The fifth week of racing at the 2017 Saratoga Race Course meeting gets underway Wednesday with a 10-race card that includes a steeplechase allowance and the $100,000 Bolton Landing for 2-year-olds on the turf.
The Bolton Landing, won last year by eventual Royal Ascot winner Con Te Partiro and trainer Wesley Ward, attracted a field of eight. Ward sends out two in the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing in Fairyland and Mentality. Todd Pletcher also entered a pair in March X Press and Sugar Queen, while Susan Cooney ships Madame X. in from Maryland.
The complexion of The Saratoga Special handicapper’s race changed Monday as defending champ John Shapazian reinserted his name at the top with five winners. Shapazian heads into Week 5 with 68 winners from 221 races (30.1 percent) and a one-race lead over Charles Bedard. Gaile Fitzgerald is third with 57 winners and Tom Law trails with 52.
Here are the handicapper’s selections for Wednesday, Aug. 16. Good luck.
JOHN SHAPAZIAN (68/221):
1-Kremlin, Mutasaawy, Any Given Royal.
2-Spieth, D’ambrosio, Alpha Team.
3-Fire Away, Motion entry, Muqtaser.
4-Lady Constance, Jump For Joy, Dubb entry.
5-My Mr. Wonderful, Nolinski, Stolen Pistol.
6-Saratoga Wildcat, Rockford, Englehart entry.
7-Claiborne entry, Zoot Suit, Uncle Youdge.
8-Mobridge, Damage Control, No Texting.
9-Fairlyland, Sly Beauty, March X Press.
10-Irst, Schott, Borsa Vento.
GAILE FITZGERALD (57/221):
1-Mutasaawy, Any Given Royal, Kremlin.
2-Alpha Team, Powerful Ally, Tarpon Bay Road.
3-Motion entry, Fire Away, Muqtaser.
4-Lady Constance, Dubb entry, Rainy Night.
5-My Mr. Wonderful, Joe’s Smokin Gun, Nolinski.
6-Old Upstart, Paden, Saratoga Wildcat.
7-Claiborne entry, End Play, Zoot Suit.
8-Damage Control, Mobridge, No Texting.
9-Sly Beauty, Madam X Press, Mentality.
10-Irst, Britain, Schott.
TOM LAW (52/221):
1-Kremlin, Any Given Royal, Bishop’s Castle.
2-Powerful Ally, Spieth, Tarpon Bay Road.
3-Fire Away, Street Fashion, Muqtaser.
4-Lady Devil, Jump For Joy, Askfor Forgiveness.
5-My Mr. Wonderful, Joe’s Smokin Gun, Nolinski.
6-Saratoga Wildcat, Morning Buzz, Rockford.
7-Claiborne entry, End Play, Expected Ruler.
8-Mobridge, Damage Control, Irish Prayer.
9-Fairyland, Sly Beauty, March X Press.
10-Irst, Britain, Headliner.
CHARLES BEDARD (67/221):
1-Kremlin, Mutasaawy, Bishop’s Castle.
2-Spieth, Powerful Ally, Alpha Team.
3-Augustin entry, Muqtaser, Fire Away.
4-Dubb entry, Lady Constance, Jump For Joy.
5-My Mr. Wonderful, Nolinski, Joe’s Smokin Gun.
6-Helooksthepart, Englehart entry, Saratoga Wildcat.
7-Claiborne entry, Zoot Suit, Amelia’s Wild Ride.
8-Mobridge, Damage Control, No Texting.
9-Mentality, Sugar Queen, Sly Beauty.
10-Borsa Vento, Irst, Britain.
