Belmont Park Hotlist - October 7

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, October 7, 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.

2^nd race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 1 mi] – (2) I’m Perfect Too broke her maiden against open company in her second start earning a speed figure that tops this field and now returns to face NY-bred winners. (3) I’m Fine returned from a five-month layoff and gets a favorable rider change. (7) Pretty Clever ran well in all three of her starts on the Belmont Park main track including a third at this level last time out. (5) Vienna Code makes her second start following a three-month break. She will need to improve a bit this time out to be competitive for the win.

3^rd race [Clm 40000 N2L, 6F] – (6) Twelth Man will return since having run last at Aqueduct. Last fall, he was in excellent form with three races that would beat this field. He will drop into a N2L spot for the first time. (7) Life Changer was a debut winner in the summer of 2020 who ran third in an allowance at Saratoga this summer and will make his first start in a N2L claimer. (4) Trash Talker gets blinkers on and returns to this condition as Linda Rice looks for a winning spot. (3) Slambone broke his maiden in Florida in his first career start and then tried the turf at Saratoga.

5^th race [NY, Md 50000, 6F] – (3) Saratoga Kisses made a big improvement to run second while back on the dirt against open company in a maiden claimer for the same tag. (6) Bells On Her Toes drops into a claimer in her second start which is a very successful move for trainer Charlie Baker. (2) Half Birthday has winning connections as this $20,000 purchase starts her career for $50,000. (4) My First Love ships up from Parx for a trainer with good stats with runners in for a tag to start for the first time.

8^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 6F] – (1) Byhubbyhellomoney cuts back to a sprint after winning a two-turn NY-bred stakes race. Cutbacks are preferred when the horse has had success sprinting already and this filly won her debut at six furlongs. (3) The Important One uncorked a huge performance last time to win an off the turf allowance by five lengths at Saratoga for Steve Asmussen. (6) Shaker Shack got claimed out of a win against open company for $32,000 last time and is a past stake winner against state-breds. (10) Irish Constitution draws the outside in a field loaded with early speed which might just force her to run from off the pace and is 8-1 on the morning line.

Best bets:  I’m Perfect Too (2^nd); Twelth Man (3^rd). Best value: Saratoga Kisses (5^th); Byhubbyhellomoney (8^th).