Saratoga Hot List - July 15

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Friday, July 15, 2022 at Saratoga – Day 2
                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.

3^rd race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (8) Rush to Honor (B) twice entered to run on the turf including most recently at Belmont Park when he raced six-wide, got the lead, and finished second on a sloppy track. (4) Biondi has shown plenty of early speed this year when setting the pace and hitting the board both times. The blinkers will come off now which might help him relax on the lead. (6) Uragano made an improved effort in his first start on the grass last time for Kelly Breen. (1) Your Mission returns from a winter layoff for Todd Pletcher as a new gelding with first-time Lasix.

4^th race [Md 20000, 6F] – (1) Actualize, who was claimed originally for $40,000 from his debut, will now drop down from four starts at the maiden special weight level. In five starts he has yet to run on a fast track. (7) Suppressor ran 11 days ago following a couple of months off, set the pace, and finished third. He will drop down a notch. (8) Marco Polo tried the turf after getting claimed for $50,000 by Linda Rice and now moves back to the main track where he has a pair of seconds. (6) Just Like This debuted on the grass for Brad Cox going a mile and now cuts back in distance, gets blinkers on, and first-time Lasix.

6^th race [NY, OC45/N2X, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (7) Ruse (B) broke through the gate, got the lead, and then missed the win by only a nose in a similar spot at Belmont. (3) Ghost Giant ran against open company for his last three starts and moves back to NY-bred competition while exercising the claiming option. He was second by a neck the last time he ran at this level. (5) Straw Into Gold was second at this allowance condition in his last two starts which were for Christophe Clement. (8) Barrage was a winner in a first-level allowance in his first start of the year which was for a new trainer in Ray Handal. He broke his maiden at Saratoga last year.

8^th race [Coronation Cup, 5½ F TURF] – (3) Twilight Gleaming has never run worse than second in seven starts including a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) and a second at Royal Ascot in the Queen Mary (G2) in a field of 21. (8) Poppy Flower won a stakes race at Laurel in his second start of the year for Bill Mott with a late rally. (4) Artos was just a head behind the top choice and was second following the second choice. (7) Static Fire is unbeaten in two starts including her debut at the Spa last year on the turf. She began this year with a dirt allowance win at Churchill Downs.

Best bets:  Actualize (4^th); Twilight Gleaming (8^th). Best value:  Rush to Honor (3^rd); Ruse (6^th).