Belmont Park Hotlist - September 18

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, September 18, 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 Sp Wt, 7F TURF] – (2) Java Buzz (A) had a terrible start in his debut for Linda Rice when he was bumped and pinched back but still rallied to run second well ahead of the others. The winner came back to win his next start. (4) Dr Brownes Miracle will make his first career start for Jorge Abreu who is one of the best trainers of debut runners, currently winning with 25%. (6) Skylander is a Godolphin home-bred for Bill Mott out of a Grade 3 winning mare on the turf. (8) Figlio Del Re will make his first start. The son of Galileo is out of the $2.3 million earning mare I’m a Chatterbox and runs for Graham Motion.

3^rd race [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (6) Investment Income (B) will make her third start for Chad Brown and gets blinkers on after having to check sharply behind a horse that is running in the Jockey Club Oaks on this card. (2) Bipartisanship will make her American debut for Motion after last being seen running third in a Group 3 race in France as a maiden. (3) So Enchanting ran second or third in her four prior starts for Chad. (4) Mezcal set the pace in the same race as the Hot List horse and faded down the stretch in her second start for Todd Pletcher and Bobby Flay.

6^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6 ½ F] – (1) Hot Fudge (B) ran fourth as a well bet first-time starter for Linda Rice whose debut runners usually improve noticeably in their second starts. She now goes turf to dirt. (6) Frosted Oats ran third going long on the turf in a race with talented top two finishers. (8) Shared Future debuted on a muddy track against a strong field and then tried turf sprinting. Now, Steve Asmussen goes back to the dirt, no doubt hoping for a dry track. (2) Into Happiness is a home-bred with a fancy pedigree – Into Mischief out of a Grade 1 winning mare. She has an extensive work tab at Belmont Park.

8^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 6F] – (5) Out First (D) was bet down from 9-1 to 7-1 has she returned to the dirt which seems to be her best surface. (9) She’s Dancing won her debut against open company at Delaware Park by seven lengths beating a horse that came back to win her next start. (10) Snicket will return to the dirt which was where she broke her maiden for Christophe Clement. (1) Pretty Clever tried the turf after her maiden score at Belmont in July. She has early speed, the rail, and Kendrick Carmouche on board for Mark Casse.

Best bets:  Java Buzz (1^st); Investment Income (3^rd). Best value:  Hot Fudge (6^th); Out First (8^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 on races 6-8  à 1, 6, 8 with 5, 11 with 1, 5, 9, 10 = $24.