Saratoga Hot List - July 29

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Wednesday, July 29, 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.

2^nd race – (4) Belleza made her debut in a $40,000 NY-bred maiden claimer, had the lead in the stretch, and finished second for Linda Rice. She comes right back and drops a notch in class to $25,000. Rice has been placing her horses to win at Sarartoga. (7) Cross Keys was fourth in her debut in a maiden special weight after setting the pace, cuts back in distance, and drops into this claimer. (8) Miss Ross hit the board a number of times at this level including last time when she ran third. (9) Whippy Cream gets blinkers on in her first start for new trainer Jorge Abreu after a poor showing against open company at Tampa Bay Downs.

4^th race – (1A) Ashiham has two seconds since he moved to Todd Pletcher’s barn from Kiaran McLaughlin. He actually cuts back in distance a bit for this nine-furlong maiden special weight. (4) Lucky Asset was second at Keeneland last time going seven furlongs. (6) Vicarage was second last time when he switched to the dirt at Tampa. Now, Joel Rosario gets on board for Christophe Clement and that duo is very hot right now. (3) First Line ran second and then third in two MSW sprints and now stretches out for Orlando Noda.

5^th race – (4) Classic Lady (C) missed the top prize by a nose in a NY-bred stake at the beginning of the month at Belmont Park after getting bet down from 10-1 to 6-1 and comes back in a similar spot on the turf. (2) Wegetsdamunnys (D) faced open company in her last four starts including an allowance win at Belmont. Last race she got bet down from 6-1 to 7-2. She has hit the board against NY-breds in the past. (1) War Canoe ran third behind the top choice in her 2020 debut for Chad Brown after having the lead in the stretch. (7) Vortex Road has three seconds in a row in open company allowances coming into this race and is likely to be on the lead in the early going.

7^th race – (1) Backtohisroots (C) took late money from 16-1 to 11-1 in his first start after the Covid-19 break when he was third sprinting in a turf allowance. (4) Sayyaaf set the pace and finished second behind the top choice after a six-month layoff for Chad Brown. (10) Kitten’s Cat was taken for $32,000 by Linda Rice after winning that open claimer. Jose Ortiz stays on board. (3) Readyforprimetime makes his 2020 debut for Rice after last being seen winning an allowance at Laurel Park back in October. He broke his maiden at Saratoga last summer.

Best bets:  Ashiham (4^th); Classic Lady (5^th). Best value:  Belleza (2^nd); Backtohisroots (7^th).