The second week of the 2024 Saratoga Race Course meeting comes to a close with an 11-race card highlighted by the rescheduled Gradd 1 A.P. Smithwick over jumps and a strong renewal of the Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes for older fillies and mares.
The $150,000 Smithwick, originally scheduled for Wednesday, goes as the opener at 1:10 p.m. with the same field. L’Imperator, Abaan and Pickanumber are the three major players with four other potential spoilers in the field that will go 2 3/8 miles.
The $200,000 Shuvee lured a field of five led by Grade 3 winners Shotgun Hottie and Raging Sea. The 9-furlong co-feature goes as the fifth race at 3:17 p.m.
The Saratoga Special handicappers hope to close with a flourish after some decent performances this week. They’re racking up winners and trying to stay afloat – or at least not wind up at the bottom of the lake – in the return-on-investment chase. It’s a tall order, trying to “beat the meet,” but they roll on.
Here are the picks for Sunday, July 21. Good luck.
JOHN SHAPAZIAN (22/84, -$60.20):
1-Pickanumber, Abaan, L’Imperator.
2-Enigmatic, Just Music, Graceful Rose.
3-Java Buzz, Korrongo, Devil In Disguise.
4-Sun Kisses Soiree, Jitterbug, Mission Of Hope.
5-Raging Sea, Shotgun Hottie, Venti Valentine.
6-Whenlovetakesover, Briterdayzahead, Midnight Worker.
7-Wild And Free, Virgin Colada, Running Away.
8-Awesome Czech, Firsttimeinforever, Busy Morning.
9-Kiss Me Slow, Immersive, Black Dog.
10-Black Rain, Rocketeer, Brigade Commander.
11-Neural Network, Hush Of A Storm, Let’s Go Big Blue.
CHARLES BEDARD (19/81, -$32.60):
1-Freddy Flintshire, Abaan, L’Imperator.
2-Enigmatic, Graceful Rose, Thorny.
3-Musical Maestro, Kreesa, Devil In Disguise.
4-Autumn’s Turn, Ms Sedona, Past Tense.
5-Raging Sea, Shotgun Hottie, Just Katherine.
6-Whenlovetakesover, Warrior Richard, Midnight Worker.
7-Wild And Free, Aristella, Ready To Battle.
8-Busy Morning, Roagna, Firsttimeinforever.
9-Black Dog, Spun Candy, Kiss Me Slow.
10-Seeking Unity, Paddington, Black Rain.
11-Born Dancer, Hush Of A Storm, Bar Fourteen.
TOM LAW (24/84, -$24.20):
1-L’Imperator, Abaan, Ziggle Pops.
2-Broughty Ferry, Enigmatic, Yo Puedo.
3-Devil In Disguise, Java Buzz, Better Luck.
4-Sun Kissed Soiree, Jitterbug, Past Tense.
5-Shotgun Hottie, Raging Sea, Venti Valentine.
6-Warrior Richard, Whenlovetakesover, Anthracite.
7-Ready To Battle, Aristella, Virgin Colada.
8-Awesome Czech, Downtown Channel, Lakeside Getaway.
9-Black Dog, Kiss Me Slow, Salted.
10-Black Rain, Rocketeer, Brigade Commander.
11-Let’s Go Big Blue Neural Network, Born Dancer.
ROB WHITLOCK (20/84, -$21.50):
1-Abaan, Ziggle Pops, L’Imperator.
2-Yo Puedo, Enigmatic, Brought Ferry.
3-Devil In Disguise, Musical Maestro, Korrongo.
4-Jitterbug, Past Tense, Sun Kissed Soiree.
5-Shotgun Hottie, Raging Sea, Misty Veil.
6-Brighterdayzahead, Warrior Richard, Anthracite.
7-Virgin Colada, Aristella, Hill entry.
8-Lakeside Getaway, Busy Morning, Starts Now.
9-Salted, Black Dog, Kiss Me Slow.
10-Black Rain, Rocketeer, Brigade Commander.
11-Let’s Go Big Blue, Locke And Key, Neural Network.
JESSICA PAQUETTE (14/82, -$22.50):
1-L’Imperator, Freddy Flintshire, Abaan.
2-Broughty Ferry, Graceful Rose, Enigmatic.
3-Better Luck, Pallino, Musical Maestro.
4-Sun Kissed Soiree, Jitterbug, Ms Sedona.
5-Raging Sea, Shotgun Hottie, Venti Valentine.
6-Anthracite, Warrior Richard, Briterdayzahead.
7-Aristella, Sharp Smile, Running Away.
8-Downtown Channel, Roagna, Starts Now.
9-Immersive, Salted, Black Dog.
10-Rocketeer, Black Rain, Brigade Commander.
11-Bettrluckythangood, Liar’s Poker, Let’s Go Big Blue.
