SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Shotgun Hottie won the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park last summer and her mid-season goal for 2024 was a return visit to the Jersey Shore for that same $500,000 stakes run over the weekend. That was until word came out that Idiomatic, last year’s champion older female, was running in that race. Thus, Shotgun Hottie shows up in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee Stakes at Saratoga, where she figures to go off the favorite against four opponents in the 1 1/8-mile race. Shotgun Hottie, trained by Cherie DeVaux, has raced herself into shape this season. After three defeats in graded stakes at Oaklawn Park, Shotgun Hottie dominated the Allaire duPont Distaff at Pimlico by 5 3/4 lengths, earning a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure. Shotgun Hottie ran back in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis on June 29 at Churchill Downs, where, under Paco Lopez, she got caught behind horses, ultimately got through a narrow opening along the rail, and was beaten a neck by Scylla, who was winning her third consecutive race. “Paco opted to save ground and in hindsight it was probably the best thing with all the bumping going on,” said DeVaux, referring to a bumping incident between Scylla and Xigera. “She’s a big filly that can’t be stopped and started, but the hole didn’t open up until late and it just gave her a little too much to do at that point.” :: Gain a competitive edge at Saratoga with DRF's premier handicapping data — purchase our meet packages today and bet with confidence. In a race void of speed, Shotgun Hottie figures to be on or near the lead from the rail under Lopez. “The most important thing with her is that she’s relaxed and Paco does a really great job of doing that,” DeVaux said. “If she finds herself on the lead, he just has to make sure she’s nice and relaxed and not pulling too much.” Raging Sea won the Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland by 3 1/4 lengths, a race in which the aforementioned Scylla finished third in what was her last defeat. Raging Sea ran fourth in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps here on the Belmont Stakes program, a day her trainer Chad Brown felt the track was speed favoring. “That [track] was really favoring front-running horses,” Brown said. “I’m hoping it was that. The track looks like it’s evened up now.” Just Katherine and Misty Veil were both cross-entered in the Molly Pitcher but will run at Saratoga. Just Katherine beat Raging Sea in a first-level allowance going 1 1/8 miles here last summer. Raging Sea avenged that defeat beating Just Katherine in the Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct. In that allowance, Raging Sea was stretching out from a mile race. Sunday, Just Katherine is stretching back out after a neck defeat to Accede in the seven-furlong Bed o’ Roses. “We think she likes the longer distances,” trainer Jose Jimenez said. Misty Veil will be making the 39th and final start of her career in the Shuvee. She is in foal to Maxfield, trainer Mike Maker said. Misty Veil was in foal when she won the Lady Jacqueline by 8 1/2 lengths at Thistledown last month. Venti Valentine won the Critical Eye Stakes for New York-breds by 6 3/4 lengths in the mud here on June 9. The Shuvee goes as race 5 on an 11-race card that begins at 1:10 p.m. The rescheduled Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase is race 1. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.