Belmont Park Hotlist - May 28

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, May 28, 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 25000 N3L, 7F] – (3) The Big Grey (B) was claimed out of his first start in New York for $14,000 after breaking slowly and then rallying to get second beaten by only neck. (5) Secret Rules makes a very big drop down from second-level allowance races to this restricted claimer. He has consistently shown speed and then faded against the tough competition. (6) Dangerous Edge was claimed for $35,000 and will drop down for the new trainer. (4) Spectatorless moves back to the dirt which appears to be his best surface and gets a bit of class relief.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi TURF] – (7) Full Count Felicia (C) came back from a winter layoff and ran second behind a filly that would win her next start. She was bet down to be the favorite from 4-1. (10) I’m Glad rallied very wide in her debut at Keeneland last month when she closed for second by less than a length for Jonathan Thomas. (3) With Bells On had the lead in the stretch in her first start for Todd Pletcher and finished third. (1) Libretto gets blinkers on for her second start after a third in her debut at Aqueduct last month for Jorge Abreu.

7^th race [NY, Alw 80000 N1X, 1 1/16 TURF] – (9) Barrage (D) has been off for the winter and now changes barns after his last start when he was bet down from 6-1 to 4-1 at the Big A. (5) Rally Squirrel returned to NY-bred racing on the turf, set the pace, and then finished second. (10) The Man to See ships up from Maryland where he made his first three starts including two good efforts on the grass. Now, he will face state-bred competition for the first time after the winter off. (4) Lord Flintshire returned from a winter break and had traffic problems at the quarter pole.

10^th race [NY, Md 40000, 6F TURF] – (6) Two Down (B) made his debut just two weeks ago and used a late rally to get up from third less than a length behind the winner. (8) Sharp Sensation dropped into a NY-bred race and crossed the line in first but was disqualified for bumping in the stretch. (10) Martinez was third in a dirt race after nine months off and was claimed for $25,000. The new trainer moves him back to the grass where he ran well against better competition. (4) Eminency will try the grass for the first time after four seconds this winter.

Best bets: Barrage (7^th); Two Down (10^th). Best value: The Big Grey (2^nd); Full Count Felicia (5^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 8-10 and includes the Soaring Softly (G3) à 2, 3, 5, 9 with 8 with 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 = $20.