Week 5 of the 2023 Saratoga Race Course meeting comes to a close Sunday with a 10-race card topped by the $150,000 Mahoney for 3-year-olds sprinting on the grass.
With five weeks in the books that only leaves three to go but some serious steam up ahead with the Alabama Stakes Aug. 19, Travers Stakes Aug. 26 and final weekend up to Labor Day. Plenty of time to take in the sights and sounds.
The handicappers are hoping for more time, at least the ones chasing full-throttle leader Charles Bedard. Fourth in the Power Grid last season, Bedard has been razor-sharp all meet with four-, five- and six-wins days fairly commonplace. He leads heading into Day 24 with 80 wins, seven more than annual leader John Shapazian. The others might need a Hail Mary or two, or five.
The picks appear online Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays through the rest of the meeting, with the Power Grid presented by Toga Party Racing taking over in the print and digital editions of The Saratoga Special Wednesdays and Saturdays.
To find out more about Toga Party Racing Stable, call (518) 390-5486.
JOHN SHAPAZIAN (73/235):
1-Clearly A Test, Exhilarate, Magic Eight Ball.
2-Nikitis, Sea Dancer, Strife.
3-Lastchanceatglory, Senor Jobim, Jemography.
4-Alexis Zorba, City Fever, American Know How.
5-Paddington, Operation Torch, Pletcher entry.
6-Echo Lake, Crazy Cami, Zadorsky.
7-Vittorio, Guntown, Saint Tapit.
8-Magic Tap, Dreamlike, Film Star.
9-H P Moon, Shooters Shoot, Candy Tycoon.
10-Uncashed, Drew’s Gold, Eye Witness.
TOM LAW (63/235):
1-Exhilarate, Stellamaris, Wonder Ride.
2-Nikitis, Sea Dancer, Strife.
3-Lastchanceatglory, Scilly Cay, Jemography.
4-City Fever, Alexis Zorba, Cumberland.
5-Operation Torch, Brown entry, Clever Thought.
6-Echo Lake, Zadorsky, Crazy Cami.
7-Vittorio, Guntown, Looms Boldly.
8-Dreamlike, Magic Tap, Tapit Shoes.
9-H P Moon, Willy Boi, Shooters Shoot.
10-Uncashed, No Nay Hudson, Eye Witness.
ROB WHITLOCK (62/235):
1-Wonder Ride, Tahiti Iti, Clearly A Test.
2-Ba Dee Yah, Dancing Spirit, Dr Ray D.
3-Jemography, Scilly Cay, Lastchanceatglory.
4-Be There, American Know How, City Fever.
5-Winters Lion, Activist Investing, Pletcher entry.
6-Elusive Fashion, Zadorsky, Shimmering Allure.
7-Saint Tapit, Khozeiress, Guntown.
8-Magic Tap, Film Star, Whittington Park.
9-Shooters Shoot, He’smyhoneybadger, Willy Boi.
10-No Nay Hudson, Private Creed, Eye Witness.
CHARLES BEDARD (80/235):
1-Genetics, Clearly A Test, Exhilarate.
2-Strife, Vino Rouge, Lady Blitz.
3-Swiftsure, Jemography, Lastchanceatglory.
4-City Fever, Cumberland, Be There.
5-Paddington, Operation Torch, Pletcher entry.
6-Crazy Cami, Zadorsky, Althena.
7-Vittorio, Guntown, Secret Rules.
8-Dreamlike, Film Star, Magic Tap.
9-Shooters Shoot, He’smyhoneybadger, H P Moon.
10-Gaslight, Drew’s Gold, Uncashed.
JESSICA PAQUETTE (42/235):
1-Exhilerate, Clearly A Test, Magic Eight Ball.
2-Strife, Dr. Ray D, Lady Blitz.
3-Lastchanceatglory, Float On, Senor Jobim.
4-City Fever, Cumberland, American Know How.
5-Activist Investing, Operation Torch, Clever Thought.
6-Elusive Fashion, Bornforgreatness, Crazy Cami.
7-Loomsboldly, Guntown, Vittorio.
8-Magic Tap, Film Star, Dreamlike.
9-Sagamore Mischief, Shooters Shoot, HP Moon.
10-Uncashed, Gaslight Dancer, Eyewitness.
