Few changes to Saratoga stakes for 2018

As is.

After undergoing much tinkering the last several years, the 2018 Saratoga stakes schedule will virtually mirror that of 2017, with 69 stakes worth $18.8 million offered through the 40-day meet, which runs July 20 through Sept. 3.

Two flat races and one steeplechase event had purse alterations. The Troy, a turf sprint, went from $100,000 to $250,000 in 2017, and will be worth $200,000 in 2018. It was upgraded to a Grade 3 by the North American Graded Stakes Committee. The Glens Falls, a turf marathon for fillies and mares that was upgraded to a Grade 2 this year, also went up in value, from $250,000 to $300,000. The Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase, moved up a week on the calendar to July 26, went up $25,000 to $150,000.

As usual, there will be at least one Grade 1 stakes offered every Saturday of the meet, beginning with the $500,000 Diana on July 21 followed by the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 28. The Vanderbilt card includes the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy, the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Amsterdam.

The Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney tops a five-stakes program on Aug. 4 that includes the Grade 1, $500,000 Test, the Grade 3, $200,000 Waya, and the Lure and De La Rose, both $100,000 listed turf stakes.

The Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave, a mile race on turf, is on Aug. 11 and shares the program with the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack for 2-year-old fillies.

The Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama for 3-year-old fillies is scheduled for Aug. 18 and shares billing with the Grade 2, $300,000 Lake Placid for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

The Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers for 3-year-olds is on Aug. 25 and will be one of six Grade 1 stakes that day, along with the $1 million Sword Dancer, $700,000 Personal Ensign, $600,000 Forego, $500,000 Ballerina, and $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens. The Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa, which the last two years featured appearances by Lady Eli, is also on that card.

The Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward tops the Sept. 1 program, which also includes the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway, Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac, and the Glens Falls.

