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Saratoga Highlights: Week 3

by Pat McKenna, Mark Bardack

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28 

Honorable Miss: The day’s feature race is the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Wednesday’s card will also include the $150,000 NYSSS Cab Calloway for 3-year-olds going one mile on the turf. 

Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage: The Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage will host live music from Little Jack.  

NYRA Bets Gift Cards: NYRA Bets Gift Cards are available for purchase at more than 150 Stewart’s Shops and can be used to deposit funds automatically into a NYRA Bets account to bet Saratoga online in addition to hundreds of racetracks nationwide. 

Saratoga Live: Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com/SaratogaLive.   

THURSDAY, JULY 29 

John Morrissey Handicap: The day’s feature race is the $100,000 John Morrissey for New York-breds 3-years-old and up sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs. 

Ketel One Tasting: Fans will be invited to enjoy a complimentary tasting of the

Ketel One Botanical Spritz Peach & Orange Blossom cocktail from award-winning Ketel One family made vodka at the Ketel One Clubhouse Bar from 3 to 5 p.m. Must be at least 21 years old; while supplies last.  

Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage: The Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage will host live music from The Bluebillies. 

FRIDAY, JULY 30 

Curlin: The day’s feature is the $120,000 Curlin for 3-year-olds on the dirt at nine furlongs and a potential prep for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers. 

Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage: The Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage will host live music from Big Fez and the Surfmatics. 

Piazza Italia: The Piazza Italia, located in the Saratoga Events Pavilion, near Gate A, will host live music featuring Nick Collucio.

Fans may enjoy authentic Italian food and beverages at the Piazza Italia every day of the Saratoga meet, including sandwiches on Focaccia with Italian meats and cheeses, Fratelli Beretta cold cuts, Monti Trentini cheeses, Italian Bindi Gelato, Tiramisu and Peroni Beer. 

SATURDAY, JULY 31

Jim Dandy Day: A trio of graded stakes headlines the final Saturday in July as Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality is expected to lead a field of 3-year-olds in the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga Race Course, the traditional prep for the Runhappy Travers. The star-studded card will also feature the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and reigning champion sprinter Whitmore, the 8-year-old gelding who won the Breeders' Cup Sprint in November. The Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green will be highlighted by multiple Grade 1-winning turf veteran Channel Maker. 

PDJF Awareness Day: Saratoga Race Course will unite with racetracks across the country with autograph signings and photo opportunities as part of PDJF Day Across America. Riders from the Saratoga jockey colony will sign autographs on the Jockey Silks Room Porch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a suggested donation to PDJF. 

Ford Mustang Mach-E Display: Fans will have the opportunity to check out the new all-electric 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, which will be on display near the Clubhouse escalator throughout the afternoon, courtesy of Upstate Ford Dealer Group. 

Cooperstown Distillery, Chandon Garden Spritz and Ketel One Tastings:Fans will be invited to enjoy a trio of complimentary tasting events: the first tasting features the Saratoga Revolutionary Rum Runner from Cooperstown Distillery, the award-winning producer of distinguished whiskeys and other handcrafted spirits, at the Jim Dandy Bar from noon to 4 p.m. The second tasting will feature samples of the Chandon Garden Spritz at the Travers Bar from 1 to 3 p.m. And rounding out the afternoon will be samples of the Ketel One Botanicals Grapefruit & Rose Botanical Spritz cocktail from award-winning Ketel One family made vodka at the Ketel One Clubhouse Bar from 3 to 5 p.m. Must be at least 21 years old; while supplies last. 

Volcan Tequila Tasting and Summer Music Stage: The Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage will host live music from Nite Train with Thomasina Winslow. 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1

Amsterdam: Sunday’s card will feature the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam for 3-year-old sprinters going six and half furlongs.  

Brunch at The Rail at the 1863 Club: Fans are invited to enjoy a brunch buffet while experiencing The Rail at the 1863 Club, the first-floor banquet space at the 1863 Club. Tickets are $85 and include the buffet, soft drinks and Post Parade program book. Reservations are available by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX or online at NYRA.com/1863Club.

Berkshire Bank Family Sundays: The popular kid-oriented weekly event will feature a wide variety of free family-friendly activities, games, attractions and educational activities each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Berkshire Bank Family Zone, located inside Gate A near the Saratoga Race Course Box Office. 

Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage: The Volcan Tequila Summer Music Stage will host live music from The Rodeo Barons. 

All events and activities are subject to change at the discretion of NYRA.