Saratoga Hotlist - August 27

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Thursday, August 27, 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 – (2) Prairie Wings set the pace and had the lead in the deep stretch but was beaten by a head in her Saratoga debut for Luis Saez and Todd Pletcher. They come back in a similar maiden special weight on the turf but cutting back in distance 3/16ths of a mile. She looks like the main speed in this six horse field. (6) All Others Follow ran well with a top speed figure at Monmouth Park for Chad Brown. Brown has won at Saratoga with horses from his Monmouth string. (1) Forty Zip was last seen running fourth behind a return winner at Keeneland in July for Shug McGaughey who is having a fantastic meeting at the Spa with 33% winners. (3) Witch Moon finished third in her debut which came at Saratoga for Graham Motion.

4^th race – (4) Height has consecutive seconds at this $30,000 maiden claiming level for Bill Mott with the most recent coming at today’s nine furlong distance. (2) Judicial Restraint gets blinkers on for Chad Brown after running second at this level back in June at Belmont Park. (3) Uncle Ned drops back down to the level at which she was claimed and gets a rider change to Luis Saez. (1) Corkman/(1A) Bubba Chuck form an entry for the Flying P Stable where both horses have a chance to be part of the exotics.

5^th race – (2) Duncastle (D) was bet down from 12-1 to 8-1 and set the pace last time in a $25,000 open claiming turf sprint and now comes back in a similar spot. (1) Dowse’s Beach finished second in a very speedy edition of this race last time out which was his best effort of this year. (8) Preamble returns to the turf for the first time since he set the pace in turf mile at Gulfstream Park and that was the only time he ran beyond a sprint. This grass sprint may be just what he’s looking for. (5) Dirty makes a big drop down in class from top allowances and stakes races. Clearly, he has past races that would make him a winner.

8^th race – (2) Texas Swing was last seen finishing third behind King Guillermo and Sole Volante in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on the Kentucky Derby trail for Pletcher. He’s back after five months off in this first-level allowance going nine furlongs. (5) Creative Style was claimed out of a second-place finish at Saratoga for $32,000 by Rob Atras going today’s distance as he steps back up to an allowance. (6) Danny California has five career wins but is still eligible for this NW1 allowance. He has wins against NY-breds and in starter allowances at this distance. (1) Mischief Afoot broke his maiden at Monmouth Park last time while going two turns for Jimmy Toner in a race that earned a career best speed figure.

Best bets: Height (4^th); Texas Swing (8^th). Best value: Prairie Wings (2^nd); Duncastle (5^th)