Belmont Park Hotlist - June 26

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, June 26, 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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race [Clm 10000, 6F] – (4) Grudge (D) stumbled at the start of a $25,000 claimer, got the lead, and eventually finished fourth after getting bet from 6-1 to 7-2. This race has several horses making big drop downs assuming that they may not get claimed because there will not be a race for these low-level horses at Saratoga. (2) Guns Blazing was claimed for $10,000 back in April with a win at Aqueduct for $12,500. He makes his first start here for Linda Rice. (5) Bay Jewel was claimed for $25,000 in December, tried an allowance, and now plunges down for Ray Handal. (1) Missing Link has speed from the rail but has been racing on the turf against much better horses. Blinkers come off which is a strong move for trainer Peter Wailder.

2^nd race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (5) Saratoga Gaze started three times last year and hit the board each time. Now she is back for her 2022 debut with Flavien Part on board for the Clement barn. (4) Ard Macha was third in the first start of her career on May 30. (1) Mo Damorninggrouch ran third in her first two starts for Linda Rice at Belmont Park and gets blinkers on. (3) Coolcatsnkittens snuck in a first start of the year in a maiden claimer, rallied late, got the lead, and eventually was second for the Clement. She is back in a maiden special weight after not getting claimed away.

3^rd race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 1 1/16 mi] – (2) Vintage Hollywood (B) had two bad trips in a row. Last time he got stuck in tight quarters down the stretch and was unable to do better than second. (4) Tiergan ran the last three times against open company and Linda Rice claimed him for $62,500 during that sequence. In March, he won at this level. (5) State Planning tried the Peter Pan (G3) and did no running on the wet sealed track. Before that he won twice against state-breds. (6) Prince of Pharoahs was third in his last two starts against this kind of competition.

9^th race [NY, Md 40000, 1 mi TURF] – (5) Our Jessica has the best results from the horses that are making the drop to maiden claiming for the first time. Trainer David Donk is adept at making this move at the right time. (9) Smokin’ Hot Kitty makes the drop down for the Clement barn and was 4-1 in both of her starts. (1) Cupere returned from a winter break last time and now tries the claiming ranks for the first time for Barclay Tagg. (11) Dixie Kitten will make her 2022 debut and makes the drop down after getting bet in both starts last year at Belmont.

Best bets:  Saratoga Gaze (2^nd); Vintage Hollywood (3^rd). Best value:  Grudge (1^st); Our Jessica (9^th).