Saratoga Hotlist - August 26

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Wednesday, August 26, 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 worse
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

2^nd race – (1) Munnings Muse (B) ran a good race in her debut more than a year ago at Belmont Park behind the very fast winner of the 2-year-old race while beating a horse that came back to win her next start. She finished well ahead of the rest of the field, which indicates promise in this start. (6) Impazible Donna (A) debuted last year at Saratoga and got off to a very slow start and was quickly nine-lengths behind. The Bruce Levine runner took late money and was bet to favoritism after being 5-1. She proceeded to make a huge late rally down the middle of the stretch in the 5.5 furlong race to get up for second beaten by just a half-length. Levine firsters are not usually at a 100% fitness level. She’s back a year later for her second start in another NY-bred maiden special weight. (3) Bankers Daughter was second last time when she switched back to the dirt after trying the grass for the first time. (2) Bella Domenica was second last time out and third before that against two horses that came back to win.

3^rd race – (5) Setting the Mood was second in a first-level allowance on the turf going a long-distance route after having the lead and comes back in a similar spot. (3) Coilean Bawn is in fine form this year with a maiden score and then an allowance third for the team of Joel Rosario and Christophe Clemente. (1) Whatdoesasharksay has got speed and has been on the lead of her last two starts. She gets a rider switch to Luis Saez who is hot right now especially when he sends horses to the lead. (4) Cap de Creus has past races that are good enough to beat this field. John Velazquez had his choice of two Todd Pletcher runners including the top choice and opted to ride this filly.

4^th race – (7) Dressy (D) was bet down to less than 3-1 in her debut at Saratoga for trainer Barclay Tagg who is not known for winning with first-timers. She raced wide and was not a threat and now drops out of that maiden special weight into this $50,000 claimer. (2) Dash to the Top raced third in her debut at odds of 9-2 and swerved out wide at the quarter pole for Wayne Catalano. (1) Krubera had a very poor start and rushed up to third and then faded down the stretch. Experience should help this Gary Gullo trainer who wins at 22% with his second time starters. (3) Tiz Splendid News is a debut runner for Wesley Ward and that makes her dangerous as she ships up North from training at Keeneland.

5^th race – (9) Kitten’s Romance missed breaking her maiden by just a nose in her second career start for Ward at Saratoga. Jose Ortiz gets on board. (3) Checksandbalances missed by a neck at this $40,000 maiden claiming level for Chad Brown in her last start. (4) Dipping In made a big closing move while turf sprinting and finished third just a neck out of the win. Now she stretches back out to a route on the grass with Rosario up. (7) Giggle Factory ran well last time at Monmouth Park for trainer Tom Albertrani whose horses often need a few races to get into top form.

Best bets: Munnings Muse (2^nd); Kitten’s Romance (5^th). Best value: Setting the Mood (3^rd); Dressy (4^th).