Saratoga Race Course Looking Primed for a Great Summer Meet

The 143rd racing season at Saratoga Race Course starts today in Saratoga Springs with temperatures reaching 98 degrees. 

The summer meet will run from today through Labor Day (Sept. 5). The highlight of meet, the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, will be run on Saturday, August 27. Post time is at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday through Sunday*.

The $100,000 Grade 3 Schuyerville Stakes is set to be run six furlongs for two-year-old fillies highlights a 10-race opening day card. Georgie's Angel, the 5:2 morning-line favorite, drew the far outside post, but due to the projected heat wave set to sweep through the area, the Todd Pletcher trainee will start from the six-post due to three scratches. 

Eight horses will run in the $75,000 James Marvin Stakes after 11 pre-entries were set to go earlier in the week. The third-place runner in the 2010 Preakness Stakes, Jackson Bend, will break from the inside for trainer Nick Zito at odds of 12:1.

Todd Pletcher will look to sweep the stakes races on opening day with second betting choice, Aikenite (4:1), looking like a prime player based on his recent speed figures. 

Tomorrow, the $250,000 Grade I TVG Coaching Club American Oaks, will feature a contentious five-horse field. Bill Mott trainee, Royal Delta, a three-year-old Kentucky-bred filly is the morning-line favorite at 2:1. 

 * August 27 (Travers Day) post time 11:35 a.m., September 5 (Labor Day) post time 12:30 p.m.