Belmont Park Hotlist - November 1

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, November 1, 2020 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.

2^nd race – (12) Kilkea (C) was heavily bet late dropping from 8-1 to 7-2 and responded with a second in her first try against winners in a NY-bred allowance following her maiden breaking effort. (9) Timeless Journey has been off since August when she won a starter allowance over open company for Christophe Clement and now returns against state-breds. (2) Pandamom gets a pass for that sloppy track race and was second in her prior start on the turf in a NY-bred allowance like this race. (1) Corey Scores was claimed from her last start for $40,000 by Linda Rice. Her last four races were against open company and Rice switches her back to state-bred competition.

5^th race – (4) Work Out began his career with two seconds against NY-breds and now stretches out to the one-turn mile in a very weak field. (7) Brew Pub ships to Belmont Park from Kentucky to race against NY-breds and makes her second start on the dirt. In September he set the pace in a maiden special weight at Indiana Downs and ended up third. (2) Polpis will make his debut for trainer Jonathan Thomas who is having an excellent Belmont meeting. (8) Skippingandajumpin gets the services of Luis Saez for her second career start. Trainer Kelly Breen wins at 24% with his second time maidens.

6^th race – (12) Reckless Spirit (D) returns from a July layoff for the Bond barn after running sixth in a very troubled race where he was bet down from 7-1 to 5-1. (2) Mitzrayim will drop out of two starter allowances into this N2L condition and stays on the grass while stretching back out in distance. (4) Stanhope had the lead in a NY-bred allowance on the grass after a couple months layoff. (3) Barleewon was third beaten by a length in a race similar to this spot. [If (13) McElmore Avenue gets into the field from the AE list then he will become the fourth choice in this race.]

8^th race – (10) Lovestruck (A) overcame a troubled trip to win her debut for Bill Mott and Godolphin on closing weekend at Saratoga. She will step up to make her second start in this listed stakes race on the grass. (7) Caldee set the pace in the Miss Grillo (G2) and got beat by the undefeated Plum Ali who is headed to the Breeders’ Cup. (2) Oyster Box won her debut at Belmont for Graham Motion in a turf sprint and now stretches out. That is a very positive move for turf horses. (8) Fluffy Socks is the winner of her last two starts for Chad Brown including the Selima on the Preakness undercard.

Best bets:  Kilkea (2^nd); Work Out (5^th). Best value:  Reckless Spirit (6^th); Lovestruck (8^th).