Belmont Park Hotlist - June 21

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, June 21, 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.

1^st race – (5) Doll drops into a N2L condition and goes back to turf sprinting. The former Jason Servis runner debuts for the red-hot Brad Cox who has won 60% of his starts at the current Belmont Park meeting. (4) Temperance ships to Belmont from Monmouth Park for trainer John Stephens who has been dangerous coming to New York in the past. This filly won her 2020 debut after a seven-month layoff and now cuts back to a turf sprint. (8) Noble Jewel was a debut winner in a turf sprint last year at Belmont. She drops out of allowance races now for her first start of 2020. (1) Shannon’s Girl was claimed out of her maiden victory and moves back to the turf for Gary Gullo.

3^rd race – (2) Cap de Creus gets class relief in this move from a pair of Grade 2 starts to a first-level allowance going a mile and a quarter on the grass for Todd Pletcher. (5) Civil Union was third in an allowance last time behind the top choice back in January. (3) Blame Debbie also drops down from grades stakes racing to find a softer spot for trainer Graham Motion. (6) Whatdoesasharksay was a winner at Belmont at this turf distance back in September who now makes her third start of 2020.

4^th race – (3) Vitesse (B) returned from an October layoff for only her second career start for trainer Michelle Nevin whose horses usually need a race in situations like this. She dropped from a maiden special weight to a $25,000 claimer, switched from turf to dirt, and put blinkers on. All those changes worked as she closed from sixth to get the lead at the top of the stretch and drew off to win by more than eight lengths. She did not appreciate the whip and shied away from the urging. She now faces winners in a $25,000 N2L claimer. (7) Bebe Banker has consistent strong speed figures for this field and was second last time in a similar spot for Rudy Rodriguez. (2) More Than Striking was last seen running behind Belmont Stakes horse Tap It to Win in Florida and now drops back to the N2L condition where he narrowly missed a win. He switches to the NY barn of Mertkan Kantarmaci. (6) Oneshotatforever was a convincing maiden claiming winner in his last start.

9^th race – (8) Bricco makes his 2020 debut as a new gelding while dropping from a third in a maiden special weight to maiden claimer and stays on the grass. (3) Shared Success will make his first start for the hot Brad Cox barn while moving to the turf, dropping into the claiming ranks, and taking on NY-breds. Joel Rosario gets on board. (12) Diannesimpazible will make his first start of the year as a new gelding and switches to the turf for Rudy Rodriguez. (7) Golconda has been a consistent performer at this level on both dirt and turf and is a good pick to be part of the trifecta.

Best bets:  Lady Macho (1^st); Cap de Creus (3^rd).  Best value:  Vitesse (4^th); Bricco (9^th).