Saratoga Hotlist - August 12

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Thursday, August 12, 2021 at Saratoga – Day 21
                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) Chocolate Cookie (A) stumbled badly with her nose to the ground in her 2021 debut for Todd Pletcher and still rallied for third, beaten by less than two lengths. (2) Mischievous Dream (C) was second at Belmont Park in June with a closing move when she was bet down from 4-1 to 2-1 while getting Lasix for the first. Prior to this move to race against NY-breds, she was running against open company in stakes for Christophe Clement. (7) Kreesie was a winner at this condition last time at Belmont where she was taken for $45,000 and comes back in the same kind of race exercising the claiming option. (5) Spungie got a big speed figure winning a first level state-bred allowance for Bill Mott at Belmont.

7^th race [Clm 16000 N2L, 7F] – (12) East Wing (B) had the lead briefly but had to check on the inside and the rider gave up at that point. She now gets blinkers on and drops down in claiming price. (5) Amity Island was second in her last two starts for higher claiming prices and gets a rider switch to Luis Saez. (2) Thief of Hearts broke her maiden for $30,000 at Churchill Downs in June for Tom Amoss and then tried a tough starter allowance. Now, she moves to the right spot. (1) Hollywood Gina got her first victory for $40,000 in the winter at Aqueduct and she, too, tried a starter allowance for Danny Gargan.

9^th race [NY, Alw 90000 N1X, 5 ½ F TURF] – (6) Fractorzation (B) hopped at the start of her last race as a filly that needs the lead. (4) Carnarsie Angel won against open company two races back and then did no running on a muddy track at Saratoga at the beginning of the meeting for hot trainer Rob Atras. (2) Athena Dancer will make her 2021 debut after breaking her maiden at Aqueduct in November. Her year ended with a failed effort on the dirt in a NY-bred stake. (1) Uncle’s Gem was a front-end maiden winner in her most recent start for Linda Rice and Irad. Breaking from the inside post Ortiz should go to the lead again.

10^th race [Md 75000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) Amano (D) was heavily supported at betting windows when he was last seen in October for Chad Brown. He makes his 2021 debut as a new gelding while in for a tag for the first time. (2) I Am the Law returns to the turf where two races back he made his lone try on the grass finishing third. Though still a maiden, he ran in the Peter Pan (G3) in May. (4) Group Hug made one start on the grass and it was a good one back in February at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Mike Maker had him entered for the grass last time, but it went on the mud instead and he ran third. (5) Royal Tryst made his first turf try last race and it was the best of his career. This will be the third start of this year for this Kenny Mc Peek runner.

Best bets:  Chocolate Cookie (4^th); Amano (10^th). Best value:  East Wing (7^th); Fractorzation (9^th).