Belmont Park Hotlist - October 23

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, October 23, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

3^rd race [Md Sp Wt, 6F TURF] – (9) Radiant Gem (A) was wrestled back under heavy restraint in his debut for David Donk and then rallied from last to third. He gets a rider change. (8) Lia Marina was third in her first career start for Christophe Clement behind a talented winner and a filly that came back to her next start. (1) Splitsecondsonny will cut back from a mile to today’s distance after a pair of fourth-place finishes. She began her career for Chad Brown and now goes for Horatio DePaz. (7) Always Connected will make her first start for George Weaver who is having a strong fall meeting at Belmont Park. She was a $150,000 purchase in March.

4^th race [Clm 16000 N2L, 6F] – (10) Irish Giant will make his second start following a layoff for Linda Rice who drops him out of a starter allowance to this level where two races back he ran second in May at Belmont. (5) Papa Smooth makes his first after being claimed by Orlando Noda from a similar race back in July at Saratoga. He has early speed. (9) Noctilucent was taken up when he was pressing the pace last time and lost his momentum. (11) War of Thrones was a maiden special weight winner at Finger Lakes and contended in N2L allowances after that. He has now changed to the barn of Joseph Parker.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (12) Excursionniste (A) was cut off and checked at the start of his second race, had to rally into a slow pace, and finished second in his initial try on the grass. (6) Maseta was wrestled back in his debut for Linda Rice and he rallied for third. Typically, Rice’s young horses are at their best in their second start. (4) Sir John was fourth in the race with the top choice in his first start for Bill Mott and he gets a rider change to Luis Saez. (8) Nikostratos will make his first start for Jonathan Thomas who has excellent numbers with his debuting horses.

6^th race [Alw 50000s, 6F TURF] – (3) Repo Rocks (A) got claimed two races back and was then second at this level when he raced wide against an inside bias. He had the lead, got nailed at the wire, and will make his second start on the grass. (5) Ring of Fire has two excellent starts since moving to the grass with a maiden win and then a second at today’s level. (10) Cousin Andrew was claimed for $30,000 by Linda Rice who brings him right back in a week after finishing second. (1) Determined Fury also made a significant improvement after switching to the turf for Clement. He has a trio of top three finishes in his most recent races.

Best bets:  Irish Giant (4^th); Excursionniste (5^th). Best value:  Radiant Gem (3^rd); Repo Rocks (6^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 on races 3-5  à 8, 9 with 5, 9, 10 with 4, 6, 12 = $18.