Wow; is it just us or does it seem like Week 3 of the 2018 Saratoga Race Course meeting and August 1 rolled around awfully fast? Ready or not here it is and a 10-race card that opens with a steeplechase allowance and features the $100,000 Shine Again for fillies and mares going 7 furlongs.
The day gets rolling as always at 1 p.m. and a seven-horse field lines up for the 2 1/16-mile steeplechase allowance with DASH Stable’s Whitman’s Poetry the 2-1 favorite for trainer Jack Fisher and jockey Sean McDermott. Paul Pompa Jr.’s Your Love is the 2-1 favorite for the Shine Again, off a runner-up finish in an allowance-optional in late June at Belmont.
The print edition of The Saratoga Special returns Thursday – recapping all the action from Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. No rest for The Special’s handicappers and they present their picks below.
One question many readers and fans ask once we get into the meat of the season is “how are the picks?” They’re looking for a number, often a percentage, and quick math isn’t always our strong suit first thing in the morning. However, with a quarter of the racing dates of the 2018 meet in the books and 100 races run, most anyone can do the math.
The tally shows John Shapazian clicking at a 36 percent clip, with 36 winners through Monday’s card. Tom Law is next at 27 – percent and winners – with Charles Bedard at 20 and Donald Phillips at 18.
Here are the handicappers picks for Wednesday, Aug. 1. Take care and good luck.
JOHN SHAPAZIAN (36/100):
1-Whitman’s Poetry, Dark Gemini, Sixty Five.
2-Heaven’s Creation, Eight Minute Millie, Lady Vicki.
3-Brockmoninoff, Ghost Giant, Wild William.
4-Glennrichment, Your Only Man, Transistor.
5-Our Circle Of Love, Irish Princess, Smile More.
6-She Will Rock, Corey Scores, Sassy Agnes.
7-Crossways, Take It To Scale, Saratoga Colonel.
8-Your Love, Come Dancing, Cairenn.
9-Stoney Bennett, Frisky Magician, Banana Thief.
10-Smash Williams, Bronze Age, Discreet Mission.
CHARLES BEDARD (20/100):
1-Sixty Five, Whitman’s Poetry, Dark Gemini.
2-Eight Minute Ellie, Heaven’s Creation, Giant Ending.
3-Ghost Giant, Ferrad’s Party, Wild William.
4-Transistor, Your Only Man, Tricked Up.
5-Our Circle Of Love, McLaughlin entry, Gifted Lady.
6-She Will Rock, Sassy Agnes, Corey Scores.
7-A True Giant, Crossways, Shiraz.
8-Your Love, Come Dancing, Heavenly Score.
9-Stoney Bennett, Frisky Magician, Dowse’s Beach.
10-Smash Williams, Analyze Your Luck, Go Big Or Go Home.
TOM LAW (27/100):
1-Whitman’s Poetry, Boss Man, Dark Gemini.
2-Heaven’s Creation, Eight Minute Ellie, Giant Ending.
3-Brockmoninoff, Wild William, Rough Justice.
4-Your Only Man, Glennrichment, Acoustic.
5-She Is Bedazzling, Our Circle Of Love, Irish Princess.
6-Corey Scores, Sassy Agnes, Jaded Lady.
7-Shiraz, Follow The Signs, Saratoga Colonel.
8-Your Love, Heavenly Score, Yorkiepoo Princess.
9-Frisky Magician, Dowse’s Beach, Whatstotalkabout.
10-Smash Williams, Bronze Age, Flatexcel.
DONALD PHILLIPS (18/100):
1-Whitman’s Poetry, Dark Gemini, Go Get The Basil.
2-Eight Minute Ellie, Heaven’s Creation, Giant Ending.
3-Ferrad’s Party, Brockmoninoff, Wild William.
4-Your Only Man, Glennrichment, Acoustic.
5-Irish Princess, Our Circle Of Love, Tell Your Mama.
6-Sassy Agnes, Jaded Lady, Corey Scores.
7-Crossways, Follow The Signs, Shiraz.
8-Come Dancing, Your Love, Yorkiepoo Princess.
9-Dowse’s Beach, Frisky Magician, Samadi Sky.
10-Bronze Age, Smash Williams, Lake Party.
