Belmont Park Hotlist - June 18

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, June 18, 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.

1^st race – (2) Sky Queen (B) made her second career start in a maiden special weight for Kelly Breen. She broke well and prompted the pace while racing three to four wide, while once again going a mile. She had a narrow lead at the stretch call but then finished second while running a couple of lengths ahead of the rest of the field. (5) Yellow Brick Road (D) made her debut in what turned out to be a very strong maiden special weight for trainer John Kimmel. The $230,000 2-year-old purchase came into the race with a couple of fast workouts and flashed a bit of a middle move and tired down the stretch. She may appreciate more distance. (4) Thankful debuted for Todd Pletcher on the turf and raced wide on both turns. The one-turn mile and a sixteenth on the dirt may make the difference. (1) Sneer appears to have hated the sloppy track last time at Gulfstream with a top figure in her prior race for Christophe Clement.

2^nd race – (5) Invest (B) made his first start since being claimed for $25,000 from a second in a N2L race by Jason Servis. Even though he was moved up to a starter allowance, he was bet to be the even money favorite. He was bumped out of the gate, ran second for a half-mile or so and then faded to finish fifth. He is now with Brad Cox after being removed from indicted trainer Servis. (9) Sneads (D) had just won a $20,000 maiden claimer by more than seven lengths for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and was stepping up to a $30,000 N2L condition. The step up to face winners is tough and he went for a higher tag than his maiden score which made the task even harder. Still, he was bet down from 9-1 to 7-1 and he flashed a bit of early speed. Now he’s in an appropriate $16,000 N2L claimer. (3) Prince of New York (C) stepped up from a $40,000 maiden claiming victory against NY-breds to face open company in a N2L $16,000 claiming condition. He was bet down from 8-1 to 6-1, set the pace until coming out of the turn, and finished second. (10) Yes for Less has been racing in starter allowances and now finally drops to the N2L level.

5^th race – (3) Jerome Avenue (C) was second last time after being heavily bet. He broke badly and had to race wide throughout and now returns to the turf where he has won in the past. (9) Shiraz returns from a November layoff and drops into the N3L condition with the top speed figure in the field in his last start. (6) Cabinet Pik makes his 2020 debut after last racing at Laurel in September. The seven furlongs looks like a good distance as he returns to the restricted condition. (2) Impazible Odds makes his second start of the year after returning just 11 days ago. His last win came in restricted company.

10^th race – (11) Devils Rendezvous (D) made her second career start while switching to the grass after getting well bet in that debut race where she ran fifth. Once again, she was bet down, this time from 8-1 to 5-1 but faded badly after contesting the pace for six furlongs. Trainer Gary Contessa retired and she is now in the barn of his top assistant. She drops into a maiden claimer for the first time. (1) Big Red Girl makes her turf debut as she returns to NY-bred company and gets a favorable rider change. (3) Little Red Button debuts for Monmouth Park based trainer John Stephens. She is out of a mare who has produced seven winners from eight starters, including two that earned $39K and $241K. (6) Abby Normal makes her 2020 debut and the very consistent runner is likely to hit the board. [(13) Dream Chasing will become the fourth choice if she draws in from the Also Eligible list.]

Best bets:  Invest (2^nd); Jerome Avenue (5^th).  Best value:  Sky Queen (1^st); Devils Renezvous (10^th).