Saratoga Hotlist - September 4

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Friday, September 4, 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.

1^st race – (5) Summer Brew (B) was second in her 2-year-old debut for Jorge Abreu after racing greenly down the stretch. On this all New York-bred card, she will now step up to a stakes race while adding another furlong of distance. (4) Samborella (A) will follow a similar path to the top choice by going into this stake as a maiden. She broke poorly in her only race and then closed along the rail to get third after getting bet down to be a heavy favorite. (2) Rossa Veloce was a debut winner for trainer Ray Handal at Saratoga taking command of the race early on and lengthening her lead down the stretch. (1) Make Mischief was a first-time winner at Belmont Park who then ran second in two graded stakes races at the Spa.

5^th race – (6) War Canoe (B) got too far back in the Day At the Spa Stakes at Saratoga in July but still rallied to miss the win by just a neck. She is back in a similar NY-bred stake for Chad Brown and Irad Ortiz. (7) Espresso Shot (B) had success in graded stakes races in her career and now gives the turf another try. Last race she had a very troubled start and still ran second in an allowance against open company that was meant for the grass. (2) Fifty Five has won six of these stakes in a row with a couple of open company and graded stakes mixed in. The new millionaire gets a rider change to Jose Ortiz as Castellano is in Kentucky for the Oaks and Derby. (4) Classic Lady beat the top choice in their last race and is another mare who always seems to give her best.

9^th race – (3) Big Wonder (C) was bet down from 9-2 to be the 9-5 favorite in a N2L claimer where he was second and now moves back a first-level allowance for state-breds while staying in a turf sprint. (8) Freewheeler made his 2020 debut with a second in a similar spot. Last year as a 2-year-old he finished second in the Futurity (G3) in a turf sprint for Todd Pletcher. (9) Luna’s in Charge just switched to the grass and finished second at Saratoga. He was entered in another allowance but it got rained off the turf and he was second there also. (11) Three Outlaws was a winner of an open company starter allowance two races back. That win was bookended by races off the grass and this guy is much better on the turf. This is his third start of the year while moving back to face NY-breds.

10^th race – (3) Sharp Starr (B) moved from a maiden special weight score to an allowance going today’s nine furlong distance. She managed to finish second despite being rank while being restrained by the rider. Now she tries this NY-bred stakes race. (2) Ice Princess was mismatched in the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park back in May. Before that she was the winner of a restricted stakes race and will be dangerous in this field. (5) Critical Value has one start this year in June when she won the Bowerie at Belmont Park. She is the winner of three races from five starts. (1) Makingcents was an open length winner of a state-bred allowance in June and then she tried one against open company where she was third.

Best bets: Summer Brew (1^st); Sharp Starr (10^th). Best value: War Canoe (5^th); Big Wonder (9^th).