Saratoga Hotlist - August 22

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Saturday, August 22, 2020 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.

2^nd race – (4) Airtouch (C) returns from a nine month layoff for Todd Pletcher as a new gelding. In his four race career he has never run worse than second. Last summer he won a maiden special weight at Saratoga and then had two place finishes in allowances in the fall before going on the shelf. He has two speed figures that tower over this field as he drops into a N2L claimer for the first time. (2) Macho Jack was claimed out of an open length maiden claiming win for $20,000 by AC Avila.  In this small field that performance gives him a shot for a second-place finish. (5) Beach Front was claimed for $16,000 last time by Rob Atras. He had excuses for his last two disappointing performances. (3) Kilmarknock won a NY-bred maiden claimer at the Spa in his last start.

8^th race – (2) Growth Engine returned from a year off to win an allowance race at Monmouth Park rather easily with a career high speed figure. That earned him a trip up to Saratoga to try this second-level allowance going a mile and eighth. He has never run worse than second in his career including a place finish at the Spa last summer. (1) Blewitt/(1A) Legit are a significant entry for Repole Stable and Pletcher. (4) Noble Thought was claimed from high price races in his last two starts on the turf. New trainer David Cannizzo moves him back to the dirt where he has five victories in the past. (6) Its All Relevant appears to be the fastest of a few horses that prefer to race on the lead. If some of the other riders take back, he could end up with an advantage.

9^th race – (7) Valid Point (A) is one of four horses entered in the Fourstardave by trainer Chad Brown. In the Poker (G2), he never had a chance to show his stuff after getting shuffled back at the start and then he was blocked in the stretch. Last summer he won the Secretariat (G1) at Arlington Park, so the ability is there, and this Brown runner will come with attractive odds. (6) Uni was the Champion Female Turf horse last year for Brown after her win in the Breeders’ Cup Mile against the boys. In her 2020 debut, she ran into her stablemate Newspaperofrecord who got everything her way in the Just A Game (G1). (1) Raging Bull won the Shoemaker Mile (G1) for Brown in his 2020 debut and then was third in the Makers Mark (G1) at Keeneland missing the top spot by just a neck. Expect him to coming running down the stretch. (4) Got Stormy will try and win this race for the second year in a row, a feat that was accomplished by the great Wise Dan. The Mark Casse barn is very cold at Saratoga this summer and her last two races at Belmont Park were not up to par. She will need a very firm turf course and return to her best form to contend in this salty field.

10^th race – (5) Battalion (B) got pinched back at the start of a starter allowance at Saratoga and finished second on the turf for Bill Mott. Mott now drops him into a N2L claimer for the first time. (9) Rakeez broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park back in March for Chad Brown. He will also make the move to this softer level of competition. (3) Catorat has a second and a third at this N2L level for excellent turf trainer David Donk. (2) Kid Chocolate is in the best form of his career after breaking his maiden and then running third last time at this level after a compromised start for radio personality Steve Byk’s Dee Tee Stable.

Best bets: Airtouch (2^nd); Growth Engine (8^th).  Best value:  Valid Point (9^th); Battalion (10^th).

@NYHotList Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special Pick 3 is on races 8-10 and includes the Fourstardave (G1):  1, 2, 4, 6 with 1, 6, 7 with 5, 9 = $24.