Belmont Park Hotlist - June 20

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, June 20, 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.

4^th race [OC80k/N2X, 1 1/16 mi] – (6) Portos has a class edge in this second-level allowance that has a purse of $94,000. Last seen for Todd Pletcher he was third behind Lone Rock going 12-furlongs in a stake at Churchill Downs. He should appreciate the cutback and the return to Lasix. (2) Superfecto will come back from a March layoff after a third in the Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream Park. (4) Highest Honors flashed his talent last year when he won the Curlin at Saratoga for Chad Brown as a 3-year-old. (1) Lost in Rome pushed the pace last time in a similar spot, but it was on a sloppy track. The Noda barn is on one of its hot streaks right now.

5^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 7F TURF] – (10) Masterof the Tunes (C) was a maiden special weight winner last time in her 2021 debut which had her returning to the grass while she was bet down from 10-1 to 6-1. (6) Little Dutch Girl won her only race last year as a 2-year-old for Christophe Clement and with typical improvement from two to three she is a contender. (2) Kinky Sox missed by a neck at this distance in her first start of the year and gets Irad Ortiz on board. (8) Out First moves back to the turf where her one effort was very good. Her speed figures advanced on the dirt last time out and Jose Lezcano stays on the horse.

6^th race [Clm 12500, 1 mi] – (2) Pecan Pattie (B) was third in her 2021 debut for a $20,000 tag in a race where she had a very awkward break, got taken up, and the rider lost his irons. Now she drops down in her second start for trainer Michelle Nevin. I give preference to drop down horses in these low-level claimers. (4) Dunph was a claim back by Robertino Diodoro for $30,000 two races ago at Oaklawn Park. Last time for $16,000, he pressed the pace and finished third. (1) Gio d’Oro has not been on a dry track at this claiming level since setting the pace and running second in January at Aqueduct. (11) Direct Order was claimed out of his last two starts including a claim back by current trainer Antonio Arriaga for whom he ran a big figure recently.

7^th race [Alw 92000 N1X, 6F TURF] – (8) Violent Point (D) used up her NY-bred allowance conditions when she won a turf sprint on May 6, thus she now goes against open company. Last time, her race came off the grass but she was still bet down from 9-2 to 5-2. (11) Time Limit was third in the Matron (G3) as a 2-year-old in her only career turf start. She returned from a long layoff to romp in an allowance that was meant for the grass but was run on a muddy main track. Turf may be her best surface. (3) Honey Pants is twice stakes-placed on the grass for Clement. In her 2021 debut she finished second in an allowance at Gulfstream in April. (10) Keota also is twice stakes-placed in the past. Last summer she ran well at Saratoga for Chad Brown and now switches to the barn of Rudy Rodriguez.

Best bets:  Portos (4^th); Violent Point (7^th). Best value: Masterof the Tunes (5^th); Pecan Pattie (6^th).