Belmont Park Hotlist - September 26

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Saturday, September 26, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

3^rd race – (1) Jouster (A) was sent off the favorite in her debut for Todd Pletcher on a sloppy Saratoga track where she had the early lead. (5) Leia Marie made a marked improvement on the change from grass to the main track upstate and now stretches out to a mile from seven furlongs. (7) Jamsstar ran third behind the second choice above in her debut which was run in a very fast time. (6) American West was a $925,000 yearling purchase who makes her first start from the team of Chad Brown and Peter Brant.

4^th race – (3) Espresso Shot (B) was checked and steadied after getting rank when restrained in the early going in her first start after a five-month layoff and still finished second. The past stakes winner was entered for the grass that day but it was run on the main track at Saratoga. They try and get her on the grass again in this second level allowance. (2) Stone Tornado has a third and a second in her first two starts in America for Brown. She was Group 3 placed in Europe last year. (4) Simplicity won her debut in America which was also her first start in 2020 for Christophe Clement and Joel Rosario. (1) Tuned was last seen back in October winning her first start outside of Europe for Graham Motion at Keeneland.

5^th race – (10) Pivotal Run (B) ran a big race at odds of 53-1 in his debut for Michelle Nevin who is a trainer who does not usually have firsters run big. He had to steady after the start, had the lead in the stretch and finished second. (9) I’m Blaming You was well bet in his debut at Saratoga in a turf sprint and finished third in a fast race and now stretches out to two turns on the turf. (1) Chulainn gets blinkers on for his second start for Graham Motion after running behind the second choice. (3) Masked Marauder had a promising third in his first start for trainer Rob Atras and now switches to the turf.

9^th race – (2) Funny Guy (B) caught a sloppy track in the Forego (G1) and had to steady at the half mile mark but kept on to finish fourth in a race where the winner rallied from far back. This New York-bred comes back here in the Vosburgh (G2) and Rosario stays on board. (5) Firenze Fire returns to Belmont Park where he has always done his best running including a victory in the True North (G2) back in June and cuts back to six furlongs where he is a frequent winner. He was second by a nose in this race last year behind Imperial Hint. (6) Engage has been away from the races since running fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Since moving to the Steve Asmussen barn, he won two stakes races. He’ll ship up from Churchill Downs for the Vosburgh. (3) Stan the Man won the Tale of the Cat at Saratoga after a wide trip while rallying from a stalking position. He was second to Firenze Fire in the True North two races back.

Best bets: Jouster (3^rd); Funny Guy (9^th).                 Best value:  Espresso Shot (4^th); Pivotal Run (5^th).

@NYHotList Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special Pick 3 is on races 4-6:  1, 2, 3, 4, 7 with 10 with 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 = $30.