Belmont Park Hotlist - July 30

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

4^th race [Clm 25000, 1 mi] – (2) Crypto Cash has finished first or second in his last five starts and was claimed three times most recently by Rob Atras who took him back for $4,000 more than the first time.  He cuts back to a mile which seems to be his best distance. Atras is winning with 29% of his new claims. (3) Grumps Little Tots returns from a November layoff for Charlie Baker and will make his first start since being claimed. He also was frequently claimed. (1) Dark Storm gets blinkers on for the first time and drops back down to the level at which he was claimed. (4) Lost in Rome also gets blinkers on and drops back down.

6^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 6F] – (10) Jake Rocks drops out of a series of starter allowance races to the N2L condition where last time he was second. (1) Devil’s Code returns from an 11 month layoff when he was racing successfully in NY-bred allowances. (3) Heads Or Tails will exit starter allowances and drop down to the $25,000 level at which he broke his maiden. (2) Cajun Commander finished ahead of the top choice three races back in a starter allowance.

7^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 1 1/16 mi] – (7) Price Discipline (A) was an impressive debut winner for Chad Brown and he will get a little bit more distance as he faces winners for the first time. (2) Thrill of It got behind farther than usual last time as his best races are pressing the pace. (3) Colloquy broke his maiden in his third try for the Clement barn improving from third to second to the win. (4) Full Moon Fever ran third in his last three starts moving back to NY-bred company last time.

8^th race [Alw 92000 N1X, 1 3/8 mi TURF] – (7) Easter was a horse I was interested in when he ran in the Man o’War (G1) in his second start in America for Graham Motion. He should appreciate the class relief. (1) Balthus broke his maiden for Chad Brown in his second start of the year by six lengths while going ten furlongs. The extra distance should be right up his alley. (6) Hard Rye Guy ran a big race in April in a Keeneland allowance to be second. No doubt he ships up to New York because the turf course at Churchill Downs is closed and he will probably head to Saratoga after this race. (2) Q F Seventy Five has early speed and should try to steal this race on the front end with Joel Rosario staying on board.

Best bets:  Crypto Cash (4^th); Price Discipline (7^th). Best value:  Jake Rocks (6^th); Easter (8^th).