Week 5 comes to a close Monday with the first running of a stakes named for one of the most dominating winners in Saratoga history and a rescheduled steeplechase race from last week.
The jumpers get things started at 1 p.m. and Monday’s feature is the inaugural Summer Colony Stakes for fillies and mares going 9 furlongs on the main track.
Summer Colony broke her maiden by 32 ¾ lengths in 2001, defeated eventual Horse of the Year and multiple champion Azeri in the Grade 2 La Canada at Santa Anita in 2002 and won the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga in 2002.
The handicappers from The Saratoga Special were busy tabbing winners left and right last week, especially our leader John Shapazian with 85 for the meet. Tom Law is seven back in second with 78, with Gaile Fitzgerald (69), Charles Bedard (63) and Chad Summers (61) looking for a big push over the final 13 days of racing. Here are their picks for Monday’s card:
Gaile Fitzgerald (69/273)
1-Selection Sunday, Syros Catch the Blues.
2-Scare City, Private Irving, A One More Chief.
3-Louisiana Brown, Boss Magician, Cyclogenisis.
4-Very Cherry Candy, Bobby Jo, Penthouse Party.
5-Are We Not Men, Boss Man, Dividend.
6-Premium, Devilish Love, Corporate Culture.
7-Dyker Beach, Alysaro, Tony B.
8-Pyrite Mountain, Red Vine, Side Road.
9-Natalie Victoria, Ambusher, Zucchini Flower.
10-Loves Last Chance, Summation Time, Pilatus.
John Shapazian (85/273)
1-Selection Sunday, Harrods Creek, Syros.
2-Invocation, One More Chief, Cosmic Coincidence.
3-Battle Red, Louisiana Brown, Ward entry.
4-Bobby Jo, Very Cherry Candy, Penthouse Party.
5-Boss Man, Double Whammy, Are We Not Men.
6-La Madrina, Corporate Culture, Devilish Love.
7-Dyker Beach, Alysaro, Brendan G.
8-Away Game, Red Vine, Pyrite Mountain.
9-Endless Chatter, Natalie Victoria, Zucchini Flower.
10-Appealing Alex, Hurricane Turn, Summation Time.
Tom Law (78/273)
1-Selection Sunday, Harrods Creek, Catch the Blues.
2-Cosmic Coincidence, Invocation, Scare City.
3-Cyclogenisis, Battle Red, Boss Magician.
4-Rosie My Way, Very Cherry Candy, Bobby Jo.
5-Boss Man, Strueves Star, Dividend.
6-Strike Charmer, Corporate Culture, Devilish Love.
7-Dyker Beach, Captain Toews, Alysaro.
8-Pyrite Mountain, Side Road, Red Vine.
9-Zucchini Flower, Ambusher, Natalie Victoria.
10-Summation Time, Loves Last Chance, War Melody.
Charles Bedard (63/273)
1-Harrods Creek, Spyros, Tropic Sea.
2-Invocation, One More Chief, Go To The Net.
3-Louisiana Brown, Battle Red, Boss Magician.
4-Very Cherry Candy, Bobby Jo, Swakopmund.
5-Are We Not Men, Strueves Star, C’s Smart Strike.
6-La Madrina, Premium, Devilish Love.
7-Dyker Beach, Tony B, Captain Toews.
8-Gotham News, Shock Leader, Red Vine.
9-Zucchini Flower, Endless Chatter, Made Up.
10-Loves Last Chance, Summation Time, Hurricane Turn.
Chad Summers (61/273)
1-Syros, Selection Sunday, Catch the Blues.
2-Scare City, Cosmic Coincidence, One More Chief.
3-Battle Red, Louisiana Brown, Ward entry.
4-Very Cherry Candy, Penthouse Party, Bobby Jo.
5-Boss Man, Dividend, Inca Saint.
6-Strike Charmer, Three Hearts, Corporate Culture.
7-Tony B, D J Manlove, Frame.
8-Side Road, Red Vine, Pyrite Mountain.
9-Ambusher, Zucchini Flower, Natalie Victoria.
10-Better Man, Summation Time, Wall Street Kitten.
