Belmont Park Hotlist - May 28

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, May 28, 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.

3^rd race [OC 100000, 1 mi] – (2) Happy Saver (A) makes his 2021 debut with an unbeaten record in four starts including his victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) as a 3-year-old. (5) Locally Owned (C) made his first start for trainer Tom Morley, after being claimed for $40,000 at Fair Grounds in February, a winning one in an allowance where he was bet down from 17-1 to 11-1. (1) Three Technique got an allowance win in his first start of the year. Last year, he appeared on the Kentucky Derby trail. (4) Alkhaatam will make his first appearance for Todd Pletcher. Previously, he was an allowance winner at Churchill Downs twice.

5^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 7F TURF] – (9) Bad Guy (B) had to wait in traffic in 10^th place until an opening appeared and then he closed quickly to get fourth beaten by only two lengths. (10) Danfusi gets Irad Ortiz in his first try going seven furlongs after racing six last time and long distance before that. (7) Quiet Out East has done his best running at Belmont Park where he has three wins and five other board hits. (1) The Last Ace makes his first start for David Donk. His last three starts look terrible, but they followed a debut victory by six lengths at odds of 2-1. Two of those races were on wet tracks. He could surprise at big odds.

7^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 7F] – (6) Writer’s Regret will continue in the N2L ranks after his best effort in several starts was a second-place finish and a top speed figure where he found some class relief. (8) Wicked Indeed ships to the New York barn of Steve Asmussen after he was claimed at Sam Houston and then ran fourth at this condition at Churchill. (2) Wild Union was claimed at Oaklawn Park for $40,000 by Peter Miller, ran fourth in a N2L spot, and then stepped up to a starter allowance. He will cut back in distance with some back class compared to most of this field. (3) Victory Built has a series of place finishes and gets the blinkers off after three tries with them on but has been racing against better.

9^th race [Md 40000, 6F TURF] – (3) Kentucky Knight (D) pressed the pace, had the lead, and ended up fourth after getting bet down from 10-1 to 5-1. (11) Congrats for Glory gets blinkers on after making his 2021 debut in a turf sprint for trainer Tom Bush and Javier Castellano stays onboard. (4) Uncle Mo’s Cat debuted at 9-2 for Wayne Potts and now switches to the grass, drops into a maiden claimer, and Irad stays on board. (5) Loaded Joe has been a consistent type with a third and then a second in his last two starts.

Best bets:  Happy Saver (3^rd); Bad Guy (5^th). Best value: Writer’s Regret (7^th); Kentucky Knight (9^th).