Belmont Park Hotlist - September 20

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, September 20, 2020 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 – (4) Harris Bay ran third and then second in two starts at Saratoga in these first-level sprint allowance races for New York-breds with strong speed figures for this kind. (6) Riken has early speed and returns to Belmont Park where he has done his best running including two wins against open company earlier in the year. (5) Stanhope will get Lasix for the first time, cut back in distance, switch from turf to dirt in his second start of the year for trainer Brad Cox. (1) Inside Info moves back to the dirt for Linda Rice and retains the services of jockey Luis Saez who had other options in the race.

7^th race – (8) Translate (B) was claimed for $40,000 in her debut at Belmont back in June when she had the lead and then finished second. New trainer Ron Falcone brings her in a maiden special weight and leaves her on the turf. (12) Aparate makes her second start of 2020 for Todd Pletcher after racing on the main track at Saratoga. Now she switches back to the grass where she ran well last year. (9) Zaccapa will make her third start in America for Brad Cox after coming over from France. Her first start at Belmont was promising. (5) Yes to Mischief was entered to make her second start on the turf but it was moved to the main track at the Spa. She flashed speed in that race and now will get to try the grass.

8^th race – (6) Duress (D) will cut back to a turf sprint in his third start of the year in another first-level allowance. He was bet down from 9-1 to 7-1 in his last start and will get a favorable pace scenario. (2) French Reef was an impressive front end maiden winner for Chad Brown in his 2020 debut as a heavy favorite at Saratoga. (4) Fiya ships up from Laurel after two speedy turf sprint wins and now has a perfect record on the grass. (8) Cryogenic should get plenty of speed to set up his closing move. He gets back on the grass where he does his best running.

10^th race – (9) La Negrita (B) had to check when she ran up on the heels of a horse in traffic at the quarter pole. She has three seconds in a row at this $16,000 N2L claiming level. (7) Classy Sadie (C) was third last time when she dropped into a N2L condition for the first time. She was bet down from 9-1 to 6-1 in that race after being affected by a horse that bolted. (1) Central Exit broke her maiden in her first start for $25,000 under the care of Jeremiah Englehart. (5) Gesture was a $240,000 purchase last year who was claimed last time out in a race where she ran third after having to steady in the stretch. New trainer Michael Maker cuts her back to six furlongs.

Best bets:  Harris Bay (2^nd); Translate (7^th). Best value:  Duress (8^th); La Negrita (10^th).