Saratoga Hotlist - September 1

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Thursday, September 1, 2022 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 [Clm 20000, 6F] – (1) Ragtime Blues finished in the top three six times this year including a second last month after a short layoff when he was claimed for $16,000 at Saratoga by Kelly Breen. (7) Casalsa set the pace in a similar $16,000 claimer two weeks ago at the Spa and finished fourth and got claimed by Peter Walder who has had good results after shipping a small number of horses up from Belmont Park. (6) In Sky We Trust was claimed out of his last two starts, one brought him north from Churchill Downs and then he ran third for a $25,000 tag. (2) Bronx Bomber will drop out of a series of starts in NY-bred allowances. He was a winner the last time he ran for a tag at Aqueduct.

7^th race [Clm 50000 N2L, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (6) Masabeeh (B) got bumped and had to alter course in the stretch and then rallied to finish third less than a length behind the winner. (9) Dream of Change missed winning an allowance at Monmouth Park by a head after having the lead in his third start in America for Chad Brown. (10) I’m Buzzy was claimed for $32,000 after a second-place finish in a similar N2L condition. (4) Command Point was fourth in his 2022 debut last month for today’s claiming price. Last year, he ran in a series of starter allowances and the blinkers come off.

9^th race [Md Sp Wt, 5 ½ F TURF] – (10) Check Engine Light (B) got off to a slow start in her debut at Saragota after breaking from the rail and did some late running at odds of 11-1. (4) Ticker Tape Home was second in her debut at Woodbine in a turf sprint as the favorite and then was less successful going two-turns at Saratoga. (5) Georgees Spirit was entered for the turf in her first start for Jorge Abreu but the race was run on a good main track where she pressed the pace as the favorite. (8) Illicit was sent off at 5-1 in her first-career start and finished fifth and is likely to go to the lead again in her second start.

10^th race [P. G. Johnson, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (6) Be Your Best (A) was an easy debut winner at Saratoga after rallying to the lead at the top of the stretch and then extending her lead to more than three lengths for Horacio DePaz. (8) Recognize broke her maiden by more than five lengths in her first start on the grass for Bill Mott. (5) Idea Generation finished second by a nose in that race at Saratoga that was declared a non-wagering event so technically she is making her first start here. (1) Lady Jasmine was a first-time winner going two-turns for David Donk who is having a very good Saratoga meeting.

Best bets:  Ragtime Blues (2^nd); Be Your Best (10^th). Best value: Masabeeh (7^th); Check Engine Light (9^th).