Belmont Park Hotlist - October 1

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, October 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.

3^rd race – (2) South Africa moved from turf to dirt and cutback to a sprint and made a huge improvement. He went to the lead and finished second with a speed figure that tops this field of NY-bred maiden special weights. The third-place finisher in that race already came back to win. (5) Tackle will move from turf to dirt and cutback to seven furlongs for Bill Mott after running second and then third in his two starts. (1) Pier Forty was claimed for $25,000 two races back by Orlando Noda, stepped up in class and improved to run third. It is hard to ignore any horse from the Noda barn right now. (6) Ernie Banker showed promise in the winter at Aqueduct and now returns from a March layoff as a new gelding for John Kimmel.

6^th race – (2B) Colloquist (B) ran the best race of his career when he was second to a Chad Brown runner that was dropping into this $40,000 maiden claiming level on the turf. (1) Market Impact was second in his debut which came a year ago at Saratoga for Brown. He has not run since then but returns for Jorge Abreu who often receives horses from the Klaravich/Brown team and does well with them. (4) Complex System was claimed away from those same connections by Rob Atras after a second-place finish at Saratoga. The new trainer puts blinkers on and cuts him back in distance. (10) No Nay Now made his American debut in a very tough maiden special weight at Kentucky Downs for Wesley Ward where the winner and the show horse both came back to win their next starts.

7^th race – (6) Knockout Punch (C) took late money in his 2020 debut at Saratoga in July when he went from 30-1 to 21-1 and interestingly ran the best race of his career to close willingly for second. (7) Hurricane Hill has won his last two starts for Linda Rice climbing from a N2L to N3L and now goes in another turf sprint this time in a starter allowance. (4) Propensity missed by a neck last time at this starter allowance level for Bill Mott. (12) Bourbon Currency was also a winner of his last start at the N3L level and keeps the services of Jose Ortiz.

8^th race – (1) Infringement (B) stumbled badly at the start last time and still managed to run third in a NY-bred stakes race similar to this race. (2) Irish Constitution was a debut winner for trainer Ray Handal with best speed figure in the field. Her next start was an ambitious fourth in the Spinaway (G1). She’s back facing state-breds in here. (6) Stimulus Check was a four-length winner of her debut for low profile trainer Gregg Matties at well bet odds of 5-1. (4) No Mo’ Spending broke her maiden at Saratoga drawing off to win by more than three lengths.

Best bets:  South Africa (3^rd); Infringement (8^th). Best value:  Colloquist (6^th); Knockout Punch (7^th).