Belmont Park Hotlist - June 24

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, June 24, 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.

3^rd race [Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (2) Everesting was second going a mile on the turf at Gulfstream Park last month and ships up to New York for Saffie Joseph Jr. That makes it hard to ignore this guy as he cuts back to a sprint. Joseph is winning at a 37% clip at this Belmont Park meeting. (8) Digital Future had the lead and finished second in his 2021 debut for Chad Brown in what was also his first start on the grass. (5) First Law was third in his first start of the year while battling for the early lead with the aforementioned second choice. (1) Run Smitty Run rallied to get second in his turf debut in his first start of 2021. He will step back up after that promising run.

5^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 1 1/8 mi TURF] – (6) Point Him Out (C) pressed the pace in his 2021 debut and finished third for Michael Stidham while getting bet down from 11-1 to 7-1. (3) Regal Speaker raced wide and just missed the win by a neck and earned the top speed figure in this field for turf runners. It is a bit worrisome that the Gargan barn is very cold right now. (9) Simply finished one spot ahead of the top choice Hot List horse in his return to racing against NY-breds. (7) The Golden Door will make his first start of the year as a new gelding for David Donk. His last two races in 2020 are good enough to make him a serious contender.

6^th race [NY, Md 40000, 7F TURF] – (8) Constitutionalrage (B) was shuffled and squeezed back at the start of her 2021 debut ending up in last. From there, she rallied but then had to check after a mile. Blinkers go on as this Barclay Tagg runner cuts back in distance and drops into a maiden claimer for the first time. (7) Kaz’s Princess was second in an open company maiden special weight at Penn National in her first start of the year. She will return to state-bred competition and drop in for a tag. (6) Not a Trace pressed the pace in a race that was meant for the grass and finished second for trainer Bruce Brown. (10) Write This Down will race with Lasix for the first time and drop into a claimer. George Weaver wins at a 24% clip with this kind of drop down.

8^th race [OC 100k/C, 6f TURF] – (1) Madeleine Must (B) was keen in her first start of the year and did not get out of the gate smoothly. Then she was rank after being restrained by her rider and still rallied for third in the Intercontinental (G3). (5) Robin Sparkles is the winner of five races from eight starts, four of them on the turf. She has won against open company and was second in the License Fee which was a turf sprint in her 2021 debut. (7) Catch a Bid ships up from Kentucky for Joe Sharp. Last seen she was fifth in a turf sprint stake at Pimlico on Preakness weekend. She began her career with a maiden score at Belmont. (4) Call On Mischief was an allowance winner on the grass last year but recently has been racing on the dirt with a second in the Correction at Aqueduct in March. Trainer Kelly Breen will send her back onto the grass.

Best bets:  Everesting (3^rd); Constitutionalrage (6^th). Best value: Point Him Out (5^th); Madeleine Must (8^th).