Belmont Park Hotlist - October 2

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, October 2, 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.

1^st race – (6) Blood Moon fits a favorite handicapping angle which is the drop down from starter allowance to the N2L condition especially since he has already finished second at this level two races back. He has early speed to use to his advantage in this long one-turn claimer. (5) Judicial Restraint finds the right spot after breaking his maiden for $30,000 for Chad Brown and comes right back for $16,000. (1) Bank Gala drops out of a NY-bred allowance to face this N2L field. (3) Super Wicked Charm was third in a similar spot in his last start at Saratoga at the end of August.

7^th race – (5) Malibu Luna was second after some bumping in a similar maiden special weight that was restricted to 2-year-old fillies who sold at auction for $45,000 or less. (2) Lutescoot N Boogie was third in the same race as the top choice but came back to be third in an unrestricted maiden special weight as the favorite and has experience over the rest of the field which is all first-time starts. (8) Full of Fire debuts for trainer Horatio DePaz who often has his debut runners ready to run well. (1) Bustinmygroove is a NY-bred filly by Laoban who has produced early winners from his first crop.

9^th race – (5) Thin White Duke switched back to the main track and broke his maiden in his fifth start in a NY-bred stakes race similar to this one. He will appreciate the added distance to seven-furlongs. (4) Eagle Orb ran second in his second start just a half-length behind the top choice. (7) Lookin for Trouble set the pace and finished third in that same race as the top two. (1) Half Right was a debut winner for Doug O’Neill by two-lengths in a race that was scheduled for the grass but was run on the main at Saratoga.

10^th race – (8) Money in the Bank (A) set the pace, battled down the stretch, and beat two horses but then was passed by the eventual winner in a $40,000 maiden claimer that came off the turf. He is scheduled to return to the grass for the same tag. (7) Fast Gordon rallied from behind to get the lead last time but was nipped at the wire and now gets an extra furlong on the grass. (5) Frat pushed the pace in a turf sprint at Saratoga and finished second for today’s $40,000 price. (1) Boom Boom Kaboom has consecutive thirds at this level and clearly fits with this bunch.

Best bets:  Blood Moon (1^st); Malibu Luna (7^th). Best value:  Thin White Duke (9^th); Money in the Bank (10^th).