Belmont Park Hotlist - October 24

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, October 24, 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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

7^th race [Clm 16000 N2L, 6F] – (7) East Wing (B) had the lead, got checked at the half-mile pole, and then the rider did not try to compete at that point. She has been off since June but has been entered a few times. (8) Miss Peppina was claimed for $25,000 in August at Saratoga after running fourth behind two horses that came back to win. (3) Bustinmygroove was claimed from a second-place finish in September at Saratoga at this same level. (5) Charlotte Webley stays on the main track and drops down from a $25,000 tag with lots of top three finishes.

8^th race [Alw 50000s, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (11) Exotic West (B) lacked room, had to steady, and gets a needed rider change. (8) Command Point was second by a neck in a similar spot at Belmont Park just three weeks ago in her second start since moving to the George Weaver barn. (1) Lido Key missed the win by a nose in a high-level open claimer after a nine-month layoff for Mike Maker. (2) Ocean Air makes her second start since being claimed for $40,000 by Bruce Brown. Last time, she was part of a blanket finish at this level.

9^th race [Point of Entry, 1 ½ mi TURF] – (1) Tide of the Sea won the 12-furlong Japan Cup Turf at Laurel in his last start for Mike Maker who excels in these long-distance turf races. (3) Bluegrass Parkway is another one from Maker who tried the Canadian International (G1) following a win in the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup Preview that was run at Ellis Park. (2) Shamrocket was third in the Bowling Green (G2) at Saratoga this summer and is frequently prominent at the finish. (5) Beacon Hill was third in a rare N3X allowance at Keeneland in his last start after winning an allowance at Laurel for trainer Michael Matz of Barbaro fame.

10^th race [NY, Md 25000, 6F] – (10) Flipping Fun (C) was bet down from 5-1 to 3-1 and finished third while racing against open company. He finished in the top three in 5 out his last 6 starts. (2) Remembermom cuts back from a mile where he was second after setting the pace also against open company at Belmont. (5) Kaden ran against maiden special weights in his first two races and now makes the big drop into the claiming ranks for Jeremiah Englehart. He pressed the pace in those two starts before dropping back. (8) Distractandattack will stay on the main track which seems to be his better surface and drops down a notch after running third last time out.

Best bets:  East Wing (7^th); Tide of the Sea (9^th). Best value: Exotic West (8^th); Flipping Fun (10^th).