The July 4 Racing Festival comes to a close Sunday at Saratoga Race Course with a 10-race card without a stakes but plenty of opportunities for horseplayers and horsemen.
The festival, which also caps the Belmont at the Big A spring-summer meeting, continues to generate interest from gamblers as total handle exceeded $26 million Saturday. Total wagering for the first three days of the festival stands at $65,955,443.
Sunday’s card starts at 1:10 p.m. and finishes at 6:19, then it’s a three-day break before the official Opening Day of the Saratoga meeting. Get ready for that, because we know what an exhilarating and exhausting run that can be over the 40-day season. And remember, it’s not the 40 days that get you, it’s the 40 nights. Tread light early.
The Saratoga Special also kicks off our historic 25th season Thursday with the first of our 20 issues scheduled for the 2025 meeting. We already fired off four during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, so hopefully ironed out all the wrinkles. The team is in place and ready to roll.
Want to reach potential customers and clients? How about dropping an ad in The Special? Check out our 2025 brochure.
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The handicappers don’t rest and are back for the final day of the July 4 Racing Festival. Here are the picks for Sunday. Good luck.
JOHN SHAPAZIAN (10/34):
1-Antonio Of Venice, Gun It, Muazarah.
2-Chummers, Valentine Crusader, Max Money.
3-In Time, Miwa, Holy Foley.
4-Peek, Tiberius Mercurius, Winter’s Ghost.
5-Sittin Chilly, Trade Imbalance, Brave Bear.
6-Life Advice, Leslie’s Star, Aviso.
7-Mighty Eriu, Hue, Lady d’Oro.
8-Rithm Nic, For Some Reason, Forgiving Spirit.
9-Brigade Commander, Cognoscenti, Jhirsch.
10-Amelia, Miss Uproar, Blue For You.
TOM LAW (11/34):
1-Antonio Of Venice, One Nine Hundred, Gun It.
2-Toga Twist, Valentine Crusader, Dutrow entry.
3-Youknownothing, Miwa, Allamericanbeauty.
4-Peek, Tiberius Mercurius, Abadin.
5-Solo’s Fury, Trade Imbalance, Brave Bear.
6-Leslie’s Star, Downtown Channel, Competitive Threat.
7-Mighty Eriu, Hue, Will Not Be Swayed.
8-Rithm Nic, Forgiving Spirit, For Some Reason.
9-Jhirsch, Cognoscenti, Brigade Commander.
10-Light The Mira, Hangover Heaven, Mitzy Fog.
CHARLES BEDARD (8/34):
1-Gun It, Antonio Of Venice, Kunshan Bridge.
2-Natural Shooter, Valentine Crusader, Dutrow entry.
3-Miwa, Fantasy Performer, Rice entry.
4-Tiberius Mercurious, Peek, Barrera entry.
5-Brave Bear, Sittin Chilly, Mackville.
6-Life Advice, Downtown Channel, Aviso.
7-Lady D’Oro, Proud Mary, Will Not Be Swayed.
8-Takechargesmiling, Brew Pub, TCBR entry.
9-Social Hour, Still A Soldier, Brigade Commander.
10-Giuliana’s Dream, Gattatiz, Miss Uproar.
ROB WHITLOCK (11/34):
1-One Nine Hundred, Aggelos The Great, Gun It.
2-Dutrow entry, Valentine Crusaders, Natural Shooter.
3-In Time, Allamericanbeauty, Miwa.
4-Peek, Abadin, Aula.
5-Sittin Chilly, Solo’s Fury, Trade Imbalance.
6-That’s Funny, Competitive Threat, Life Advice.
7-Hue, Mighty Eriu, Proud Mary.
8-Rithm Nic, TCBR entry, Brew Pub.
9-Jhirsch, Bridge Commander, Still A Soldier.
10-Mizty Fog, Hangover Heaven, Amelia.
JESSICA PAQUETTE (5/34):
1-Gun It, One Nine Hundred, Antonio Of Venice.
2-Valentine Crusader, Chummers, Max Money.
3-Holy Foley, Sugaree, You Know Nothing.
4-Aula, Peek, Aint No Joke.
5-Sittin Chilly, Trade Imbalance, Mackville.
6-Competitive Threat, Aviso, Downtown Channel.
7-Hue, Might Eriu, Dangherecomesshang.
8-For Some Reason, Forgiving Spirit, Brew Pub.
9-Jhirsch, Desperate Proposal, Brigade Commander.
10-Mizty Fog, Syl’s Pleasure, Light The Mira.
