Belmont Park Hotlist - May 21

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, May 21, 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.

7^th race [OC 62k/N2X, 6 ½F] – (4) Big Engine (D) will drop down and run for a tag after racing in upper level allowances and a stake. Last time, he was bet down from 6-1 to 7-2 and the blinkers come off now. (3) Fitzpatrick finds a field with a lot of speed and that should set up his closing move which he used to win an allowance two races back. (6) Prince James has been in good form recently with a pair of seconds at today’s level. (2) Three Two Zone changes to the barn of Ray Handal after setting the pace at Parx and finishing second. This will be his third start following a layoff.

8^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 7F TURF] – (6) Feathers Road (C) will move back to the grass after a second on a muddy track at Aqueduct where he was bet down from 9-2 to 2-1. Last year he did get a place finish on the turf. (9) Dreampoint made a big improvement when he returned to the grass last time when he had to steady in the stretch and still finished fourth. (7) Built to Last also went back to the turf in a six-furlong race at Belmont Park and ran with Lasix for the first time. (10) Buckortwo took the winter off until grass racing came back in New York and looked like a horse that needed a race and will get back to contending for his maiden win after two seconds last year.

9^th race [NY, Clm 25000, 6F] – (1) Sicilia Mike has run 66 times in his career and rarely runs poorly. When he finds a race where there is an honest pace, he is most dangerous. Now, he is up against horses who have set that kind of pace for his late running style in the past. (9) Golani Brigade was claimed from his last two starts including back in March when he had the lead and was passed by the top choice. (7) Double Shot is also a closer and he was claimed following a second in an open claimer. (6) Tapizearance will drop down into a claimer for the first time in seven months. He had a troubled trip last time and will appreciate the class relief.

10^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 6F TURF] – (9) Deep Cover (B) ran well in both of his turf starts including his debut maiden win. Last month, he came back from a layoff and was hard held on the backstretch and finished second at Aqueduct in a dead heat with (10) Volkert who was also coming back from the winter off. He was second in his last two races at this level. (5) Cool Laoban comes back from a December layoff with Lasix for the first time and moves back to NY-bred competition. (6) Citizen K was a maiden winner last month at Belmont Park after taking the winter off.

Best bets: Big Engine (7^th); Sicilia Mike (9^th). Best value: Feathers Road (8^th); Deep Cover (10^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 8-10 is all graded stakes à 6, 7, 9, 10 with 1, 9 with 9, 10 = $16.