Saratoga Hotlist - August 25

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Thursday, August 25, 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.

5^th race [Clm 20000, 1 1/8 mi] – (8) Locally Owned will drop down to a low $20,000 level as a horse that won a long-distance stake at Belmont in the fall. He will be able to run with Lasix again if Tom Morley can get him back in form. (1) Direct Order was claimed for $16,000 in his last two starts which were a second and a win at Saratoga. He will make his first start for Joe Sharp. (3) Amount was claimed for $32,000 at the Spa. In the winter and spring, he won three races in a row. (2) Giocare was claimed from consecutive thirds for $20,000 with Rudy Rodriguez taking him back most recently.

6^th race [OC62k/N2X, 1 1/2 mi TURF] – (7) Light Stars (B) was rank while fighting restraint throughout her American debut in a similar spot for Christophe Clement at the Spa. (2) Beside Herself was third two races back at Churchill Downs in the Regret (G3). Trainer Todd Pletcher is adept at preparing for these long-distance events. (8) Rocky Sky has identical speed figures in her last three starts which include a similar allowance and a pair of stakes with a second in a Grade 2 for Chad Brown. (5) Mia Martina is a long-distance specialist for Graham Motion.

8^th race [Md Sp Wt, 7F] – (7) Liquidity Provider had the lead in the stretch and then was beaten by just a head in her debut at Saratoga for Chad Brown at odds of 3-1. (5) Tizzy in the Sky will switch to the barn of Jose Camejo after running second in her first start at Belmont Park when she had the lead. (8) Precursory has gotten a check in all three starts going back to May at Belmont. Most recently she was second ahead of a return winner at Laurel. (3) Ms. Solveig was an overlooked third in her first start at 26-1 at Saratoga behind the top choice.

9^th race [Riskaverse (R), 1 mi TURF] – (6) Customer List (A) got crushed coming out of the gate and then ran well to finish fourth. This Chad Brown runner won her debut at Monmouth Park and then faced that swampy turf at Penn National. (3) Skims raced in three graded stakes and gets some class relief in this restricted stake. (5) Canisy was a front-end winner in an allowance at the Spa but in her prior two starts she raced with a closing style. (11) Wonka was fourth when last seen in May in the Soaring Softly (G3). Bill Mott is good with this kind of layoff.

Best bets:  Light Stars (6^th); Liquidity Provider (8^th). Best value: Locally Owned (5^th); Customer List (9^th).