Belmont Park Hotlist - May 2

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, May 2, 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.

1^st race [Clm 35000 N3L, 1 1/16 TURF] – (3) Mo Gotcha (D) was bet down from 4-1 to 2-1, got bumped hard out of the gate, finished fourth, and got claimed. He comes right back at the same level with blinkers off while moving back to the turf. (8) Boru moves from Santa Anita where he won a N2L claimer and then was third in a N3L. Those were his two starts this year after a long layoff. (1) The Last Zip had the lead mid-stretch last time out and finished second for Mike Maker. He is part of an entry where the 1A has a chance also. (9) Turn of Events makes the drop from starter allowances to the restricted claiming level.

3^rd race [Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (3) Lemon Drop Road (A) was cost a win last time out by an impatient ride where the jockey kept shifting positions and instead found traffic troubles. He gets a favorable rider change and moves from dirt to turf. (6) Ranger Fox flashed speed in his debut when he was well bet and now trainer John Terranova switches to the grass. (2) King of Miami makes his 2021 debut for Wesley Ward as a new gelding and gets Lasix and blinkers for the first time. (9) Deregulation will make his first career start for Chad Brown and Klaravich. This gelding is British-bred on the top and bottom. [(8) Mr Annoying is cross-entered at Churchill Downs on Saturday. If he comes to Belmont he will take the place of the #2.]

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (2) Nemo’s Fortune (B) checked at the start of his debut and then had to alter course. He still managed to finish third, beaten by only a neck, behind a Todd Pletcher firster. He was moved up to second by disqualification. (9) Oliver’s Fortune has racing experience which gives him an edge over most of this field making their first career starts. (6) Myquest was well bet in his debut at Tampa where he raced forwardly. Now he will face NY-breds in his second start. (1) River Dog is working well for his debut for Jeremiah Englehart who has done things with firsters in the past.

8^th race [Ruffian (G2), 1 mi] – (4) Lake Avenue won both of her races this year easily for Bill Mott – an allowance at Gulfstream Park and the Heavenly Prize at Aqueduct. (3) Our Super Freak has not won a race in the last two years but has run well in stakes and is likely to finish second or third again in here. (1) Vault had a big win in an allowance at Oaklawn Park in March for Brad Cox and that makes him a threat. (2) Water White had an impressive win in her 2021 debut as a filly that flashed talent as a 2-year-old.

Best bets:  Nemo’s Fortune (5^th); Lake Avenue (8^th). Best value:  Mo Gotcha (1^st); Lemon Drop Road (3^rd).