Saratoga Hotlist - August 22

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch Sunday, August 22, 2021 at Saratoga – Day 29
                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.

4^th race [Alw 50000s, 5 ½F TURF] – (2) Jades Gelly (B) stepped up to the starter allowance level after a win in N2L claimer but was held by the assistant starter when the gates opened. Thus, she raced as a non-betting runner and rallied for fourth after the bad start. (8) Lilly Simone broke her maiden for a $50,000 tag and then missed by a head at Saratoga in a race like today’s spot. (7) What a Trick ships up from Monmouth Park for a trainer who has had some luck in New York. Last seen she was on the lead in a speedy turf sprint stake at Pimlico. (5) Athwaaq is another one with some fast races on the grass and Ricardo Santana gets on board.

5^th race [Clm 25000 N2L, 6F] – (1) Miss Peppina returns from a February layoff, changes to the barn of Gary Sciacca, and gets Luis Saez to ride. She drops down in claiming price with speed and some back class. (7) Thief of Hearts broke her maiden for $30,000 and then tried a starter allowance and now moves to an appropriate spot to be competitive. (2) Baba was claimed from her last two starts after showing early speed in both of those starts. (3) Cazilda Fortytales cuts back to six-furlongs after setting the pace and finishing second in a comparable spot.

6^th race [Md 75000, 6F] – (7) Landslid will drop out of a maiden special weight third-place finish in a small but strong field. (3) Shanghai Shamrock moved from turf to dirt for Mark Casse and had a troubled start that day and makes the big drop into this maiden claimer. (2) Opening Night was the favorite in her debut in a maiden special weight at Monmouth Park for Kelly Breen. (4) Lady Milagro caught a muddy sealed track for her first start at Saratoga and now makes the desired drop in for a tag.

10^th race [Md 40000. 1 mi TURF] – (5) Tallis (D) was entered for the grass last time but ran on a muddy track at Saratoga and was bet down from 8-1 to 5-1. Trainer Todd Pletcher will once again try to get him on the grass. (8) Voter Protection returns from a January layoff as a new gelding and drops into a claimer for the first time for Chad Brown. Last seen at Gulfstream Park she set the pace and finished fourth. (6) Boldish was third in his turf debut for Joe Sharp in a similar spot. (10) Bail Out has three place finishes in a row at this level with the most recent just two weeks ago at the Spa.

Best bets:  Jades Gelly (4^TH); Miss Peppina (5^th). Best value:  Landslid (6^th); Tallis (10^th).