Saratoga Hotlist - September 7

Today’s New York Hot List races to watch – Monday, Sept. 7, 2020 (Final Day) 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.

4^th race – (2) Road to Meath will make a big drop in claiming price and switch back to the dirt as Chad Brown fights with Todd Pletcher to retain the trainer title on the final day at Saratoga. He has past races on the main track that would win this race. (9) Revenio follows a similar strategy as the top choice with a drop down and a move off the grass for Nick Zito. (6) Kabob broke his maiden last start despite the rider losing his whip in the final turn and now faces winners in this N2L condition for a $16,000 tag. (4) Rightdowngentlemen was a debut winner for Bruce Brown at Aqueduct and returns from that layoff in a soft field.

6^th race – (1A) Clench (C) makes his first start off the claim from a third-place finish when he was bet down from 7-1 to 4-1. Brad Cox cut his level in half from $40,000 to $20,000. (1) Topper T finds a field loaded with speed that should set up his closing move and rounds out a strong entry. (2B) Wegotoldyougotsold makes his first start after getting claimed back in March by Rudy Rodriguez and gets Irad in the saddle. (7) Life in Shambles is another one debuting for a new trainer off the claim. Rob Atras wins with 26% of his new runners. (3) Chateau may be the fastest of several early runners and gets the rail.

13^th race – (6) Jackie’s Warrior (A) is the only stakes winner in the closing day Hopeful (G1) for 2-year-olds. Unbeaten in two starts, he easily won the Saratoga Special (G2) for Steve Asmussen. Joel Rosario retains the mount. (5) Reinvestment Risk (A) drew off to win his debut for Chad Brown by almost eight lengths while being geared down nearing the wire. (3) Mutasaabeq (A) was another very impressive first start winner. This Pletcher and Shadwell Stable won by more than four lengths as an odds-on favorite. (7) Ampersand was a debut winner as the favorite for Phil Serpe after he bobbled at the start.

14^th race – (12) Gunman (A) makes a drop down to this $40,000 maiden claimer on the turf. His previous two starts were good and this will be the final chance for Pletcher to take back the trainer title from Chad Brown. (11) Kickin’ Kirby (C) will make his first try on the grass after a good third going nine furlongs on the main track for Zito. (9) Mohjestic had a promising debut in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park back in March. Since then, trainer George Weaver has gelded the horse. Jose Ortiz gets on board as he tries to win the jockey title again. (2) Stare Decisis is another horse moving from Klaravich and Chad Brown to the barn of Jorge Abreu. The new trainer has done well with these kind of horses as this one drops into the maiden claiming ranks for the first time.

Best bets: Road to Meath (4^th); Jackie’s Warrior (13^th). Best value: Clench entry (6^th); Gunman (14^th).