Belmont Park Hotlist - July 1

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, July 1, 2021 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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

2^nd race [NY, Md 40000, 1 TURF] – (2) On Mick’s Day (A) made his 2021 debut dropping into the maiden claiming ranks and had a very rough trip. He was jostled around at the break and then clipped heels at the quarter pole. Here he will stretch out to a mile on the grass. (4) Voliero was claimed for $40,000 by Mike Maker and missed the win by a nose after pressing the pace in his best effort of late. (8) Masked Marauder made his 2021 debut on a muddy track and now hopes to get back on the turf where he twice ran well. (7) Dreampoint was third and second in his two most recent races and both were at this level.

7^th race [Clm 50000, 6 ½ F] – (2) Mi Tres Por Ciento (C) returns from a February layoff at which time he was in excellent form and was well support4d by the bettors. He will return to the level at which he was claimed four races back. (4) Happy Farm is a horse who knows how to win with a career record of 25: 10-6-2 with stats at Belmont Park of 7:  5-0-1. Current trainer Rob Atras got a win from him in his only start since moving from the Linda Rice barn. (6) Town Classic will drop in for a tag for the first time in nine starts. He currently has a string of nine place and show finishes. (5) Clench was claimed for $40,000 in his last race by Rudy Rodriguez when he finished second.

8^th race [NY, ALW 80000 N1X, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (4) Spungie was second just a neck behind a horse that came back to win an open company stakes race at Belmont. (9) Big Al’s Gal returned to the grass and was fourth behind the top choice where he had to put on the brakes while in tight behind horses. (8) Emma and I won a maiden claimer against state-breds and then tried open company in a starter allowance. This a more logical spot. (3) Pandamom gets blinkers on for Christophe Clement.

9^th race [Md 50000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (4) Declareatruce ran a career best race while second in his last start in what was a good field of maiden claimers. (2) Inspiration Point will make his first start on the grass after running in an Aqueduct maiden special weight in January. This Todd Pletcher runner is a son of California Chrome who sold for $750,000 as a 2-year-old. (3) Centurion has a second and a third in his last pair of races for Jimmy Jerkens. (6) Bail Out has had a lot of tries and has been close to the win many times.

Best bets:  Mi Tres Por Ciento (7^th); Spungie (8^th). Best value: On Mick’s Day (2^nd); Declareatruce (9^th).