Belmont Park Hotlist - June 26

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, June 26, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

3^rd race [Alw 50000s, 7F] – (5) Shesalittle Edgy (C) was second last time behind the winner of her last four races. That was her first start for trainer Rob Atras where she was bet down from 6-1 to 4-1. (1) She Answered was right behind the Hot List horse in her 2021 debut. (3) Cadeau de Paix was claimed from a win for $20,000 and moved into the starter allowance ranks to finish second and then third. (6) Miss Liana was claimed out of her last three starts with the most recent being a front-end win by a neck for $16,000. She is now in the barn of the currently hot Orlando Noda.

4^th race [Clm 32000, 6F] – (3) Copper Town (C) ran third in his 2021 debut for Wesley Ward in a $50,000 claiming race where he was bet down from 5-1 to 5-2. He earned his best speed figure since last summer. (6) Win With Pride has won 2 out of his last 3 races including an optional claimer at Monmouth Park last time for Noda. (1) Aristocratic has lots of early speed and drops down in claiming price in a field where he fits much better. (2) Vici won his last two races in turf sprints. He was claimed for $25,000 and will now move back to the dirt in his first start for trainer Rob Atras. He was second on the Aqueduct main track in the winter for a $40,000 tag.

8^th race [Mother Goose (G2), 1 1/16 mi] – (2) Always Carina (A) won her first two races by open lengths at odds of .95-1 in her debut on a muddy track at Aqueduct on April 11 and then she stretched out to a mile to win an allowance at Belmont by almost 10-lengths as the .45-1 favorite. She will add another half-furlong of distance and have to step-up to face stakes winners for the first time. (3) Clairiere was at the top of the 3-year-old division after she won her first race of the year in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds for Steve Asmussen and Stonestreet Stables. Subsequently, she was second in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). This field is smaller and easier than her recent two races. (1) Make Mischief has far more experience, with 11 career starts, than the other fillies in this field. Most recently, she was third in the Acorn (G1) at Belmont and third in the Eight Belles (G2) at Churchill Downs. (5) Illiogami is the winner of both of her starts this year – a maiden victory at Keeneland and then an allowance at Churchill Downs.

10^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (7) Dame Time (B) finished third in her 2021 debut which was meant for the turf but was run on a sloppy track. She lunged at the start, fell back to last, and was then uncomfortable racing on the inside. (11) Gailhorsewind rallied to finish second just a half-length behind in her second career start for Linda Rice. (9) So Enchanting ran second twice last year as the favorite for Chad Brown and now makes her first start of this year with Lasix. (1) Milestone Payment had one start last year for Chad Brown in October at Belmont, showed speed, and finished fifth. He’ll return with Lasix for the first time.

Best bets:  Shesalittle Edgy (3^rd); Always Carina (8^th). Best value:  Copper Town (4^th); Dame Time (10^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 on races 2 - 4 à 6, 7 with 1, 3, 5, 6 with 1, 3, 6 = $24.