Saratoga Hotlist - August 8

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Sunday, August 8, 2021 at Saratoga – Day 17
                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.

5^th race [NY, Md 40000, 5 ½ F TURF] – (5) Babagram (A) made his first career start for Tom Morley at Belmont Park in June. He had the lead and had to check sharply on the inside. The offending horse was disqualified. (4) I’m Blaming You made his 2021 debut in a maiden special weight in his first start for Rob Falcone who has a couple of wins at Saratoga already. (7) Tempesta gets blinkers on in his third start of the year after having the lead and then getting disqualified for impeding another horse in the stretch. (8) Distractandattack was second in a race that was meant for the turf and was run on a muddy track at the Spa. Irad stays on board.

6^th race [Md Sp Wt 100000, 6 ½ F] – (1) Popular Vote (A) was keen in her debut for Bill Mott and thus had to check twice after running up on the heels of horses. No doubt that she will benefit from the racing experience. (7) Fabulous Fanny will make her first start for Steve Asmussen. She was a $400,000 2-year-old purchase. The dam was a stakes winner who has produced a stakes winner. (2) Free Chickens is out of a dam that was a stakes winner as a 2-year-old. (3) Amani’s Image is by Tapit and is out of a mare that placed in a Grade 1 and is trained by Todd Pletcher.

8^th race [Adirondack (G2), 6½ F] – (9) Microbiome (A) was an impressive front-end winner in his first start for trainer Tom Amoss. (2) Ontheonesandtwos was a debut winner for trainer Norm Casse at Churchill Downs in May and she came right back to run second with a late rally in the Debutante. (8) Mainstay was a seven-length winner at Monmouth Park in June who came back to run second in the Schuylerville (G3) at Saratoga after bobbling at the break. (7) Wicked Halo was a gate to wire winner of her first start for Steve Asmussen at Lone Star Park on a muddy track. She then was third in that Debutante at Churchill.

10^th race [NY, ALW 90000 N1X, 1 mi TURF] – (2) Danzigwiththestars (C) broke his maiden with a rally up the hedge while getting bet down from 11-1 to 7-1. (7) Catch That Party missed by a neck in a similar spot at Saratoga. (10) Chrome Dixie rallied to finish second while racing seven furlongs at Belmont Park for Christophe Clement. (5) Saratoga Flash is another one who has been right there at the finish of these NY-bred allowances with good speed figures.

Best bets:  Babagram (5^th); Microbiome (8^th). Best value:  Popular Vote (6^th); Danzigwiththestars (10^th).