Today’s NY Hot List races to watch – Friday, August 8, 2025 at Saratoga (Day 22)
                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.

2^nd race [OC50k/SAL50k, 5½ F TURF] – (6) Alexis Zorba (A) raced in similar spot last time but was in for the $50,000 optional claiming tag. After setting the pace and getting caught late in the race he comes back as part of the starter allowance condition. (3) Billionaires Row broke his maiden on synthetic at Gulfstream Park and then moved to the turf where he was third in a starter allowance last month. (5) Global Prosperity broke his maiden last time when he dropped into a $50,000 maiden claimer for the first time. (4) Film Academy returned from a year layoff to get his maiden claiming victory against NY-breds also in his first run for a tag.

5^th race [NY, Md Sp Wt, 5½ F TURF] – (2) Lawyer Mason (B) was second in his debut at 4-1 for a trainer that does not usually have first-time starters ready to win. (7) Truman’s Commander will debut for Mark Casse. (3) Chummers will make his second start for Ray Handal moving from dirt to turf which is where he is expected to run better. (10) Moonlight Drive is a first-time starter that was touted by his trainer Jorge Abreu.

6^th race [R, Md Sp Wt, 6F] – (6) Empires King (6) was second in his debut behind a runaway winner but was well clear of the rest. He was highly regarded by his connections before the race and gets to run in an auction-price restricted maiden. (3) Bod Beach ships up to Saratoga from Monmouth Park where he ran third and then second. (2) Escape Hall will make his debut for George Weaver who has positive results with 2-year-olds. (8) Tactics goes out for the first time for Repole Stable, Todd Pletcher, and Irad Ortiz.

7^th race [Md Sp Wt, 1 mi TURF] – (8) Blast Furnace (C) was down from 12-1 to 7-1 while racing for a $100,000 tag and finished second following a stretch duel. (1) Apalta was fourth in his debut last month at Saratoga at 5-1 for Todd Pletcher after flashing some early speed. (2) Salamis was third in his last two races on the grass in April at Keeneland and in December at Gulfstream as a 2-year-old. (6) Royal Presence was fourth in two starts last year and gets blinkers on for his 2025 debut.

Best bets: Alexis Zorba (2^nd); Empire King (6^th). Best value: Lawyer Mason (5^th); Blast Furnace (7^th).