Belmont Park Hotlist - September 23

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, September 23, 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.

1^st race [Clm 35000 N3L, 6F] – (5) El Sobreviviente (B) was claimed out of his last two starts most recently by Rob Atras from a race where he ran very wide around the turn and still finished second. (1) Casalsa was a front-end winner of a N2L claimer and Luis Saez stays on board. (3) Golani Brigade was claimed from a similar spot last time by Jeff Englehart after running seven-wide coming out of the turn at Saratoga. (2) Devious Mo stays on the dirt for Rudy Rodriguez where she won her two races. On a good sealed track, she was third last time.

2^nd race [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (2) Street Vendor (A) broke a step slow, ended up last in the early going, and rallied for second in his debut for Todd Pletcher. (8) Flip the Script (B) couldn’t find clear running in his second start and lugged in badly in his recent start. (3) Fort Washington will debut for Shug McGaughey with turf breeding from War Front and a French-bred dam. (9) Napa Valley lost all chance at the break for Todd Pletcher when he reared up in a race that was won by the horse that was victorious in the Iroquois last weekend.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (10) Kingham Hill (B) got bumped hard out of the gate in his debut that was meant for the turf but was run on a fast main track at Saratoga. Excellent turf trainer David Donk hopes for the grass. (7) Excursionniste had to take up in his first start and finished third for trainer Mark Hennig, who doesn’t often win with firsters. (4) Sundaeswithsandy caught a muddy track in his debut and then was moved off the turf in race two. Rudy R. wants to get him on the grass. (1) Toga Dancer gets blinkers on for start number two for Michelle Nevin whose young runners often need a race.

6^th race [Alw 50000s, 7F TURF] – (6) Turn of Events (A) had the lead and finished a neck behind in his first start after the claim for George Weaver. (3) Actuary (D) got bet down from 9-1 to 5-1 and got claimed for $40,000 by Rob Atras. (7) Determined Fury was third and then second at this starter allowance level in two starts at Saratoga and gets a rider switch to Christophe Clement’s top jock Joel Rosario. (9) Ring of Fire was a maiden winner for a $50,000 tag in his first start since moving to the Atras barn.

Best bets:  El Sobreviviente (1^st); Street Vendor (2^nd). Best value: Kingham Hill (5^th); Turn of Events (6^th).