Saratoga Hotlist - August 11

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Thursday, August 11, 2022 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 [NY, OC45k/N2X, 1 mi TURF] – (1) Ghost Giant (D) lacked room and was steadied after getting bet down from 19-1 to 14-1 and eventually finished fourth beaten by just a length. (3) Ruse (B) raced wide in the early going, pressed the fast pace, got the lead, but came up empty down the stretch. (2) Barrage (C) moved up from an allowance win for Ray Handal and rallied to finish second while getting bet from 17-1 to 13-1. (8) Not Phar Now is projected to be on the lead after a decisive win in an open claiming race for a $32,000 tag.

7^th race [Clm 40000, 1 1/8 mi] – (1) Air Attack (B) returned from a three-month layoff for Rob Atras in a similar spot. He was slow to get in stride, dropped back to last, and rallied to miss the top spot by a nose while finishing well ahead of the rest of the field. He was claimed for $40,000 but it was voided. (6) Claytnthelionheart made a big improvement in his second start of the year. He is the winner of 3 races at Saratoga with a pair of seconds from 6 starts. (4) Kershaw was claimed for $20,000 after running second. Irad stays on board for a trainer wins at high percentage with horses new to his barn. (3) Pioneer Spirit has a chance to be the pacesetter. He already has run twice at the Spa, second both times.

9^th race [Galway, 5½ F TURF] – (10) Derrynane (B) was fractious in the gate for the Coronation Cup at Saratoga opening weekend, then had to steady twice, but still rallied for third. (6) Breeze Easy (B) took tons of pace pressure, fought hard to get the lead, but eventually succumbed to late runners for third. (7) Empress Tiger is unbeaten in two starts for Jonathan Thomas with a maiden win at Woodbine and then the turf Coronation Cup at Saratoga. (1) Poppy Flower was second in that Saratoga stake after winning one at Laurel in June for Bill Mott.

10^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 1 mi TURF] – (7) Can’t Fool Me (C) broke from the far outside in a full field, rallied from far back to finish a close second in his second start of the year for Horacio DePaz. He was bet down from 19-1 to 11-1. (9) Jocosity likely needed a race as is often the case with Bill Mott firsters. This one went off at 9-1. (11) Succulent will make his third start following improved efforts for David Donk. (1) Twist Just Right will return from March layoff for Jorge Abreu’s barn which started to win again last week. Blinkers come off which is a positive stat.

Best bets:  Air Attack (7^th); Derrynane (9^th). Best value: Ghost Giant (4^th); Can’t Fool Me (10^th).