Bob Ehalt // Mon. September 6
Today’s NY Hot List races to watch at Saratoga – Closing Day
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 4th or worse
* – 4 or more betting notches if 11-1 or more.
1st race [Md Sp Wt 100000, 7F] – (4) I’m Perfect Too (A) got squeezed back and was far behind in her first career start for Tom Albertrani, a trainer who rarely wins with debut runners. Going six-furlongs, she rallied from almost 20 lengths back to get within a half-length of the win. (3) Mun Luv has been close to the maiden victory a few times recently but was compromised at the start last time. (7) Someday Maybe will make his debut for Bill Mott with a fast gate work as a final prep with the looks one of won who can run. (6) Big City Momma has a pair of third-place finishes for Shug McGaughey in her two starts.
3rd race [Bernard Baruch (G2), 1 mi TURF] – (2) En Wye Cee (A) made his first start of the year for Todd Pletcher last month at Saratoga. He was in contention heading for home but had no room to run and once clear made a run to get up for third. (3) L’Imperator was a three-time winner in France before joining the Chad Brown barn in 2020. Chad tried her in a stake but then she was laid off until last month when she was an impressive winner of an allowance at the Spa. (1) Tell Your Daddy got a career high speed figure while running second in the Lure for Tom Morley. (4) No Word was second behind Gufo in the Belmont Derby (G1) last year. She has just one start this year for Pletcher.
6th race [Clm 40000 N2L, 1 1/16 mi TURF] – (7) Princess Pinky (A) got “clobbered” at the start of her last race in June at Belmont Park which was her first try on the grass. She recovered and rallied to get within a half-length of the win. (6) Ocean Air has three finishes in starter allowances in the top three in her most recent races and now gets the class relief that comes with the drop to this N2L claimer. (8) Linny Kate moves down from allowance races to be a contender in this spot for Chad Brown. (10) A Thing of Beauty won a maiden special weight for Todd Pletcher at Keeneland this spring and then set the pace in an allowance at Monmouth Park.
12th race [NY, Md 40000, 5 ½ F TURF] – (6) New York Supreme (A) was second in a similar spot last time after she got bumped and steadied at the start and then had to rally nine-wide from far back. (10) Orma (B) got steadied in the early going and then kept swapping leads down the stretch and still finished third. (2) Path Less Taken (B) raced along the hedge in her career debut and got stopped while trying to rally in the stretch. (4) Stella Mars has a pair of seconds since returning to the turf.
Best bets: I’m Perfect Too (1st); En Wye Cee (3rd). Best value: Princess Pinky (6th); New York Supreme (12th).
| No. | Name | Letter/ last race |
Today’s Race | Comments |
| (4) | I’m Perfect Too | A on 8/4 | 1 | She was squeezed back in debut, got far behind, and finished second. |
| (2) | En Wye Cee | A on 8/4 | 3 | He had no room in stretch and rallied for third once clear. |
| (7) | Princess Pinky | A on 6/19 | 6 | In turf debut, she got slammed at start and gamely got second. |
| (4) | Don’t Wait Up | A on 8/14 | 7 | He lost by a nose in first start after traffic trouble. |
| (9) | Hot Fudge | B on 7/11 | 8 | Entered for Main Track Only. |
| (6) | Cold Hard Cash | B on 8/14 | 11 | After racing wide all race, he was third in a blanket finish. |
| (2) | Path Less Taken | B on 7/22 | 12 | Racing on the hedge, she got stopped in the stretch. |
| (6) | New York Supreme | A on 8/15 | 12 | She got bumped, steadied, and then was nine-wide to be second. |
| (10) | Orma | B on 8/15 | 12 | She steadied early, then swapped leads, and was third. |