Saratoga Hotlist - August 20

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Saturday, August 20, 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.

1^st race [Md 40000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (4) Floki’s Flight (B) was rank going into the first turn and went extremely wide. (1) Fazaro got his best speed figure last time when he moved back to the turf, stretched out, and then finished second. (2) Sebaray also ran his best race when he made his first start on the grass and rallied for third. (3) Billy Price will make his career debut for George Weaver whose barn has started to win races at this Saratoga meeting.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (6) Activist Investing (A) was sent off as the favorite in his debut but lost all chance when a bolting horse forced him to go almost to the outer rail in the first turn. (1) Coach Petro (A) had the lead and finished second in his first career start for Brad Cox well ahead of the rest of the field. (7) Wideright was rank in his first start for Bill Mott, bore out badly, and had to check. (5) Rarified Flair had difficult trips in his first two starts. Last time on the turf at the Spa he finished third after getting blocked heading into the stretch.

8^th race [Lake Placid (G2), 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (3) Eminent Victor (A) stumbled at the start of the Lake George (G3) at Saratoga and was most likely the best horse in the race when she finished second by a nose for Chad Brown. (1) With The Moonlight won the Saratoga Oaks (G3) just two weeks ago for Charlie Appleby following a second in the Belmont Oaks (G1). (4) Consumer Spending won her first two starts of the year in New York stakes and then was third in the Belmont Oaks. She is also from the Brown barn. (5) Dolce Zel is the yet another worthy contender for Chad as she was the winner of the Lake George while overcoming a troubled trip.

9^th race [Smart N Fancy, 5 ½ F TURF] – (6) Miss J McKay (A) steadied three times in the Caress (G3) and still managed to finish fourth, beaten by less than a length. (3) Robin Sparkles was the speedy winner of the Caress in the best performance of her career and is likely to be the pacesetter again. (1) Change of Control won a turf sprint stake at Colonial Downs last time and provides an off-the-pace option in this race that has plenty of speed. (8) Lady Edith is improving and finished third in the Caress with a closing move that put her a half-length behind the winner.

Best bets:  Floki’s Flight (1^st); Activist Investing (5^th). Best value:  Eminent Victor (8^th); Miss J McKay (9^th).

Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 covers races 8 - 10 and includes the Alabama (G1) à 1, 3, 4, 5 with 1, 3, 6, 8 with 4 = $16.