Saratoga Hotlist - August 13

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, August 13, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

4^th race [Saratoga Special (G2), 6 ½ F] – (4) Gulfport is the winner of both of his starts by a combined total of almost 20 lengths. Both wins were at Churchill Downs for Steve Asmussen as the odds-on favorite. The son of Uncle Mo won the Bashford Manor by more than 12 lengths. (2) Damon’s Mound won his debut at Churchill by 12 ½ lengths at odds of 4-1 against a field of 11. (5) Owen’s Leap won his first start for Tom Amoss and then was second behind the top choice in the Bashford Manor and blinkers go on. (1) Super Chow was a debut winner at Gulfstream Park as the favorite in a nine-horse field and shows a recent super-fast workout.

6^th race [NY, Alw 95000 N1X, 5 ½ F TURF] – (3) Neuro (C) was a neck shy of winning his 2022 debut last month in a race where he had some trouble out of the gate and was bet down from 5-1 to 7-2. (5) Golden Hornet won his debut at Colonial Downs for Larry Rivelli and moves from dirt to turf which is a 32% winning move and gets to face NY-breds. (7) Sherriff Bianco had the lead in a similar allowance spot and finished third behind the top choice. He broke his maiden last summer at the Spa. (8) Me ‘n Sap has a win and a second against open company claimers since getting back on the grass.

7^th race [Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (1) Bourbon Bash (A) was second in his debut for D. Wayne Lukas after setting the pace. Typically, Lukas does not win with first-time starters and they usually improve in their second starts. (5) Skellig debuts for John Terranova and is out of a stakes winning mare that produced a stakes winner and a second-place finisher in the Jerome. (8) Scootscoot will make his first start for Ray Handal. The son of Malibu Moon is out of a mare that has three winners from three to start. (6) What a Blast is a first-time starter for Mike Maker out of a dam that produced a winner from her only horse to start thus far.

10^th race [Fourstardave (G1), 1 mi TURF] – (3) Regal Glory is unbeaten at Saratoga in her career in three starts. The Chad Brown runner won her last four starts as she takes on the boys for the first time. Seven of her 12 wins are at the mile distance. (4) Masen is also from the Brown barn and he won his last two starts in one-mile stakes at Belmont Park including the Poker (G3). He was second by a nose in his American debut at Keeneland in April in the Makers Mark Mile (G1). (1) Casa Creed won the six-furlong Jaipur (G1) at Belmont with a late rally in his first start since racing in the Middle East in the Spring. He has past wins racing a mile although he seems better suited at sprinting. (5) Get Smokin was fourth in the Forbidden Apple (G3) at Saratoga last time after having the lead at the stretch call.

Best bets:  Gulfport (4^th); Regal Glory (10^th). Best value:  Neuro (6^th); Bourbon Bash (7^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 4 - 6 and includes the Saratoga Special (G2) à 2, 4 with 1, 2, 8 with 3, 5, 7, 8 = $24.