The second weekend of the 2024 Saratoga Race Course meeting arrives Friday with a 10-race card topped by the Curlin Stakes, a potential prep for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes later in the meet.
The Curlin goes early – the third race on the card with post time at 2:18 p.m. – and features a field of six. Unmatched Wisdom, unbeaten in two starts; Timeout, a winner going the Curlin’s 9-furlong trip last time out at Churchill Downs; and Corporate Power, gritty winner of the Sir Barton last time on Preakness Day, headline the compact field.
The Saratoga Special handicappers are looking for some winners. Jessica Paquette uncovered a big one Thursday, tabbing Proctor Street to win the eighth to the tune of $36.80. That’ll help the ROI. Speaking of which, the handicappers need some help with the difficult task of trying to “beat the meet.” We shall see if any of them come close, or pull it off.
Here are the picks for Thursday, July 19. Good luck.
JOHN SHAPAZIAN (16/62, -$43.30):
1-Be Real, Governor Sam, No Evidence.
2-Dea Matrona, Magic Eight Ball, It’s Hot In Here.
3-Unmatched Wisdom, Corporate Power, Timeout.
4-Commandperformance, Skylander, First Glimpse.
5-Schwartz entry, Positive Carry, Capo Donna.
6-Joker On Fire, Rocked Out, Chasing Colton.
7-Emerald Forest, Lafitte’s Fleet, Chateau.
8-Roswell, Princess Madison, Wailua.
9-Rice entry, Root Cause, Vino Rouge.
10-Geopolitics, Heart Of The Night, Splashy.
CHARLES BEDARD (16/59, -$11.50):
1-After Taxes, America’s Honor, No Evidence.
2-From Hello, Wings Like Eagles, Alette D’Oro.
3-Corporate Power, Unmatched Wisdom, Elephants Ear.
4-First Glimpse, Rocco Strong, Skylander.
5-Positive Carry, Our Finest Hour, Schwartz entry.
6-The Toner, Under Who’s Radar, Saratoga Warrior.
7-Emerald Forest, Chateau, Super Chief.
8-Roswell, Princess Madison, Sam’s Treasure.
9-Vino Rouge, Determined Lilly, Child Of The Moon.
10-Geopolitics, Aunt Yola, Cerretta.
TOM LAW (16/62,-$30.30):
1-Governor Sam, After Taxes, Test Score.
2-From Hello, It’s Hot In Here, Dea Matrona.
3-Corporate Power, Unmatched Wisdom, Timeout.
4-Yono, Commandperformance, First Glimpse.
5-Positive Carry, Not Guilty, Our Finest Hour.
6-Under Who’s Radar, Chasing Colton, Saratoga Warrior.
7-Emerald Forest, Super Chief, Ribbons And Medals.
8-Roswell, Princess Madison, Sam’s Treasure.
9-Root Cause, Determined Lilly, Child Of The Moon.
10-Geopolitics, Russalite, Barefoot Disco.
ROB WHITLOCK (15/62,-$3.40):
1-Gene And Jude, Governor Sam, After Taxes.
2-It’s Hot In Here, Unicorn Cake, From Hello.
3-Unmatched Wisdom, Corporate Power, Timeout.
4-Yono, First Glimpse, Commandperformance.
5-Our Finest Hour, Positive Carry, Not Guilty.
6-Chasing Colton, Joker On Fire, Saratoga Warrior.
7-Lafitte’s Fleet, Critical Threat, Super Chief.
8-Roswell, Tricky Temper, Sam’s Treasure.
9-Child Of The Moon, Vino Rouge, Determined Lilly.
10-Beautiful Thief, Geopolitics, Barefoot Disco.
JESSICA PAQUETTE (9/60, -$20.50):
1-Gene And Jude, Test Score, No Evidence.
2-Alette d’Oro, Backstretch Rose, Magic Eight Ball.
3-Timeout, Corporate Power, Unmatched Wisdom.
4-Rocco Strong, Six Percent, Skylander.
5-Not Guilty, Positive Carry, Redo.
6-Chasing Colton, Burning Munny, Salt Spartan.
7-Emerald Forest, Ribbons And Medals, Lafitte’s Fleet.
8-Roswell, Wailua, Do Gooder.
9-Determined Lily, Vino Rouge, Epic Miss Justice.
10-Ariana Rye, Geopolitics, Russalite.
