Belmont Park Hotlist - October 9

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, October 9, 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.

1^st race [Md 25000, 1 mi] – (6) Malibu Anthem (B) was washed out and upset pre-race last time out at Saratoga and now drops down a notch with past speed figures that top this field. (5) Strong Point ran poorly on a sloppy track but the race before finished second and, now also, drops down. (4) Matoula gets a rider trainer change to Patrick Reynolds who can improve a horse. She returns from a May layoff with a fourth in her debut at Aqueduct in April. (1) Elegant Laoban returns to the dirt where she has run best and finds a weak field where she will be a longshot.

4^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (5) Matt Doyle (A) will make his second start after getting bumped in his debut and rallied from last to finish fifth. He finds a small field filled with first-timers. (4) Chanceux will make his debut for Todd Pletcher as the first foal from a dam who won $912,000 on the track as a Grade 1 winner. (3) Sky and Sand sold for $375,000 as a 2-year-old in March and now makes his first start for Steve Asmussen who is always dangerous with these kind. (6) Fishing for Fun switches to the barn of Rudy Rodriguez after three board-hitting finishes at Gulfstream Park this summer.

5^th race [Vosburgh (G2), 6F] – (3) Baby Yoda was a first out winner at Pimlico and then was private purchase after running third in an allowance. He was moved to trainer Bill Mott and since has two big wins including an allowance at Saratoga that earned one of the highest Beyer Speed Figures (114) of the year. (4) Firenze Fire won this race last year as part of his stellar record at Belmont Park – 11: 7-2-0. Last time, he lost by a head in the Forego (G1) after trying to savage the winner several times nearing the wire. (5) Following Sea finds a much more suitable spot after tough fields in his last two. (1) Jalen Journey was placed first by disqualification in the DeFrancis (G3) at Laurel last time for Steve Asmussen.

6^th race [Matron (G3), 6F TURF] – (4) Lady Danae (A) was a fast winner of her debut at Saratoga for Joe Sharp. In her next start in a stake at Kentucky Downs she had to race wide on a grass course that was favoring the inside. (8) Chi Town Lady is unbeaten in two starts for Wesley Ward with a stakes win at Saratoga after stumbling at the break. (7) Bubble Rock had an impressive maiden victory for Brad Cox in her most recent start which was at the Spa. (6) Makin My Move won her first start on the dirt against NY-breds by more than 12 lengths and since then has worked three times on the grass.

Best bets:  Malibu Anthem (1^st); Baby Yoda (5^th). Best value:  Matt Doyle (4^th); Lady Danae (6^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 on races 4-6 includes the Vosburgh (G2) and the Matron (G3)  à 3, 4, 5 with 3, 4 with 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 = $30.