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Keeneland Select

Belmont Park Hotlist - July 9

                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 4th or worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

2nd race [Clm 14000B, 6F] – (2) Liberty Flame set the pace, finished third last time for a $25,000 tag, and is projected to be on the lead. (5) Just a Nyquist moved from turf to dirt hoping for a dry track after three starts for a $35,000 claiming price. Her last win was on Aqueduct main track. (1) Simple Sugar made her 2023 debut for a $25,000 price and is the only horse in her trainer’s barn. (6) Luna Loca was claimed for $40,000 by Linda Rice two races back in May at Belmont Park.

4th race [Md 40000, 6F TURF] – (6) Variable Cost was claimed for $40,000 by Linda Rice from her first start when she finished second for Chad Brown. She was then third in her next race for a $75,000 tag. (4) Kasimba was third in all three starts while being part of the early pace and now switches to the turf after two starts at Monmouth Park. (7) Luna Warrior had the lead in the stretch and missed the win by a neck at Belmont.

6th race [Clm 30000 N2L, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (1) Ghostlyprince (B) had to wait behind the leader and moved well after getting clear. (7) Paratus closed from last to miss the win by a nose in his second start following a layoff. (3) Spettro made a big improvement in his second start of the year when he set the pace and finished third with an increased speed figure. (9) Most Wanted Man got his maiden victory in a $25,000 maiden claimer two races ago.

7th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 6F] – (3) You’re My Girl will make her first start of 2023 after debuting with a win at Saratoga last year and then getting second in the Frizette (G1) which came before the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). (1) Miss Stones won at first asking at Aqueduct in April and then pressed the pace in an allowance. (7) I’mhavingamonent tried the turf in her last two races and moves back to the dirt. (9) Athena Beach won all four of her races which happened at Penn National who will now face state-breds for the first time.

Best bets: Liberty Flame (2nd); You’re My Girl (7th). Best value: Variable Cost (4th); Ghostlyprince (6th).

No.NameLetter/
last race
Today's RaceComments
(1)GhostlyprinceB on 6/156Had to wait behind the leader and moved once clear.