Saratoga Hotlist - August 30

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Sunday, August 30, 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) Blood Moon makes the big drop in class from two third place finishes in starter allowances to a N2L claimer with two speed figures that tower over this field. He’s a very likely winner. (6) Fried Rice King also exits a starter allowance and a maiden score for a $30,000 tag so this $16,000 level is an ideal spot for Todd Pletcher to try and pick up another win. (1) Super Wicked Charm has been flip-flopping between turf and dirt in non-restricted races but he was also a maiden winner at the $30,000 level. (3) Buona Fina broke his maiden for $30K in his most recent start and is well placed to face winners for the first time.

6^th race – (7) Local Hero (C) was last seen in February at Aqueduct easily winning a $10,000 claimer while racing on the front end and earning a very high speed figure. He’s in for $12,500 after six months off. (2) Summer Bourbon exits a series of tough NY-bred claimers and allowances to move to this open company level where he was a winner in the past. (5) Zonic ran third at Saratoga in a $16,000 claimer in his first start for the very dangerous Noda barn. That came after a four month freshening. (3) O Shea Can U See moves back to a level at which he should be more competitive for Linda Rice.

7^th race – (1) Short Pour (B) lost all chance in his last race after a rough start that included bumping, checking, and then being too hard to handle. He comes back in this top-level allowance on the turf with NY-breds. (12) Blue Atlas had a first and a second in his two starts this year for Horatio DePaz with the win against open company. (4) Pecatonica has a win and a third against fellow state-breds in his two most recent starts. When third, he had to wait for running room and then steadied at the eighth poll. (7) Dancingwthdaffodls won a seven furlong turf allowance at Belmont Park with a late closing move and now stretches out to a turf mile.

9^th race – (6) Nonna Madeline won a stakes race at Saratoga going the nine furlongs last time for Todd Pletcher and she now tries the Shuvee (G3). (7) Lucky Move won a stake at Delaware Park and then ran into a tough field in the Delaware Handicap (G2) that was won by Guarana. (3) Letruska got overwhelmed last time in the Ballerina (G1) against Serengeti Empress and finds a spot where her early speed will make her a serious threat to win. (5) Golden Award has plenty of past strong performances in graded stakes and speed figures that make her a contender.

Best bets: Blood Move (2^nd); Short Pour (7^th). Best value: Local Hero (6^th); Nonna Madeline (9^th).