Saratoga Hot List - July 26

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, July 26, 2020 at Saratoga
                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.

4^th race – (1) Justin Front (D) made his first start since the Aqueduct meeting when he was fourth in a starter allowance while bet down from 5-1 to 5-2. This is a $40,000 open claimer. (2) Victory Boulevard was a winner at Aqueduct for a $32,000 tag and then a starter allowance back in February and since then tried much tougher company. Irad Oriz takes the mount here at the Spa. (6) The Great Dansky won a $40,000 N2L claimer at Oaklawn Park for Brad Cox and then tried a starter allowance at Churchill Downs last month. (3) Double Shot returned from a February layoff to try the turf for David Donk. That was not to his liking so it’s back to the dirt where he won a maiden special weight against NY-breds.

6^th race – (3) Logic N Reason (B) made her 2020 debut last month for red hot trainer Christophe Clement in a first-level turf allowance but had a difficult trip when she had to steady on the heels of an opponent while in traffic around the eighth poll. (1) Jazzique was a very promising debut winner last summer at Saratoga for Chad Brown. She then ran third in the Miss Grillo (G3) before going on the shelf until last month when she was third in a turf allowance like today’s race. Irad stays on board. (6) Witez finished second in a Grade 2 last year and now seeks some class relief in this spot for Ian Wilkes. (11) Cost Benefit was a debut winner for Chad Brown last month as a favorite at Belmont Park. Expect this filly to improve after that front-end victory.

7^th race – (8) Fast Getaway (C) won the highest allowance condition for NY-breds last time out for Linda Rice but he is still eligible for the open company first-level allowance. He will try that spot for the first time with speed figures as good as any horse in the field. (6) Morning Breez has hit the board in 8 of his last nine 9 starts on both the dirt and the turf, today’s race is on the grass. (7) American Mandate returns to the turf here for Steve Asmussen where he ran second in an allowance last year. He’s been camera shy but is always right there at the end of the race. (2) Jake Rocks ran in a super-fast turf sprint last time when he returned to the barn of David Donk for whom he broke his maiden.

8^th race – (2) Happy Saver (A) was an ultra-impressive debut winner for Todd Pletcher going seven furlongs at Belmont Park last month. He is a well-bred son of Super Saver who should have no trouble stretching out to nine furlongs. (3) High Amplitude has been heavily bet in his last four races and has hit the board in all five starts with excellent speed figures for Chad Brown. (5) Beau Luminarie rallied from behind in a nine furlong allowance at Churchill last month and missed the win by part of a length. (4) Amani’s Eagle broke his maiden at Churchill last time for Asmussen going 9.5 furlongs so we know this guy will have not any trouble with the distance.

Best bets:  Fast Getaway (7^th); Happy Saver (8^th). Best value:  Justin Front (4^th); Logic N Reason (6^th).