Saratoga Hotlist - July 29

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Thursday, July 29, 2021 at Saratoga – Day 11
                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 [Md 20000, 1 1/8 mi] – (7) Mo Heat got back on a fast track, finished second for a $30,000 tag after setting the pace going a distance of ground at Belmont Park. He made a significant jump in speed figures in that recent start. (5) Bourbon Rising got back on the main track and improved to run third behind the top choice. (4) Johnnypump will go from turf to dirt and make a big drop in class for Michael Maker. (8) Value Chain will also move from grass to the main track and drop in class for Leah Gyarmati who claimed him from Chad Brown after his first race.

2^nd race [NY, OC 45k/N2X, 1 mi TURF] – (7) Straw Into Gold ran third in the Manila against open company at Belmont and now returns to the NY-bred allowance ranks with a significant class advantage over the rest of this field. (1) Cold Hard Cash made a noteworthy step forward in speed figures since Linda Rice moved him to the grass at Belmont. (3) Quiet Out East caught a soft turf course last time and does his best work on the firm going. He can get the distance but also has been successful going shorter, so he has some tactical speed. (4) Scuttlebuzz will stretch back out to longer turf races after Rudy Rodriguez has had him sprinting.

3^rd race [Clm 35000 N3L, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (8) Coragescontender (D) lost all chance at the break when he tossed his head and walked out of the gate and now drops back to this restricted claimer. He was heavily bet with 2 minutes to post from 22-1 to 10-1. (3) Auburn Hills made a significant turnaround since he was claimed for $20,000 by Michael Maker with two thirds and a win. The win came in a N2L claimer for $30,000. (10) Reckless Spirit ran last month after a layoff from March and rallied wide to finish second in a similar spot for the Bond Barn. (12) Unleveraged was last seen at Saratoga in 2020 when Michelle Nevin claimed him for $35,000. He was odds-on in the that race when something must have gone wrong. He comes back as new gelding.

4^th race [Clm 12500, 6 ½ F] – (8) The Queens Jules was claimed for $20,000 two races back, moved up to $32,000 where he was third at Belmont, and now drops in for $12,500. In these low-level claiming races, I prefer horses that are dropping down in class. (9) High Heater has been racing at Gulfstream Park and now drops back down to this level where he won twice. (1) Cause of Action won for a $20,000 tag at Aqueduct in February and then tried starter allowances a couple of times. (6) Vineyard Sound is a speedy type who has caught three wet tracks in a row. He was a winner at Saratoga last year.

Best bets:  Mo Heat (1^st); Straw Into Gold (2^nd). Best value:  Coragescontender (3^rd); The Queens Jules (4^th).