Saratoga Hotlist - August 20

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch Friday, August 20, 2021 at Saratoga – Day 27
                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.

3^rd race [NY, OC45k/N2X, 5 ½F TURF] – (2) Three Outlaws (B) had a wide trip on a yielding turf course last time neither of which were to his benefit. (6) Scuttlebuzz has strung together five very good races. Rudy Rodriguez claimed him in April and since then his last three starts were the best of his career.  (5) Scocciatore stretched out to a mile, which was not to his liking, after a win in a first-level allowance. (1) Alphalfa began his career in New York and then raced in the Midwest with success. Last start at this level, he came to Saratoga to face NY-breds and caught a yielding turf course.

4^th race [Md 40000, 6½F] – (3) My Cousin Rich was third in a maiden special weight at Monmouth Park in his most recent start. (1) Abdan for Robertino Diodoro and (1A) Recidivist for Kelly Breen are a commonly owned entry where both are win contenders. (6) Clemenza returns as a new gelding for Kelly Breen and drops into the claiming ranks for the first time. (5) Hoopla flashed speed in his debut for Bill Mott which came on a yielding turf going long. Mott is 28% dropping from MSW to maiden claimer.

7^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 1 1/8 mi] – (1) Road to Success makes his first start after being taken from a maiden claiming $30,000 victory. Trainer Rob Atras is making all of the right moves at Saratoga. They took this horse from George Weaver, a trainer who takes good care of his horses. (8) Moonlight Now has had some early speed in recent races and gets a rider change to Joel Rosario. Trainer Charlie Baker’s barn has woken up at Saratoga. (7) Breaking Stones lost all chance in his most recent start after an awkward break. He’ll be a big price with a chance to wake up here. (6) Gimme Some Mo will move back to the dirt and make a significant drop in claiming price for Todd Pletcher.

8^th race [Alw 50000s, 7F] – (9) Critical Threat won his debut for a $40,000 tag at Keeneland for Brendan Walsh in October. He comes back as a new gelding, gets Lasix for the first time, and ships up from Ellis Park.  The second and third place finishers in his maiden win both came back to win their next starts. (5) Repo Rocks was third in a similar spot in the first week of the meeting and he comes back here as a gelding. (3) F F Rocket was claimed out of his last two races including a win at Belmont Park in June where Rob Atras took him for $30,000. (10) Royal Realm was claimed for $40,000 by David Donk who now puts blinkers on and cuts him back in distance to race around one-turn again.

Best bets:  Three Outlaws (3^rd); Road to Success (7^th). Best value:  My Cousin Rich (4^th); Critical Threat (8^th).