Belmont Park Hotlist - October 3

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, October 3, 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.

4^th race [Pilgrim (G2), 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) Annapolis (A) was a well-rated winner of his debut at Saratoga by more than four lengths as the favorite for Todd Pletcher. Irad Ortiz stays on board having ridden the second choice in his first two starts. (1) Portfolio Company won his first race at the Spa for Chad Brown and then came right back to finish second in the With Anticipation (G2). (4) Limited Liability began his career much like Portfolio Company with a debut win and then was third in the With Anticipation. (2) Midnight Worker will switch to the grass after winning his first start and then running second in the Sapling at Monmouth Park for Todd Pletcher.

5^th race [Md 50000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (9) Regal Empire (A) got bumped and steadied at the start and then raced wide in his debut in July for Mike Maker. (7) Great Britain was third in a maiden special weight at Colonial Downs for Graham Motion and makes that big drop into a maiden claimer. (2) Tommy Bee gets blinkers on for his second start after getting stuck in traffic for Brad Cox. (1) Reghitto will make his first career spot for John Terranova who places his horses smartly.

9^th race [Frizette (G1), 1 mi] – (2) A Mo Reay (A) was 6-1 in her debut for Todd Pletcher at Saratoga where she had to race eight-wide from 11 lengths behind, was moving the best of all, and missed the win by a half-length. (6) Echo Zulu is unbeaten in two starts at the Spa for Steve Asmussen including a four-length score in the Spinaway (G1). Her two speed figures tower over the rest of this field. (7) Jester Calls Nojoy won her second start by 10 lengths going seven furlongs for Todd Pletcher. (8) Gerrymander beat the Hot List horse to break her maiden in her second career start for Chad Brown.

10^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 6F] – (8) Blue Gator (C) ran second after setting the pace following a two-month layoff for Michael Maker and was bet down from 7-1 to 4-1. (5) Judge N Jury won a first-level allowance by more than eight lengths in his 2021 debut and then faced Jackie’s Warrior in the Jerkens (G1). (6) River Dog won his first two starts convincingly at Belmont and then also ran into Jackie’s Warrior in the Amsterdam (G2). (4) Saratoga Pal won his last two starts which came after a six-month layoff with improving speed figures.

Best bets:  Annapolis (4^th); Blue Gator (10^th). Best value: Regal Empire (5^th); A Mo Reay (9^th).