Belmont Park Hotlist - September 24

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, September 24, 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 – (9) Classic Colors (B) was a close third in her turf debut even after a poor start where she broke last. That race was at Saratoga against open company and now trainer Christophe Clement returns her to NY-bred competition. (5) Mendham was heavily bet in her debut for Todd Pletcher but that race came off the turf and was run on the main at the Spa and she will get on the grass now. (4) Lyn B is a first-time starter for Clement that sold for $250,000. Clement is an outstanding trainer with firsters winning at 26%. (1) Chasing Cara/(1A) Cara’s Dreamer make a strong entry for trainer Mitch Friedman.

6^th race – (3) Tangerine Dream (B) was third in her debut after a stumbled start in a race that came off the grass in which she ran against the race flow and now she stays on the dirt. (10) Sweeter (D) was fourth in the same race as the top choice while getting bet down to 7-2. (8) Siesta Kew showed speed in her debut, had the lead, and finished third for Michael Maker. (9) Ten Plagues is a daughter of American Pharoah who sold for $180,000 in March and will make her first start for Rick Schosberg who has done well with quality 2-year-olds.

7^th race – (11) Square Shooter (B) made a rare appearance on the dirt and had the lead in the stretch and finished second. She was claimed out of that race for $12,500 by Rob Atras who moves him back to the grass and steps him up in class to $25,000. (3) Kitten’s Cat was claimed out of a third-place effort for $25,000 by Jeremiah Englehart. Back in June, he won a $32,000 claimer at Belmont Park. (1) War Stoll has been racing in Maryland for the most part with wins in his last two starts. This veteran won two of his three races at Belmont. (8) Coltandmississippi drops down in class closer to the $20,000 at which he was claimed two starts ago and gets a favorable set up for a closing move.

9^th race – (2) Queens Embrace is the winner of half of her 10 starts. She was third in the Lake Placid (G2) at Saratoga and now drops into an optional claimer while exercising the $80,000 claiming price. (4) Capital Structure won her debut for Chad Brown at Monmouth Park in July by two lengths at odds of 6-1 which indicates that must have been a quality field. (3) Crystalle makes her 2020 debut after a 2-yar-old year in which she won a stakes race at Saratoga and appeared in the Breeders’ Cup. (5) Logic N Reason makes her third start of the year for Clement with Joel Rosario getting back on board.

Best bets:  Classic Colors (2^nd); Tangerine Dream (6^th). Best value:  Square Shooter (7^th); Queens Embrace (9^th).