Saratoga Hotlist - September 2

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Wednesday, September 2, 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.

2^nd race – (5) Madam Deputy was claimed by Rudy Rodriguez from her debut at Belmont Park where she ran third for $40,000. She now comes back in a similar spot with blinkers on. (6) Hey It’s Tati ran second in her debut on the dirt and then stepped up to try the grass in a maiden special weight. She also gets blinkers on as she drops down in class and goes back to the dirt. (4) Empress Luciana did not do well in her last two races on the turf, but on the dirt she was a contender. (3) Vinda Machine is another who will benefit from the return to the main track.

3^rd race – (1) Searing Chase (D) made a big improvement in his second start when he pressed the early pace and was bet down from 8-1 to 5-1. Now he will cut back in distance a bit which should help. (4) Nashville was a high priced purchase for Steve Asmussen who is very dangerous with his first-time runners at Saratoga. He has some speedy workouts in preparation. (5) Breithorn was claimed for $30,000 after missing the win by a head. New trainer Linda Rice adds Lasix for the first time and steps him up to a maiden special weight. (2) Democratic Values makes his 2020 debut after moving from the barn of Chad Brown to that of Jorge Abreu. He had one race back in September.

6^th race – (8) Voting Agreement was a debut winner last summer at Saratoga for Chad Brown who now drops into a $40,000 N2L claimer after two tries in allowance races this year. (6) Mo Me Mo My gets back on the turf after moving up to a starter allowance on a muddy track. The Doug O’Neill runner was second in a N2L condition two races back in a turf sprint like this spot. (4) Doll moves from the barn of Brad Cox after a second and a third in N2L races and now makes her first start for Rudy Rodriguez. (3) Alley to Calvary will get blinkers on for the first time in her third start of this year for Bruce Levine.

9^th race – (2) American Monarch (A) was a debut winner for Bill Mott going two turns on the turf. The son of American Pharoah gave Mott a victory with a first-timer which is usually a sign that this is a quality horse. (6) Nathan Detroit notched a win in his first start at Ellis Park going a mile for Shug McGaughey’s son Reeve and he travels North a try stakes company in the With Anticipation (G3). (1) Blame the Booze broke his maiden at Belmont in a race that was meant for the grass but was run on a muddy track. The Wesley Ward runner has been training on the turf at Saratoga all summer. (5) Fire At Will likely needed a race when he ran sixth for Michael Maker which should mean goods odds for a trainer who shouldn’t be ignored on the grass.

Best bets: Madam Deputy (2^nd); American Monarch (9^th). Best value: Searing Chase (3^rd); Voting Agreement (6^th).