Saratoga Hotlist - August 15

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Sunday, August 15, 2021 at Saratoga – Day 24
                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 [Md 40000, 5 ½ F] – (3) Good Skate drops out of a fifth-place finish in his debut in a maiden special weight at Saratoga for Rudy Rodriguez, whose barn is winning right now, and gets blinkers on. (2) Baja Fog was second at Churchill Downs in May in a $50,000 maiden claimer for Wesley Ward. (8) Silipo will debut for Rob Atras, who is red hot at the Spa. He typically doesn’t win with firsters but Irad Ortiz gets on board and he rode the top choice last time. (5) John’s Protégé will make the first start of his career for Wesley Ward who has big numbers with that move.

3^rd race [Clm 40000 N2L, 5 ½ F TURF] – (8) Ginger Kitty (D) was bet down to near favoritism, moved into contention, and was then stymied in a crowded stretch run. (1) Social Whirl broke her maiden last time by three-lengths. That kind of victory can often lead to a second win right after when placed in a realistic spot like this. (10) Herald Angel will make her first appearance in a N2L condition and trainer Mike Maker is putting his horses in the right spots. (5) Little Dutch Girl won her debut at Aqueduct in November and tried allowance company in her first start of the year.

7^th race [OC80k/N1X, 1 1/8 mi TURF] – (8) Treason (D) had a promising debut win for Bill Mott at Belmont Park in June and then was bet down from 5-1 to 3-1 in the move to allowance company where he raced wide the entire way. (7) Never Explain had the lead in the stretch in his first try against winners for Shug McGaughey and fought to the wire ending up a head behind the winner. (5) Mira Mission was in that same race as Never Explain but lacked room down the stretch and ended up third less than a length from the win. (1) Hidden Enemy gets class relief after three stakes races with two fourth-place finishes and Joel Rosario gets on board.

10^th race [Clm 40000 N2L, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (7) Adriatic Rose (D) stepped up from a maiden claiming win to a NY-bred stakes race and was strangely bet down from 40-1 to 30-1 and now moves to an appropriate N2L level. (3) Summer in the City was a maiden special winner at Gulfstream Park for Todd Pletcher in June and then tried two starter allowances and now makes that winning move to this restricted condition. (5) Mirabell Mei also made two starter allowance starts this year and she will drop back down in class to where she was competitive last year. (2) Alpha Babe made a turnaround in two starts since moving to the barn of Rob Atras including her maiden victory for a $40,000 tag.

Best bets:  Good Skate (1^st); Treason (7^th). Best value:  Ginger Kitty (3^rd); Adriatic Rose (10^th).