Belmont Park Hotlist - June 18

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, June 18, 2022 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.

2^nd race [Clm 30000 N2L, 1 1/16 TURF] – (4) Prayer Book (B) was hard held in the early going and then battled for second ending up third well ahead of the rest of the field. (8) Brazillionaire made his 2022 debut in a starter allowance and now drops back down to the N2L condition where he was third to end last year. (3) Born a Gambler will make his first start for Charlie Baker after racing in Florida starter allowances. (9) Seizing the Dream will move back to the turf following a February layoff for Barclay Tagg.

6^th race [Poker (G3), 1 mi TURF] – (1) Masen made two starts in America this year for Chad Brown with a second at Keeneland in a Grade 1 and then a win in the Seek Again at Belmont Park last month. Both races were at a mile on the Turf. (4) Public Sector won three graded stakes in a row last year, two at Belmont and one at Saratoga for Brown. (5) Wolfie’s Dynaghost was second in a Grade 2 stake at Gulfstream Park and then was third in the Seek Again after setting the pace. (2) Sanctuary City was second in his last three starts, all of which were this year and two were in stakes races including the Dangers Hour at Aqueduct in April in his first race of the year.

9^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 7F TURF] – (5) Mr. Kringle (B) returned to NY-bred company and rallied six-wide to get second just a length behind the winner last month. This field looks loaded with horses that want the lead so he should get a chance to use his closing move again. (4) Cotton improved to finish third in his first start of the year and gets the right pace scenario also. (7) Missionatthespa set very fast fractions in his return to Belmont bet faded to third going a mile. The cutback may help. (6) Spettro was another pace setter in his debut race of 2022.

10^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 3/8 mi TURF] – (7) Hooky Player (B) was second in his 2022 debut and now gets blinkers on as he moves back up to maiden special weight company. (5) Remote stumbled badly and lost rider Joel Rosario last time at odds of 3-1 for the Clement barn. He was fourth at Keeneland in April. (8) Hashtag No Wonder will make his first start at Belmont after running third at Churchill Downs last month going nine furlongs. (10) Good Medicine set the pace and finished second last time for Todd Pletcher racing ten furlongs at Belmont.

Best bets: Masen (6^th); Mr. Kringle (9^th). Best value: Prayer Book (2^nd); Hooky Player (10^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 8-10  à 3, 4, 5 with 4, 5 with 5, 7, 8, 10 = $24.