Summer Season at Saratoga to Include 15 Grade I Stakes

One week after the opening of Del Mar, the best meet of the summer begins today at Saratoga.

The 36-day season, which begins this afternoon, will feature 15 Grade I stakes races, the first of which is the $500,000 Diana on Saturday. Today’s 10-race card is highlighted by the $100,000 Schuylerville.

A Grade III race for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs, the Schuylerville drew eight entrants, including a pair of young ladies trained by Todd Pletcher.

Cotton Blossom, a daughter of Broken Vow, will be ridden by the barn’s main man, John Velazquez, as she tries for her second win. In her June 16 debut at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., Cotton Blossom beat maidens by 5 3/4 lengths as the 2-5 favorite.

The other Pletcher entry is Audacious Chloe, a More Than Ready filly who won June 1 at Belmont Park after finishing second in her bow about five weeks earlier at Keeneland. Garrett Gomez will ride.

Race of the day: Spot The Diplomat, an impressive maiden winner in his second career start July 8 at Hollywood Park, will try to become a stakes winner today when he faces five other California breds in the $125,000 Graduation at Del Mar. Victor Espinoza will ride the 2-year-old for trainer Carla Gaines in the 5 1/2 -furlong race that is part of a pick six with a carry-over of $140,853.

One for the road: Slews Stylin Cait should improve with the drop in class and a change to trainer Brian Pitnick when she makes her second start in the sixth race today on opening day at Santa Rosa. Chad Schvaneveldt will ride the 3-year-old daughter of More Style, who was far back in her lone race against better April 20 at Santa Anita, in the $8,000 maiden claimer for Cal breds at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Stalking Tiger in the seventh, Spot The Diplomat, Twin Fin and River Echo in the seventh and Victory Sign and Big Mistake in the eighth.

Winners: (previous day/meet total): 4/16. Money: (previous day/meet total): $19.80/$77.80. Total money bet: $104.