Belmont Park Hotlist - May 22

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, May 22, 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.

2^nd race [Md 40000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (4) Prince of Caps (C) ran second in his 2021 debut after a winter layoff while getting bet down from 6-1 to 4-1. (1) America’s Justice was well bet in his maiden special weight start at Tampa for Christophe Clement when he raced erratically. He drops into this claimer for starter number 2. (6) Caribbean Gold was moved to the barn of excellent turf trainer Mike Maker after five starts last year and showing some ability on the grass. (8) Jarreau dropped in a maiden claimer last time, pressed the pace, got the lead, and ended up second for Graham Motion. Jose Ortiz stays on board.

4^th race [Alw 92000 N1X, 1 mi TURF] – (5) Love and Thunder (A) got bumped and caused a slow start for this Chad Brown runner in her American debut. She rallied for second in a turf sprint and now goes a mile which is the distance of her maiden win in England. (8) Windfall Profit set the pace in her first start of the year and finished second for Shug McGaughey and now Rosario gets back on board. (1) Princess Fawzia won the last race of her 2020 campaign for Linda Rice and then pressed the pace in her debut this year. (7) Candy Flower has lots of early speed which is common for the runners from Saffie Joseph’s barn. Last month she had the lead in a 12-furlong turf allowance at Keeneland. The cutback should be a positive move.

8^th race [NY, Alw 92000 N1X, 6 ½ F] – (5) Steal My Heart (D) got bet down from 19-1 to 15-1 for a low-profile trainer. Her races on dry tracks are competitive, not so much on wet tracks like last time. (7) Breakfastatbonnies won her debut by more than 11 lengths in January at Aqueduct and then was third going a mile in an allowance. The move back to sprinting seems wise. (1) Pleasure Luck ran in the top three in all five of her starts for Mark Hennig and she, too, cuts back in distance. (2) Beautiful Karen has been off since January when trainer Linda Rice tried her with blinkers. That didn’t work out well, so they come off.

10^th race [NY, Md 40000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (1) Emma and I missed the win by a neck last time when she moved back on the turf. Jose Ortiz gets the mount now. (3) Lemon Taffy was second in her first start in a race that was meant for the turf and was run on a muddy track where she finished second for Maker at 10-1. (2) Stormi Cat Lady is a consistent type who will make her third start for a tag and will finally get to race on the grass as Irad Ortiz opts to take the mount. (8) Quiet Horizon will make her career debut for Clement.

Best bets: Love and Thunder (4^th); Emma and I (10^th). Best value:  Prince of Caps (2^nd); Steal My Heart (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 on races 8-10 includes the Seek Again Stakes  à 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 with 6, 7 with 1, 3 = $32.