Belmont Park Hotlist - July 3

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, July 3, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race [NY, Md 40000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) Mondeuse (C) set the pace and finished second in her first try going long on the turf when she was bet down to favoritism, 6-1 to 5-2. Jose Ortiz stays on board. (7) Sweet Franny Lu was third in her last race against the Hot List horse. (8) Home for Christmas will make her first start of the year for Christophe Clement and Joel Rosario as she drops down to the maiden claiming ranks for the first time. (1) Bella Principessa had her best race at seven-furlongs when she rallied from last to finish second beaten by a half-length.

8^th race [OC 80k/N1X, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (2) Mira Mission (C) made a big improvement in his second start of the year when he rallied for second beaten less than a length after getting bet down from 27-1 to 18-1. (7) Space Launch ran third in his 2021 debut just a neck behind a horse that came back to win his next start. (4) Shawdyshawdyshawdy has been facing stakes company throughout his career which began with a victory at Saratoga in his first start. (9) Restored Order set the pace in his 2021 debut and then faded. He was a maiden winner at the Spa in his final start of that year. This Todd Pletcher will likely head to the lead again in this field.

9^th race [The Perfect Sting, 1 mi TURF] – (9) Viadera won her last three starts including the Noble Damsel (G3) at Belmont Park and the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar last year for Chad Brown. (3) Princess Grace won 3 out of 4 starts in her career last year. The first three were on the turf and she ended the year with a win in the Mrs. Revere (G3) that came off the grass. (7) Madita will also make her 2021 debut in this stake. She won an allowance at Belmont last year and was also stakes placed at Kentucky Downs. (1) Honey Cake will make her American debut for trainer Jonathan Thomas after last being seen in France winning a stakes race while running on the lead.

10^th race [Suburban (G2), 1 1/4 mi] – (6) Happy Saver has been carefully handled by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher since he won his first race a little over a year ago. Since then he has remained undefeated in five starts which includes three at Belmont Park. He made his 2021 debut in an allowance race in May. Now, Happy Saver will face Mystic Guide again after beating him in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) when they were 3-year-olds. (4) Mystic Guide is currently the No. 1 ranked horse in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll where I am one of the panel of voters. The Michael Stidham runner won the Razorback Handicap (G3) on a sloppy track in his first start of 2021 and then travelled to Meydan to win the rich purse in the Dubai World Cup (G1). He has been training at Fair Hills in Maryland since that victory back in March. (1) Moretti was third in his initial start of the year in the Brooklyn (G2). This other Pletcher runner was second in the Suburban last year and won the marathon Birdstone at Saratoga. There is no question that he will handle the ten-furlong and will have some run left down the stretch. (2) Informative was the longshot winner of the Salvatore Mile (G3) at Monmouth Park at odds of 79-1. Trainer Uriah St. Lewis was also the upset winner of the 2018 Jockey Club GC.

Best bets:  Viadera (9^th); Happy Saver (10^th). Best value:  Mondeuse (1^st); Mira Mission (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 on races 8 – 10 ends with the Suburban (G2) à ALL with 3, 9 with 4, 6 = $36.