Belmont Park Hotlist - May 7

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, May 7, 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 [NY, OC45k/N2X 1 mi TURF] – (5) Kreesie (B) was last seen in November at Aqueduct in a similar spot when she was claimed for $40,000 by Rob Atras.  In that race she had a wide trip on a turf course that was favoring the inside. (6) Timeless Journey has two turf wins but was a winner on the dirt at Aqueduct in her most recent start in December in an allowance. (7) Wasp will try the turf for the first time for Todd Pletcher after two wins on the dirt and a recent try in NY-bred stakes company. (1) Giacosa will return from a November layoff when last seen running second in the same race as the Hot List horse.

3^rd race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 1 1/8 TURF] – (6) Breadman returns to state-bred company after two open stakes races. In his 2021 debut in a Grade 3 at Keeneland he was beaten only four lengths and now gets Lasix for the first time. (5) Somethingtotellyou came back to the races after more than a year off for Christophe Clement and ran fourth after getting bumped around at the start. (2) Austrian was third just a head behind the winner in the same race as Somethingtotellyou at 3-1 for Danny Gargan. (8) Simply will return to face NY-breds while moving to the barn of Rick Schosberg. All three of his turf wins were against open company.

5^th race [NY, Md 40000, 6F TURF] – (6) Orma will make her second start of the year following a long layoff and the Bond barn has excellent stats in this situation. (5) Proper Grammar will make his debut for Clement. Clement in a turf sprint with Rosario is a good thing. (1) Cazilda Fortytales came back from more than a year off to run third after setting the pace. Now she will try the turf for the first time and gets Irad Ortiz in the saddle. (8) Marilyn Merlot gets blinkers on for her first try on the grass while dropping out of a maiden special weight try at Gulfstream. What a great name, also.

8^th race [Alw 80000 N1X, 1 ¼ TURF] – (6) Wicked Amber (B) rallied for third in her return to the grass after a slow start. (3) She Throws Heat has a great record since switching to the turf. She ran third and then second for Shug McGaughey in allowances races at Gulfstream. (7) Whatdoesasharksay ran fourth in the same two races as She Throws Heat, but the ten-furlong distance will be no problem for her. (5) Caen Na Coille ran fourth in her American debut last time for Graham Motion and figures to improve off that effort.

Best bets:  Kreesie (1^st); Breadman (3^rd). Best value:  Orma (5^th); Wicked Amber (8^th).