Belmont Park Hotlist - May 29

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, May 29, 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.

3^rd race [Alw 92000 N1X, 1 mi] – (4) First Captain (A) was an impressive debut winner at odds of 3-1 for Shug McGaughey who doesn’t make first race victories a priority. The $1.5 million yearling purchase stalked the pace and rallied to win at seven furlongs. (1) Yankee Division has used his early speed to be a serious contender in allowance races for Rudy Rodriguez and now Joel Rosario gets on board. (2) Hometown makes his third start of the year for Chad Brown after breaking his maiden and then running third in an allowance. Brown puts blinkers on and gets a rider change to Irad Ortiz. (6) Supply and Demand was a debut winner for Jorge Abreu last month at Aqueduct and stretches to a mile.

4^th race [NY, Md 40000, 1 TURF] – (11) Ringgood (D) took a ton of late money, dropping in odds from 34-1 to 21-1, and then was rank in the early going of his return to turf racing. (7) Lord Flintshire had his best performance when he rallied from far back to finish second for Jorge Abreu. (9) Portfolio Hedge returns from an 18-month layoff for Brown as a new gelding. Last seen, he was second in his only two starts on the grass with one late rally and one effort on the lead. (4) Druid will make his first start for Bill Mott who is more apt to have a debut winner on the grass.

5^th race [Alw 92000 N1X, 6F TURF] – (4) Bay Jewel (C) won her last two starts including a starter allowance where he was bet down from 16-1 to 9-1. (9) Too Sexy debuted this year with a maiden score at Gulfstream Park in March for Christophe Clement. There is a lot speed in this sprint to set up her closing move. (10) Keota makes her first start of the year as she moved to the barn of Rudy R. She is stakes-placed and hit the board in her last six starts. (6) Saratoga Love will make her debut for a new trainer in George Weaver. He has tremendous numbers with horses new to his barn and with long layoffs.

8^th race [OC80k/N2X, 1 1/16 mi] – (4) Lost in Rome (A) got off to a slow start, rushed up to the lead, and drew off to be a clear winner for the Noda barn which has once again gotten hot. (6) Liveyourbeastlife (D) was bet down from 9-1 to 6-1 in his 2021 debut for Jorge Abreu. Last year as a 3-year-old, he was second in the Jim Dandy (G2). (2) Girolamo’s Attack won the first-level allowance last time out for Saffie Joseph whose New York barn is putting out winners and thus must be respected. (3) Superfecto has faced very good horses in his career thus far. In March, in a Gulfstream stake he was third behind a horse that came back and won the Pimlico Special in his next start.

Best bets: First Captain (3^rd); Bay Jewel (5^th). Best value:  Ringgood (4^th); Lost in Rome (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 on races 3-5 includes the Seek Again Stakes  à 4 with 4, 7, 9, 10, 11 with 4, 6, 9, 10 = $20.