Saratoga Hotlist - August 12

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Friday, August 12, 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.

1^st race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 5½ F TURF] – (1) Im Just Kiddin (A) ran second in her debut well ahead of the rest of the field for John Kimmel during the first week of the Saratoga meeting. (6) Kingsley Creek made her first start last month at Belmont Park where she set the pace and eventually finished third. (5) Highway Harmony will make her first career start for trainer Jorge Abreu whose barn is finding the winner’s circle on a regular basis. (7) Never Personal is another first time starter for Bruce Levine who has become a serious threat with his debuting horses.

4^th race [NY, Md 40000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Tapple Cider (A) dropped into a maiden claimer for the first time in her 2022 debut at the beginning of this meeting and was completely shut off in her stretch run losing all chance to win. (6) Queen of Lies had to steady and check in her last start just two weeks ago and now drops into the claiming ranks for the first time while getting a rider change to Joel Rosario. (8) Jannie Mae has two starts this year and made significant improvement in the second try when she stretched out and contented the pace to finish third. (1) Latest Edition had a difficult trip in her second career start and now gets Lasix for the first time for Tom Morley.

6^th race [NY, Union Avenue, 6F] – (3) Mashnee Girl (B) pressed the pace, got the lead, the rider then lost his crop, and she finished third in an open company allowance. (7) Chasing Cara won the second-level state-bred allowance by eight lengths two races back and is projected to be on the lead in this race. (4) Bank on Anna used up her NY-bred allowance conditions in May and recently tried open company. She did run third in a NY Stallion Series race at Aqueduct in April. (6) Eloquent Speaker moves back to state-bred competition after three starts againdt open company and gets blinkers on.

7^th race [OC80k/N1X, 1 mi TURF] – (2) Bahamian Club (B/D) got stuck on the rail one a day when that was not the place to be and tried to close into a very slow pace. He was also bet down from 9-1 to 5-1. (3) Gal in a Rush ran second or third in her last five starts including three stakes races for the Clement barn. (6) Linda’s Gift has run well in all of her starts this year. (10) Spicer missed winning the Florida Oaks (G3) by a head in her 2022 debut at Tampa Bay Downs for Chad Brown when she helped set the pace.

Best bets:  Im Just Kiddin (1^st); Mashnee Girl (6^th). Best value: Tapple Cider (4^th); Bahamian Club (7^th).