Belmont Park Hotlist - October 22

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, October 22, 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 – (4) No Lime gets an advantageous pace set-up in a field loaded with what appears to be early speed. He makes his first appearance after running second at Saratoga and being claimed by Linda Rice. He will try this starter allowance that is restricted to 3-year-olds and will be running late. (5) Saratoga Pal ran a field-high speed figure two races back when he broke his maiden against NY-breds. Last time he was third going a mile at Belmont Park in a starter allowance and now cuts back to 6.5 furlongs. (2) Bernin’ Thru Gold returns as a new gelding from a July layoff with a slight class advantage against the rest of this field. (7) Advance Notice was a rare debut winner for Mike Maker at the end of the Saratoga meeting. In his second start he pressed the pace in that mile starter allowance.

4^th race – (6) Me and Mr. C (C) was bet down to favoritism and was a winner for a $32,000 tag for Mike Maker after being hard to handle in the early going. He comes back for $50,000 while staying on the turf in a race restricted to 3-year-olds. (7) Doubly Blessed (B) had a tight trip last time along the hedge and finished third in the same race as the top choice. (8) Dynadrive was claimed two races back for $40,000 by Kelly Breen who then sent him to a Kentucky Downs stake where he was overmatched. Breen has been improving horses off the claim. (3) Arithmetic was in tough spots in two Saratoga allowances after getting claimed from a second place finish at Belmont for $40,000.

5^th race – (3) Kickin’ Kirby did his best running in sprint races that were mixed in with a few routes both on the turf and the dirt. Nick Zito has two wins at this meeting and may have found this guy the right field here. (1) Market Impact/(1A) Joint and Several make an entry where both horses are a threat in this field for Jorge Abreu and Klaravich Stable. (5) Tri Saint Lorenzo is like the top choice in that sprinting is where he fits best and this may be the spot for him to finally get a win. (7) Warfront Fighter did not appreciate the experiment on the grass last time out and now is back on the main track.

6^th race – (2) Ceant (A) debuted against the boys and then most recently had a bad trip at Belmont against other fillies where she had to steady when the hole closed as she was making a strong move. She still managed to finish just a length out of the top spot. (5) Lady Rosalie ran second at Laurel last time ahead of a filly that came back to win her next start and now has top rider Irad Ortiz in the saddle. (7) All American Dream debuted at Belmont last month in a turf sprint for Graham Motion and was bet down to 6-1 in what looked like a race to gain experience. She returns going a route on the grass which should suit this son of American Pharoah and an A.P. Indy mare. (9) Apurate flashed a lot of talent last year as a 2-year-old for Todd Pletcher and made a big improvement when she moved back to the turf in her second start of 2020.

Best bets:  Me and Mr. C (4^th); Ceant (6^th). Best value:  No Lime (2^nd); Kickin’ Kirby (5^th).