away from Todd Pletcher most recently. He will make a big step up in class here.

6^th race [Md Sp Wt, 7F TURF] – (6) Snow Loves a Fight (A) moved to the turf for the first time and got shuffled back to last. She got checked hard while commencing her late rally and still finished fourth. (8) Dame Time set the pace last time and finished second at Gulfstream Park on their Tapeta surface. She ran well on the grass last year at Belmont. (9) Big Bee returns from a year layoff for Bill Mott with two good starts on the turf. (2) Gather the Facts will make her debut for Chad Brown. She was a $275,000 weanling.

9^th race [Elusive Quality, 7F TURF] – (6) Value Proposition was third in this race last year and sports a great record at Belmont of 7: 4-0-2. Last month after a layoff, he set the pace and finished third in the Dangers Hour at Aqueduct. (10) American Monarch gets back on the turf where he made his first three starts including a maiden win for Bill Mott. He spent the winner running very well on the dirt in Aqueduct allowances. (2) Big Package has been off since November. He won at this distance at Belmont last year. (3) Proven Strategies ran twice at Gulfstream this year with a recent allowance win for Mark Casse.

10^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6 ½ F] – (2) Patrick the Great (B) was second in his debut in a race that was meant for the turf, but trainer Jorge Abreu now leaves him on the main track. (11) Ouster (B) was third in his first career race where the second-place finisher came back to win a NY-bred stake the other day. (3) Mischief Mogul (D) was claimed away from Todd Pletcher when he finished fourth by trainer Jeffrey Englehart who is coming off a very successful run at Aqueduct. (7) Basis Risk will make his first start for Chad Brown as a $310,000 yearling purchase.

Best bets: Happy Farm (2^nd); Value Proposition (9^th). Best value: Snow Loves a Fight (6^th); Patrick the Great (10^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special 
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 8-10 and has the Elusive Quality à 3, 4, 10 with 6, 10 with 2, 3, 7, 11 = $24.