Belmont Park Hotlist - June 25

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, June 25, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

3^rd race [Wild Applause, 1 mi TURF] – (4) Breeze Easy (B) made her American debut in the Soaring Softly where she was taken up sharply in the stretch but still was second, beaten by just a neck. (5) Eminent Victor was last seen running third at Woodbine last year in the Natalma (G1) for Chad Brown. She is back with blinkers off. (1) Oakhurst won both of her starts this year for Brown in a maiden at Gulfstream on the Tapeta and then a turf allowance at Keeneland. (3) Lakota Spirit broke her maiden last month in her fourth start which happened to be her first on grass, also for Chad.

5^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 7F] – (1) Fingal’s Cave (A) won her debut by more than eight lengths at odds 1.30-1 for David Donk. Clearly, the word was out that this filly was a runner. Her speed figure is notably higher than all the other horses in this field. (5) Bankers Daughter rallied to within a length of the win last time at this allowance level. (3) Gringotts was claimed for $25,000 two races back when third and then stepped up to this level. (6) Poncho Song was claimed last time for $25,000 by Peter Walder after rallying for second on a muddy track.

9^th race [Clm 25000, 1 1/8 mi TURF] – (3) American Lincoln (B) set the pace last time, dropped back a few lengths behind, and then rerallied to get within a length of the win in a tight finish. (5) Big Agenda won a similar race in April and was claimed by Rob Atras. There are several horses in this field that had a good finish at the $25,000 level last time but his win got a much higher speed figure. (8) Takafumi returns from a Fair Grounds layoff, ships in from Monmouth Park, and gets Jose Ortiz to ride. (11) Jack the Cat made a big improvement in his second start off the layoff.

10^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (3) Quick Power Nap (B) ran second in her debut against a very strong field at Saratoga and was well ahead of the rest. She returns this year with a change to the barn of Christophe Clement. (8) Succulent returns from an April layoff to make her second start on the turf for Donk. (11) Wine Goddess rallied from last to finish third in her first start at Belmont at odds of 7-2. (6) Izeamalibumoon will make her first career start, shipping up from Monmouth, showing a very fast workout in preparation for this. She is also entered against open company the same day at the Jersey Shore.

Best bets: Breeze Easy (3^rd); Fingal’s Cave (5^th). Best value: American Lincoln (9^th), Quick Power Nap (10^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 8-10  à 1, 5 with 3, 5, 8, 11 with 3, 6, 8, 11 = $32.