Saratoga Hotlist - September 5

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Saturday, September 5, 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 worst
* - 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.

1^st race – (3) Tackle (B) had a promising debut for Bill Mott when he rallied late for second in a mile maiden special weight for NY-breds on the turf. Mott runners usually show improvement in their second start which comes in a similar spot. (1) Kaz’s Beach made his first start against open company in a maiden special weight at Penn National and was second to horse that came back to win his next start going two turns. He now switches to a New York trainer to race against state-breds. (2) Neuro has two starts that earned speed figures that fit well with this field. (6) Ancient Times was a $320,000 weanling purchase who will make his debut for Todd Pletcher as a gelding.

5^th race – (8) Officiating (A) had a rough start in his 2-year-old debut and ended up 23 lengths behind and even though he finished seventh he did make a noticeable run to make up a big chunk of ground. The Bill Mott runner should appreciate the stretch out to seven furlongs. (5) Olympiad was part of a heavily bet entry for Bill Mott in his debut when he was third after racing on the rail and then swinging out wide for the stretch drive. (1) Munqad is a home-bred son of War Front who is making his debut for Pletcher going seven furlongs. His dam is half-sister to a Breeders’ Cup winner and produced the graded stakes winner Shagaf. (2) Caddo River has a series of speedy workouts for his first start for Brad Cox who does well with first-timers. His dam was a graded stakes placed as a 2-year-old whose first foal is a winner.

10^th race – (9) Reagan’s Edge (A) battled on even terms with the graded stakes winner Frank’s Rockette last time in the Victory Ride (G3). She gained ground down the stretch after letting the winner set the pace and missed by a head. (5) Frank’s Rockette got an unpressured lead last time and is the likely favorite in the Prioress (G2). (1) Kimari was one of those precocious 2-year-olds for Wesley Ward who romped in her debut on the dirt and then went to Royal Ascot to run second. This year was similar with a stakes win at Oaklawn Park and then another place finish at Ascot. This is her first start since that trip to England. (7) Center Aisle was a $1.5 million purchase. She gets blinkers on for Chad Brown after running third behind the top two choices.

11^th race – (2) Tacitus got back in the winner’s circle in the Suburban (G2) at Belmont with an overwhelming 8 ¾ length victory while going ten furlongs. It certainly doesn’t hurt the Bill Mott trainee that the Woodward has returned to the mile and a quarter distance. That recent win has to help the confidence of the son of Tapit as he now seeks his first Grade 1 win. (3) Moretti finished second in the Suburban but came back from that to win the 14-furlong Birdstone at Saratoga. Clearly, the distance will not be a problem for the Todd Pletcher runner as the trainer tries to win his fourth Woodward. (5) Spinoff was a late running winner for Pletcher in the Alydar at the Spa by almost three lengths against a strong field. (6) Prioritize won an allowance race for the hot Bond barn by a neck over Money Moves who will be in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Best bets: Tackle (1^st); Tacitus (11^th).  Best value:  Officiating (5^th); Reagan’s Edge (10^th).

@NYHotList Saturday Pick 3 Special --
The Saturday Special $1 Pick 3 is on races 10-12 and includes the Prioress (G2) and the Woodward (G1):  1, 5, 7, 9 with 2 with 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10 = $24.