Saratoga Hotlist - August 25

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Saratoga – Day 30
                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.

1^st race [Md 20000, 6F] – (1) Uncle Skeets comes back from a long layoff when he made his only start at Gulfstream Park in January of 2020 and ran second in a maiden special weight for Florida-breds. Since then, he was gelded and moved to the barn of Kelly Breen from Todd Pletcher. (2) Point of Humor also drops down from $50,000 and goes for Breen. (5) No Burn will go from turf to dirt for Bill Mott, cutback to sprinting, and move down from $75,000. (4) Run White Rabbit exits three tries in maiden special weights.

4^th race [Clm 25000, 6 ½ F] – (8) Awesome Indra won at this level two races back at Belmont Park and was claimed. They moved her up to an allowance where she was third and should appreciate the move back to this claimer. (7) Shasta Star was also claimed at this level two starts ago at Keeneland and then was second for $50,000 at Churchill Downs. She has been off since May but makes the drop down for Robertino Diodoro who is having a good Saratoga summer. (6) Saratoga Beauty was claimed from her last three starts and is now back in the barn of Rob Atras. Last seen she missed the win spot by a nose at the Spa. (1) Flat Awesome Jenny won her last two starts and was a rare claim by Ian Wilkes for $20,000.

8^th race [Alw 50000s, 1 1/8 mi] – (5) Winter Pool has two recent narrow losses in similar spots for Chad Brown with the latest at Saratoga. (4) Hombrazo may not have appreciated the muddy track the last start for Joe Sharp as Irad stays on board. (2) Tiz Rye Time is racing at the right level and with his top speed figure in his last start. (7) Top Gun Tommy hit the board in his last five starts for Breen. He set the pace and ended up third most recently at the Spa.

9^th race [John’s Call, 1 5/8 mi TURF] – (5) Conviction Trade (B) got steadied at the start of his last race, was last, and then rallied wide to get within three lengths of the winner. Trainer Mike Maker is adept at prepping for these long turf races. (3) Shamrocket was third in the Bowling Green (G2) last start for Todd Pletcher. (4) Ajourneytofreedom won a 12-furlong allowance at Saratoga last time following a third in the two mile Belmont Gold Cup (G2) in June also for Maker. (8) Serve the King will get class relief after running fourth in his two starts this year in a Grade 1 and 3 for Chad Brown.

Best bets:  Uncle Skeets (1^st); Winter Pool (8^th). Best value:  Awesome Indra (4^th); Conviction Trade (9^th).