Saratoga Hotlist - August 24

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Wednesday, August 24, 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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

3^rd race [NY, Md 40000, 5 ½ F TURF] – (4) Built to Last drops out of a series of maiden special weights and is projected to be the pace setter. (5) Sharp Sensation was on the lead and finished second in a similar spot at Saratoga earlier in the meeting. (8) Brennan’s War has been a consistent performer at this level this year and is likely to get another trifecta finish. (2) My Slick Nick was bet to 5-1 in his debut and now gets Lasix for the first time and a barn change.

4^th race [Clm 32000, 6 ½ F] – (3) Cathedral Beach was claimed from an open-length victory in a $16,000 claimer and now moves into this race that is for 3-year-olds only. He was a maiden special weight winner at Aqueduct in March. (2) Brawndo will ship to Saratoga from Maryland after getting claimed by the current connections two races back in Kentucky when he won for $20,000. (5) Zen Master drops out of allowance races for the first time after racing at Laurel and Delaware. (4) Cole Spur moves from the Oaklawn and Churchill circuits to find this appropriate spot. He broke his maiden for $50,000.

5^th race [Clm 50000, 1 mi] – (5) Roderick (D) took late money in a second-level allowance last time for hot trainer Phil Bauer and now cuts back in distance and returns to the claiming ranks. (6) Kinetic Sky made his 2022 debut in a tougher allowance and ran fifth behind a horse that came back to win impressively. The (1)/(1A) entry must be considered, especially (1A) Al’s Prince that was a winner last time for $50,000 at the Spa. (3) Good Culture was third at this level last time out.

7^th race [Md 75000, 1 mi TURF] – (9) Drakon could get the lead in his third start of the year after earning the best speed figure of his career. (8) The Prince’s Spur was third and then fourth in his two starts for Todd Pletcher and now drops into a maiden claimer for the first time. (6) Gut Feeling was claimed for $40,000 last start at Saratoga by Joe Sharp. (7) Secret Cargo will make his second career start for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stable after a poor start in his debut at Belmont Park.

Best bets:  Built to Last (3^rd); Roderick (5^th). Best value: Cathedral Beach (4^th); Drakon (7^th).