Belmont Park Hotlist - June 11

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, June 11, 2020 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 – (2) Septimius Severus (C) made his first appearance in a N2L condition and for that matter in a claiming race after having appeared on the Kentucky Derby trail as a 3-year-old. The first-time gelding was bet down from 9-2 to be the 2-1 favorite. He took the Aqueduct race on the lead from gate to wire to win by almost four lengths and was claimed and now steps up to the N3L level and ships up from Parx. (7) Blacktop Legend drops out of an allowance and a starter allowance to race at the N3L condition for the first time and this one is loaded with early speed. (8) Tapizearance is the winner of his last two starts and was claimed out of a win in a starter allowance going a mile. He cuts back in distance and drops into the N3L spot. (6) Stage Left ships up to Belmont from Kentucky for Wesley Ward. He was last seen in January in a starter allowance running second at Aqueduct. He gets a good set-up for his closing move.

3^rd race – (7) Dr. Devera’s Way (C) got blinkers on and made his third start for $25,000 in a N2L condition and was bet from 8-1 to 5-1. Going a mile, he moved from fourth to the lead after three-quarters but got run down by the eventual winner while holding off a challenge for the place spot. He cuts back to a six-furlong sprint here. (1) Ventus (D) ran on opening day of this Belmont meeting and was claimed out of a fifth-place finish and comes right back after getting bet down from 6-1 to 3-1. (3) Kadens Courage used a turf sprint just a few days ago as a tightener and now he takes a big drop in claiming price and moves back to the dirt. (6) Mandatory Payout frequently hits the board at this level and now gets the services of Jose Ortiz.

4^th race – (8) Creed (A) ran second in his debut at Tampa for Shug McGaughey at odds of 5-2 after racing in tight quarters. He was a $650,000 yearling purchase. (7) Cousin Andrew (A) came into the race with a Hot List “A” rating and got it back after a troubled trip. In a very strong field, he was 6-1 while making his second start for Chad Brown and stretching out to a mile. He got stuck behind a wall of horses in the turn, went wide to get clear, and then got within a length of the winner. (2) Ownitifyouwantit had the lead in his only start this year back in February and got passed at the wire. (6) Ajhar ran third in his first start for Todd Pletcher last month after Kiaran McLaughlin retired.

5^th race – (2) Master of Hope (A) made her impressive debut in a seven-furlong maiden special weight for trainer Michelle Nevin whose stats say she is a 7% winner with her first-timers. Generally speaking, it is not easy to win in a first try going that distance and this home-bred daughter of Bodemeister stalked the pace and prevailed by a neck while holding off a challenge. (5) Spice is Nice was a 12-length debut winner for Todd Pletcher and Bobby Flay in January at Gulfstream. She went on to run second in the Davona Dale (G2) and fifth in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. (4) Kansas Kis had the lead in the Busher at Aqueduct in February and got nipped at the wire. She shipped to Oaklawn for the Fantasy (G3) and nothing went her way that day. (1) Saratoga Affair was a debut winner for Chad Brown at Gulfstream in April.

Best bets:  Dr. Devera’s Way (3^rd); Creed (4^th).  Best value:  Septimius Severus (2^nd); Master of Hope (5^th).