Saratoga Hotlist - September 3

Today’s NY Hot List races to watch Friday, September 3, 2021 at Saratoga – Day 35
                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 [Clm 40000 N2L, 7F] – (3) Risk Profile makes that winning drop from starter allowance to N2L. He won a maiden special weight for George Weaver two back and set the pace in his last start going a mile. Lot of positives for this guy. (5) Repo Rocks comes back on two weeks rest for Tom Morley while also making the drop from starter allowance ranks. (6) Cousin Andrew was claimed for $20,000 from Chad Brown out of his maiden victory by Peter Walder. (7) Good Culture ran second in a N2L and got claimed away from Mike Maker.

5^th race [Clm 16000 N2L, 6F] – (5) Papa Smooth was also claimed from his last start in a N2L by Orlando Noda. He broke his maiden for a $40,000 tag two races back. (2) Dee Bo was claimed two races ago and then ran in a $25,000 open claimer where he pressed the pace.  Now, he drops back to the appropriate level. (1) Triple Americano broke his maiden for $25,000 on a sloppy track at Saratoga for Rob Atras. (7) Noctilucent has layoff lines between all four of his races and now drops out into a N2L condition for the first time. His last race was in May and he stopped badly after pressing the pace. For some reason, Luis Saez stays on board.

8^th race [NY, Alw 90000 N1X, 7F] – (6) Work Out (B) got loose before his last race, ran off a bit, and then faded badly after doing a little running. He was an impressive maiden winner in the race before that. (8) Purple Hearted set the pace in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes and finished second going two turns. Trainer Chris Englehart is as good as anybody making the move from racing at Finger Lakes. (4) Big Bobby has two seconds and a win in three starts for Bill Mott including an identical spot at Saratoga at the beginning of the meeting. (1) Gold Panda was a clear winner of a maiden special weight in his last start at the Spa for Charlie Baker who is having an excellent meeting.

9^th race [Lucky Coin, 5 ½ F TURF] – (7) Holiday Stone was third in the Da Hoss at Colonial Downs behind a horse that came back to win his next start. (8) Maven is one of those Wesley Ward sprinters that made the trip to Europe and was last seen racing in a Group 1 at Royal Ascot. His top rider John Velazquez stays on board. (6) Backtohisroots returns for his 2021 debut as a new gelding for John Terranova and gets Luis Saez to ride. He was a winner at Saratoga last summer and a past stakes winner. (3) Noble Emotion is in fine form since joining the barn of Horatio DePaz this year with an allowance win two races back followed by a third after a less than ideal trip.

Best bets:  Risk Profile (3^rd); Papa Smooth (5^th). Best value:  Work Out (8^th); Holiday Stone (9^th).