The 2017 Saratoga Race Course meeting rolls into its third week Wednesday with a 10-race card that includes a strong steeplechase event as the opener and the featured $100,000 Shine Again Stakes.
The Saratoga Special print edition returns Thursday to newsstands, paper racks and retail outlets in and around Saratoga, and the digital edition will hit your inbox sometime Wednesday night with any luck. In the meantime the handicappers from The Special scoped out Wednesday’s card and offer their selections to get the week started.
Charles Bedard continues to set the pace and heads into Week 3 with 33 winners from 101 races. Defending champ John Shapazian inched closer as Week 2 closed and is second with 27 wins. Tom Law (23) and Gaile Fitzgerald (22) round out the quartet.
Here are handicapper’s picks for Wednesday, Aug. 2.
JOHN SHAPAZIAN (27/101):
1-Invocation, Unsinkable, Alcazar de Maram.
2-Avast Matey, Top Brass, Sound The Horns.
3-Astounding, Carbon Data, Shamcat.
4-Northern Screamer, Call Her Karma, Bon Heir.
5-Let’s Get Loud, Herecomesyourman, Ninety One Assault.
6-Devine Union, Opined, Tiz Super.
7-Nevisian Sky, West Hills Giant, Mr Harlan.
8-Homeland Security, Church Social, Flower Valley.
9-Carina Mia, Clipthecouponannie, Going For Broke.
10-Imperfect Union, Purely Lucky, Dats Her.
GAILE FITZGERALD (22/101):
1-Alcazar de Maram, Invocation, Unsinkable.
2-Top Brass, Toohottoevenspeak, Fortuitous Path.
3-Astounding, Shamcat, Cite.
4-Northern Screamer, Bon Heir, Doinwhatshelikes.
5-My Man Jax, Let’s Get Loud, Herecomesyourman.
6-Devine Union, Tiz Super, Parade.
7-Nevisian Sky, Mr Harlan, Startup Nation.
8-Flower Valley, Church Social, Homeland Security.
9-Carina Mia, Clipthecouponannie, Pawleys Express.
10-Purely Lucky, Imperfect Union , March X Press.
TOM LAW (23/101):
1-Invocation, Alcazar de Maram, Kremlin.
2-Top Brass, Avast Matey, Blaze’n Prospector.
3-Carbon Data, Shamcat, Astounding.
4-Northern Screamer, Call Her Karma, Bon Heir.
5-My Man Jax, Let’s Get Loud, Herecomesyourman.
6-Parade, Tiz Super, Harkness.
7-Iron Power, Startup Nation, West Hills Giant.
8-Church Social, Flower Valley, Violet Blue.
9-Carina Mia, Birdatthewire, Clipthecouponannie.
10-Imperfect Union, Purely Lucky, Silverado Mist.
CHARLES BEDARD (33/101):
1-Alcazar de Maram, Any Given Royal, Unsinkable.
2-Avast Matey, Sound The Horns, Top Brass.
3-Astounding, Shamcat, King Of Spades.
4-Northern Screamer, Doinwhatshelikes, Bon Heir.
5-Likeitlikethat, Ninety One Assault, Harlan’s Hunch.
6-Presumptious, Tiz Super, Devine Union.
7-John’s Island, Startup Nation, New York Song.
8-Church Social, Just Got Out, Lucky Long.
9-Carina Mia, Indulgent, Clipthecouponannie.
10-Imperfect Union, March X Press, Carrera Cat.
