Saratoga Hotlist - August 7

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, August 7, 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.

1^st race – (8) Selfmade ran in his first start for trainer Bill Mott while making his 2020 debut in a NY-bred $40,000 turf maiden claimer at Belmont Park in June and finished second after setting the pace. He should benefit from that race as he returns in a similar spot. (1) Klickitat has strung together four second-place finishes including his first start of the year which also came at Belmont. (6) Spiritual King set the pace against open company in a couple of races at Gulfstream Park for Todd Pletcher. He was transferred to the barn of Gregg Sacco and sprinted on the grass in a state-bred maiden special weight and now drops into this claimer. (4) Diannesimpazible was moved to the grass by Rudy Rodriguez and then ran third when his race came off the grass and now he gets back on the turf.

3^rd race – (9) Bean Counter makes that favorable drop from two starter allowances in which he ran second and first to a N3L claimer for Todd Pletcher. She stays on the grass for her first start in a claimer since her maiden victory. (2) Music of Life won a starter allowance and was third in an allowance at Gulfstream for Danny Gargan. She’s been off since May and now makes the drop to this N3L condition. (6) Sun Summers was claimed out of a Belmont N2L victory last time by Mike Maker. Maker has been making all the right moves at Saratoga this summer. (7) Seeking Revenge drops out of a stakes race and a couple of allowance starts.

9^th race – (7) Momos (A) was an impressive debut winner for Christophe Clement at Saratoga when he drew off to win by more than six lengths beating an even money favorite while racing on the lead. (9) Therideofalifetime was second in his debut at Churchill Downs and then used that experience to unleash an eight-length maiden score at Keeneland earning one of the highest speed figures of the year for a juvenile. (6) Cazadero is the likely favorite based on his 2 for 2 record that includes a stalking win in the Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill for Steve Asmussen who has five* victories in the Special in the past. (10) Jackie’s Warrior won his maiden race under the Twin Spires in the same race in which the second choice debuted. He is also trained by Asmussen.

10^th race – (2) Tilsa will drop from a $75,000 maiden claimer to this $40,000 level for Jonathan Thomas after setting the pace the last time on the turf and fading to fourth. She will stay on the grass for her third start. (5) Dipping In will drop into the claiming ranks after a series of maiden special weight starts for Doug O’Neill. (10) Microcap will debut for Chad Brown and Klaravich Stable. This filly was a relatively low-priced purchase for these connections so the appearance for a tag does not bother me. (1) Jasminesque was back on the turf where she is a consistent performer and takes a drop in class also.

Best bets:  Bean Counter (3^rd); Tilsa (10^th). Best value:  Selfmade (1^st); Momos (9^th)