Saratoga Hotlist - August 3

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Wednesday, August 3, 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.

2^nd race [NY, Md 40000, 6F] – (1) Fuligni (B) is part of a Jimmy Bond trained entry that broke through the gate prior to his debut, raced greenly in the stretch, and finished fourth. (6) Frosty Invasion returned to the main track and made a big improvement to run third and now drops into a maiden claimer for the first time. (4) Ace Up Her Sleeve started once last year at Saratoga and makes her first start of 2022 in this claimer. The exit from maiden special weight is a winning move for this barn. (7) Darn That Song will make her first start since being claimed after a third-place finish.

3^rd race [Clm 25000, 6F] – (4) Not Yet Charlie gets blinkers on as he moves from turf back to dirt where he won a $32,000 claimer at Aqueduct in the winter and gets a favorable cutback in distance. (3) Ready to March drops into the claiming ranks for the first time after an April layoff. (5) Never Early returns to the claiming ranks after breaking his maiden for $20,000 at Aqueduct by nine lengths and then won a starter allowance. (2) Printrack also returns to race for a tag after winning his first race for $30,000 and then getting taken for $50,000.

5^th race [Md Sp Wt, 5 ½ F TURF] – (1) Java Buzz was a close third in his 2022 debut a month ago. Last year he ran twice in strong fields including his debut at the Spa when he was second. (5) Sosua Summer will cut back to this turf sprint after running well in all of his starts for Bill Mott. (2) Upper Level will switch to the turf after setting the pace in his first start at Belmont in June. (4) Triumphant Road made his debut last year at Saratoga and has not run since then. He was an expensive purchase as a 2-year-old.

7^th race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 1 mi] – (3) Tiergan was claimed from a similar spot for $45,000 after missing the win by a neck. This veteran has six career wins. (6) Blewitt returns to NY-bred competition after many starts against open company including a pair of stakes from which he won the Stud Muffin at Aqueduct in March. (4) Troubleshooter made a big step forward in speed figures in his second start of the year. (5) Bar Fourteen moves from turf to dirt where he is a past winner and is projected to be on the lead in this spot.

Best bets:  Java Buzz (5^th); Tiergan (7^th). Best value:  Fuligni (2^nd); Not Yet Charlie (3^rd).