DATE	RACE	GR.	PURSE	AGE	DISTANCE
Opening weekend
Fri., July. 20	Schuylerville	III	$150,000	F2YO	6 Furlongs
	Lake George	III	$150,000	F3YO	1 1/16 (Turf)
Sat., July. 21	Diana	I	$500,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/8 (Turf)
	Sanford	III	$150,000	2YO	6 Furlongs
Sun., July 22	Coaching Club American Oaks	I	$300,000	F3YO	1 1/8
Mon., July. 23	Caress		$200,000	F&M 4&UP	5 1/2 (Turf)
Week 2
Wed., July. 25	Honorable Miss Hdcp.	II	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	6 Furlongs
Thurs., July. 26	A. P. Smithwick Mem. (S'Chase)	I	$150,000	4&UP	2 1/16 (Turf)
	John Morrissey (NYB)		$100,000	3&UP	6 1/2 Furlongs
Fri., July. 27	Curlin		$100,000	3YO	1 1/8
Sat., July. 28	Jim Dandy	II	$600,000	3YO	1 1/8
	Alfred G. Vanderbilt Hdcp.	I	$350,000	3&UP	6 Furlongs
	Bowling Green	II	$250,000	4&UP	1 3/8 (Turf)
	Amsterdam	III	$200,000	3YO	6 1/2 Furlongs
Sun., July. 29	Shuvee Hdcp.	III	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/8
Mon., July. 30	Coronation Cup		$100,000	F3YO	5 1/2 (Turf)
Week 3
Wed., Aug. 1	Shine Again		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	7 Furlongs
Thurs., Aug. 2	Birdstone		$100,000	3&UP	1 3/4
Fri., Aug. 3	Nat'l Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame	II	$200,000	3YO	1 1/16 (Turf)
Sat., Aug. 4	Whitney	I	$1,200,000	3&UP	1 1/8
	Longines Test	I	$500,000	F3YO	7 Furlongs
	Waya	III	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/2 (Turf)
	Lure		$100,000	4&UP	1 1/16 (Turf)
	De La Rose		$100,000	F&M 4&UP	1 Mile (Turf)
Sun., Aug. 5	Troy	III	$200,000	3&UP	5 1/2 (T)
	Alydar		$100,000	4&UP	1 1/8
Mon., Aug. 6	NYSS Cab Calloway		$100,000	3YO	1 Mile (Turf)
Week 4
Wed., Aug. 8	Quick Call		$100,000	3YO	5 1/2 (Turf)
Thurs., Aug. 9	NYSS Statue of Liberty		$100,000	F3YO	1 Mile (Turf)
Fri., Aug. 10	Tale of the Cat		$100,000	3&UP	6 Furlongs
Sat., Aug. 11	Fourstardave Hdcp.	I	$500,000	3&UP	1 Mile (Turf)
	Adirondack	II	$200,000	F2YO	6 1/2 Furlongs
Sun., Aug. 12	Saratoga Special, presented by Miller Lite	II	$200,000	2YO	6 1/2 Furlongs
Mon., Aug. 13	Saratoga Dew (NYB)		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/8
Week 5
Wed., Aug. 15	Bolton Landing		$100,000	F2YO	5 1/2 (Turf)
Thurs., Aug. 16	Union Avenue (NYB)		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	6 1/2 Furlongs
Fri., Aug. 17	Skidmore		$100,000	2YO	5 1/2 (Turf)
Sat., Aug. 18	Alabama	I	$600,000	F3YO	1 1/4
	Lake Placid	II	$300,000	F3YO	1 1/8 (Turf)
Sun., Aug. 19	Summer Colony		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/8
Mon., Aug. 20	Evan Shipman (NYB)		$100,000	3&UP	1 1/8
Week 6
Wed., Aug. 22	John's Call		$100,000	3&UP	1 5/8 (Turf)
Thurs., Aug 23	Riskaverse		$100,000	F3YO	1 Mile (Turf)
	New York Turf Writers Cup (S'chase)	I	$150,000	4&UP	2 3/8 (Turf)
Fri., Aug. 24	Albany (NYB)		$250,000	3YO	1 1/8
	Fleet Indian (NYB)		$200,000	F3YO	1 1/8
	Funny Cide (NYB)		$200,000	2YO	6 1/2 Furlongs
	Seeking the Ante (NYB)		$200,000	F2YO	6 1/2 Furlongs
	West Point (NYB), presented by Trustco Bank		$150,000	3&UP	1 1/16 (Turf)
	Yaddo (NYB)		$150,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/16 (Turf)
Sat., Aug. 25	Travers	I	$1,250,000	3YO	1 1/4
	Sword Dancer	I	$1,000,000	3&UP	1 1/2 (Turf)
	Personal Ensign	I	$700,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/8
	Forego	I	$600,000	3&UP	7 Furlongs
	Ballerina	I	$500,000	F&M 3&UP	7 Furlongs
	H. Allen Jerkens Memorial	I	$500,000	3YO	7 Furlongs
	Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa	II	$400,000	F&M 3&UP	1 1/16 (Turf)
Sun., Aug. 26	Smart N Fancy		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	5 1/2 (Turf)
Mon., Aug. 27	Better Talk Now		$100,000	3YO	1 Mile (Turf)
Closing week
Wed., Aug. 29	With Anticipation	III	$150,000	2YO	1 1/16 (Turf)
Thurs., Aug. 30	P. G. Johnson		$100,000	F2YO	1 1/16 (Turf)
Fri., Aug. 31	Lucky Coin		$100,000	4&UP	5 1/2 (Turf)
Sat., Sept. 1	The Woodward	I	$750,000	3&UP	1 1/8
	Spinaway	I	$350,000	F2YO	7 Furlongs
	Saranac	III	$300,000	3YO	1 1/8 (Turf)
	Glens Falls	II	$250,000	F&M 3&UP	1 3/8 (Turf)
Sun., Sept. 2	Prioress	II	$250,000	F3YO	6 Furlongs
Mon., Sept. 3	Hopeful	I	$350,000	2YO	7 Furlongs
	Bernard Baruch Hdcp.	II	$250,000	3&UP	1 1/16 (Turf)