Saratoga Hotlist - July 21

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at Saratoga – Day 5
                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.

3^rd race [Md 75000, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Peacebethejourney (B) was claimed out of his first career start which was promising when he finished second in a turf sprint last month at Belmont Park. The Chad Brown/Klaravich entry is strong with both horses [(1) Coalition Building and (1A) Federalist Papers]. (9) Evvie Jets will get Lasix for the first-time and drop into a maiden claimer for the first time. (2) Wow will also make that big drop out of maiden special weight efforts for the first time and the blinkers come off.

4^th race [NY, Rick Violette, 6F] – (5) Ready A. P. (A) was pinched back to last in her debut at Belmont and rallied to win by more than 8 lengths as the odds-on favorite. She will take on the boys in this state-bred stake. (3) Coinage was a $450,000 yearling purchase who broke his maiden in his second try by almost eight lengths. (1) Run Curtis Run won his debut race that was scheduled for the grass for Mike Maker. (2) Barese was a first-time winner as the even money favorite back in March in a race where the second-choice in this race was third.

7^th race [Clm 40000 N2L, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (5) Amistad (B) had to steady badly at the start of his recent race and then had to check at the quarter pole and was moved up to fourth by disqualification. (7) Absam will drop into a N2L claimer for the first time after recently running third in an allowance at Churchill Downs. (9) Prefect also gets that class relief after last being seen in Gulfstream allowances for Rusty Arnold who has already won at this Saratoga meeting,. (10) Win d’Oro also hopes to find the competition level ideal in this spot after winning a maiden special weight for Mark Casse.

10^th race [NY, Md 40000, 5 ½ F TURF] – (5) Babagram (A) had the lead in his first career start for Tom Morley and had to check sharply and comes right back in a similar spot. (9) Distractandattack (B) went to his belly at the start of a race that was carded for the turf looking to get back on the grass now. (4) Fast Gordon drops out of the maiden special weight ranks after finishing just a length from the win last time out for Linda Rice. [(1) Mommie’s Jewel and (1A) Vancouver’s Pride, who is a first-timer for David Donk, make a solid entry.

Best bets:  Ready A. P. (4^th); Babagram (10^th). Best value:  Peacebethejourney (3^rd); Amistad (7^th).