Belmont Park Hotlist - May 1

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, May 1, 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 [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi] – (2) Colloquy (B) finished second in his second start for Christophe Clement after a stretch duel in which the rider lost his crop. (1) Curlin’s Wisdom (C) was bet down to be the favorite after a three month layoff and ran third in a race that meant for the turf. He moves to the Linda Rice barn now and she leaves him on the main track. (3) Ria’s Angel (C) was third and bet down after dropping into a maiden claimer for the first time. She was claimed and moves back up for new trainer De Paz. (5) Front Porch ran an improved second race when she was third for the George Weaver barn that is going well right now.

7^th race [NY, Alw 80000, 1 1/16 mi] – (6) Convertible Freeze (C) is in outstanding form in his last three starts including the two most recent since being claimed from his maiden win. Last time he was bet down from 10-1 to 5-1. (7) Pineapple Man has improved his speed figures in all four of his starts and appears to have a significant early speed advantage against this field. (3) Anejo returned from a seven month layoff to run third against open company at Turfway Park. Last year he broke his maiden at Saratoga on the dirt. (5) Pier Forty will race against NY-breds after facing tough competition against open company for many races.

8^th race [License Fee, 6F TURF] – (2) Too Sexy has been off for the winter and when last seen had a second and a first in turf sprint stakes in New York earning speed figures that lead this field. (3) Miss J McKay ran in three stakes at Gulfstream during the winter with one victory for the Clement barn. (5) Assertive Style was claimed out of a second-place finish at Fair Grounds by Tom Morley who is very dangerous with her new horses. (4) Igloo was a debut winner at Turfway Park and was first in her most recent allowance start at Gulfstream.

9^th race [Md Sp Wt, 7F TURF] – (9) Smoke and Heat (A) was second in his debut for Tony Dutrow after having a difficult start where he had his heels clipped from behind, but he still rallied well. (2) Street Fight was last seen running third at Monmouth Park in September behind a pair of horses that won their next starts. He posted a very fast workout to prep for this turf sprint. (4) Torpedo Run made a big improvement when moving to the turf for the first time in his second start since a winter layoff. (10) Devil’s Outlaw will make his first start in America for Chad Brown after a series of seconds in Ireland for trainer Joseph O’Brien.

Best bets:  Colloquy (1^st); Too Sexy (8^th). Best value:  Convertible Freeze (7^th); Smoke and Heat (9^th).